Poetic Asides Categories
February 2012 Issue
February Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
Preview the Issue
Buy It Here
Give a Gift SubscriptionSave 58%!
Website of the Week
Writing Website of the Week
Andrew Jack's site not only follows the journey of this writer on his quest to get his fiction published, but also offers solid writing advice.Andrew Jack Writing 
*Not affiliated with our 101 Best Writing Websites feature.
Poetic Asides
Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides Blog
[description]Published poet Robert Lee Brewer blogs on issues affecting poets from the poet’s perspective.[/description]
[keywords]poetic asides, poem blog, poem articles[/keywords]
[keywords]poetic asides, poem blog, poem articles[/keywords]
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 167 (Risk Poems)
For this week’s prompt, write a risk poem. That is, write a poem in which either the narrator, a character, or whatever takes a risk, or in which risk is involved. For … Read more
WD Poetic Form Challenge: Quatern
A week ago, I explained the quatern. It’s a fun form that includes a refrain but not too many rules beyond that. (Click here to learn more about the quatern.) Anyway, I … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 166 (Thinking Poems)
Good morning! Over this past winter, I put together 8 e-books for writers that included some niche market guides, such as Horror Writer’s Market, Mystery Writer’s Market, and others. However, one of those … Read more
Types of Poetry Forms: Quatern
Today, I tried my hand at a new (to me) French poetic form that incorporates a refrain like in the villanelle and eight-syllable lines like in the kyrielle. Since I’m a big … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 165 (Dead End Poems)
For this week’s poetry prompt, write a dead end poem. By dead end, I just mean hitting a wall or road block in a physical or metaphorical sense. And to make things … Read more
WD Poetic Form Challenge: The Tritina Winner
These tritinas were fun to read. If sestinas are poetic marathons, these tritinas are like half-marathons (or even 10Ks). Sorry, the runner in me has to reach for that metaphor. As usual, … Read more
2011 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Update
Happy Groundhog Day! I was hoping to have the results of the most recent chapbook challenge ready for everyone today, but it’s not going to happen. Instead, the new announcement date has … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 164 (Habit Poems)
Good news! I’ve announced which poems will be published in the 2013 Poet’s Market. Check out the selections. For this week’s poetry prompt, write a poem about a habit. The habit could … Read more
5 Ways How to Write a Poem
Okay, so there are probably about a million ways how to write a poem, but the five methods below help me when I’ve been stuck in a rut. If you have other ways … Read more
WD Poetic Form Challenge: Tritina
I’m so excited for this WD Poetic Form Challenge, because it’s like the sestina, but it’s much shorter. For some, this may make it easier; for others, maybe not. So what are … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 163
For this week’s prompt, write a friend of a friend poem. This poem would be one in which you write about or in the voice of a friend of a friend. Why … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 162
Poetry relies on art as much as (or maybe even more than) craft to communicate. Sometimes, we need to look at the ugly sides of human nature to find the beauty in … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 161
After getting bombarded with some unexpected projects at the end of 2011, I’m finally starting to catch up with 2012. It’s a pretty nice year so far, and I hope to start … Read more
Prompted, An International Collection of Poems (and a Question for the Community)
I don’t usually focus too much on specific poetry books or anthologies on this blog, but I’ve been meaning to say something about this one for a while now. Prompted, An International … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 160
I hope everyone has had a great start to 2012! I’ve been catching up on work-related stuff after nearly 2 weeks out of the office. Plus, I have started up two new … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 159
I apologize for the extremely late Wednesday Poetry Prompt. In fact, it’s probably Thursday for most folks. I’ve been on vacation this week, which means I’ve been playing with my five kids … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 158
For this week’s prompt, write a box poem. This poem is either about a box or includes a box somewhere in the poem (or title). Don’t be afraid to poem outside the … Read more
WD Poetic Form Challenge: The Haiku Winner
I’m glad I limited the haiku challenge to three days, because I don’t know if I could’ve made it through three weeks worth of submissions. I didn’t count, but I wouldn’t be … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 157
For those who participated in the haiku challenge over the weekend, I just want you to know the results are still coming. I’ll make a post as soon as I’m able. For … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 156
This is our first Wednesday Poetry Prompt since the 2011 November PAD Chapbook Challenge. I hope everyone’s having fun getting their chapbooks together who participated. For this week’s prompt, write a “while … Read more
2012 Writer’s Digest Conference: Coming Soon!
One of the most popular conferences for writers in the country is just around the corner: The Writer’s Digest Conference on January 20-22 in New York City at the Sheraton New York … Read more
WD Poetic Form Challenge: Haiku
After completing the recent November PAD Chapbook Challenge, a poet let me know he was relieved there were no poetic form prompts during the challenge. Usually, that’s something I’ll do on a … Read more
2011 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 30
We made it. Day 30! Now scramble up to the peak with me and jump up and down in celebration. Another PAD challenge completed! Before the prompt, a couple quick notes: A … Read more
A Quick Note on Being Respectful
Here we are again. In the midst of another Poem-A-Day challenge. Stepping on each other’s toes again. Sigh. I’m sorry I dropped the ball on this one, because everyone seemed to be … Read more
2011 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 29
For four weeks, we’ve poemed our hearts out. Now, we’re just a Two for Tuesday prompt and tomorrow away from completing this challenge. Let’s roll up our sleeves and work some magic. … Read more
