Poetry Prompts

Today’s prompt comes from Bonita Jones Knott, a poet I met earlier this year in Colorado at a writing retreat. Here’s Bonita’s prompt: Write a birth poem. Write a poem on the … Read more

Today marks 4 weeks in (with 2 days to go), and today’s prompt comes from Jonathan Edward Ondrashek. Here’s Jonathan’s prompt: Write a poem illuminating how it feels to stand up for … Read more

This month’s final two-for-Tuesday prompt comes from Paula Wanken. Here are Paula’s prompts: Write a hero poem. Write a villain poem.   Robert’s attempt at a Hero and Villain Poem: “Heroes and … Read more

We are really into the final days of this challenge now. I can’t believe how fast November has swept in and is trying to sweep out already. I hope everyone survived the … Read more

Today’s prompt comes from Cameron Mathews. Here’s Cameron’s prompt: Write an opposite poem. That is, write a poem with the opposite perspective, conclusion, or form of a prior poem in the month. … Read more

Today’s prompt comes from Beth Cato. Here’s Beth’s prompt: Take the phrase “The Truth About (blank),” replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of … Read more

Today’s prompt is from Amanda Fall. Here’s Amanda’s prompt: Write a deep poem. The deep end of the pool. Six feet deep. Archaeology. Whatever you write, just dig deep. Robert’s attempt at … Read more

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m always so thankful for these challenges, and the community that’s formed around this blog. I hope everyone, whether you live in the States or abroad, has a moment to … Read more

We’re three weeks into this challenge! Today’s prompt comes from Bruce Niedt. Here’s Bruce’s prompt: Take a random list of five song titles – the source could be a shuffled MP3 playlist, … Read more

Today’s prompt, a Two-for-Tuesday prompt, comes from Sarah Bartlett. Here are Sarah’s prompts: Write a gathering poem. Write a letting go poem.   Robert’s attempt a gathering and letting go poem: “South” … Read more

Today’s prompt comes from Madeline Sharples. Here’s Madeline’s prompt: Write a “Wheel” poem: of fortune, ferris, bike, auto – any kind of wheel. Even a big wheel and wheeling and dealing will … Read more

Today’s prompt is from Carol Stephen, and it’s a doozy. Here’s Carol’s prompt: Write a glosa. This involves an epigram of 4 consecutive lines from a favorite poet that the challenge participant … Read more

Today’s prompt comes from Maxie Steer. Here’s Maxie’s prompt: Take the phrase “How to (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, … Read more

In case you missed it yesterday, click here to check an interview with me on the Poetic Bloomings site. Today’s prompt comes from Joseph Mills. Here’s Joseph’s prompt: Use the last line … Read more

Half-way through the month, and today’s prompt comes from Jared Davidavich. Here’s Jared’s prompt: Write a tradeoff poem. Could be an exchange, forfeit, or swap. Robert’s attempt at a Tradeoff Poem: “From … Read more

Two weeks! We’re two weeks into this challenge already! Today’s prompt comes from Catherine Lee. Here’s Catherine’s prompt: Write a stuck poem. Write about the struggle or the inability to move. Maybe … Read more

Today is a Two-for-Tuesday prompt, and they both come from Michael Grove. Here are Mike’s prompts: Write a letter poem. Write a recipe poem. Robert’s attempt at a letter and recipe poem: … Read more

Today’s prompt comes from Jane Shlensky. Here is Jane’s prompt: Write about a piece of technology or engineering that does not exist but that should.  It could be a tribute to something … Read more

Today’s prompt comes from Rob Halpin. Here’s Rob’s prompt: Write a veteran poem, but instead of just a poem on what Veteran’s Day is about or thanking veterans, write from the veteran’s … Read more

Slept in a little this morning, but I’m ready to go now. Click here for the Day 10 thread in the forum. Today’s prompt comes to us from Linda Hofke. Here’s Linda’s … Read more

First off, click here to go to the Day 9 thread in the forum if the blog comments are too crazy for you. Today’s prompt comes from Sally Jadlow. Here’s Sally’s prompt: … Read more

Quick note: I realize quite a few of you are having historic posting problems with this blog. If you fall under this category, I hope I’ve found a (hopefully) short-term solution by … Read more

UPDATE: As problems continue with the commenting, I’ve decided to open up a WD Forum thread for the first 7 days. Beginning with tomorrow’s prompt, there will be prompt-specific threads linked to … Read more

Today’s prompt comes from a long-time Poetic Asides poetry dude (and super nice guy), Walt Wojtanik. Here’s Walt’s prompt (a Two-for-Tuesday prompt) which is actually two prompts: Write a Left Poem. Write … Read more

Today’s prompt comes from Amanda Laughtland. Here’s Amanda’s prompt: Write a text message poem. Compose a poem in several short sections inspired by the compression of text messages. The poem might have … Read more