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Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 441

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For today’s prompt, write a notice poem. A notice could be a warning about something. Or it could just be an informational type of notice. Or perhaps, you just noticed a person, place, or thing for the first time. ***** Get Published With Poet’s Market! The 2018 Poet’s Market, edited by...

Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 440

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For today’s prompt, write a generation poem. A generation poem could be about the X-generation or the baby boomers, sure, but it could also be about generating poems and/or power. Or re-generation of limbs. Or any number of other topics you wish to generate. ***** Get Published With Poet’s Market! The...

WD Poetic Form Challenge: Rhupunt Winner

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Here are the results of the Writer’s Digest Poetic Form Challenge for the rhupunt. And yes, I also selected a Top 10 list. Read all of them here. Here is the winning rhupunt: Non-Domestic Goddess, by Tracy Davidson I want to make our wedding cake but I can’t bake to save...

Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 439

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For today’s prompt, write a heart poem. Getting to the heart of this prompt should be easy enough to do. Some folks wear their hearts on their sleeves, or they heart the things and people they love, or they show a lot of heart in spirited competitions. Of course, there are...

Prepping Poetry for Self-Publication

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Today’s guest post from Kallie Falandays shares her tips on prepping poetry for self-publication. As Kallie writes, “If you wanted to self-publish 15 years ago, you would have been hard pressed to find the right resources. But now, you can come up with a book idea today and have it printed...

Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 438

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For today’s prompt, write a pool poem. It’s swimming pool season in our neck of the woods, but there are car pools, gambling pools, pool sticks, and other ways to get to a pool poem. Hopefully, everyone can pool their resources to find a fun poem or three. ***** Order the...

WD Poetic Form Challenge: Cyrch A Chwta

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It’s about time (maybe past time) for another WD Poetic Form Challenge: this time around writing the cyrch a chwta! Find the rules for writing cyrch a chwtas here. It’s a Welsh form; so plenty of end rhymes and internal rhymes. So start writing them and sharing here on the blog...

Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 437

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For today’s prompt, write a graduation poem. For instance, two of my sons just graduated middle school on their way to high school. But graduating encompasses a lot more than school. Some people graduate to new pay levels at work or new levels in video games or new levels of consciousness....

Why I Write Poetry: Annie Newcomer

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In 2017, I started a “Why I Write Poetry” series of guest posts. I’ve already received so many, and I hope they keep coming in (details on how to contribute below). Today’s “Why I Write Poetry” post comes from Annie Newcomer, who I met once at the Austin International Poetry Festival...

Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 436

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For today’s prompt, write a comprehensive poem. To tell you the truth, the first thing I think when I hear the word “comprehensive” is insurance, but there are any number of ways to get fully comprehensive–from a comprehensive love, comprehensive revenge, and/or a fully comprehensive stay at a 5-star hotel. I’m...

Why I Write Poetry: Sari Grandstaff

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In 2017, I started a “Why I Write Poetry” series of guest posts. I’ve already received so many, and I hope they keep coming in (details on how to contribute below). Today’s “Why I Write Poetry” post comes from Sari Grandstaff, who writes, “There is no rehab program or 12-step support...

Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 435

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For today’s prompt, write a reserved poem. A table or room can be reserved. A person can be reserved in their speech and mannerisms. I give full permission for poets to reserve the right to write without reservation. ***** Order the Poet’s Market! The 2018 Poet’s Market, edited by Robert Lee...

Why I Write Poetry: Lisa L. Stead

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In 2017, I started a “Why I Write Poetry” series of guest posts. I’ve already received so many, and I hope they keep coming in (details on how to contribute below). Now that we’ve made it through another April, let’s get back to them. Today’s “Why I Write Poetry” post comes...

WD Poetic Form Challenge: Ottava Rima Winner

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Another WD Poetic Form Challenge is just around the corner. But in the meantime, here are the results of the Writer’s Digest Poetic Form Challenge for the ottava rima. And since there were so many excellent poems, I also selected a Top 10 list. Read all of them here. Here is...

Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 434

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Welcome back to the Wednesday Poetry Prompts! I hope you enjoyed April as much as I did, but now, we can get back to a bit more leisurely poetic pace. For today’s prompt, write a project poem. There are so many possible projects: write a book; plant a garden; train for...

2018 April PAD Challenge: Day 30

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Here we are again: the end of another challenge. Thank you so much for showing up and poeming along with me. It’s always a great deal of fun. For today’s prompt, write a closing time poem. Or another way of coming at this prompt is to write a poem in which...

2018 April PAD Challenge: Day 29

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For today’s prompt, write a response poem. Respond to whatever helps you get your poem written, but my thought is that you should respond to one of your poems from earlier in this challenge. For instance, my example below responds to my Day 1 poem. ***** Re-create Your Poetry! Revision doesn’t...

2018 April PAD Challenge: Day 28

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For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) Wave,” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “Tidal Wave,” “Next Wave,” “Friendly Wave,” “Heat Wave,” and/or “Sound Wave.” ***** Re-create Your Poetry! Revision doesn’t have...

2018 April PAD Challenge: Day 27

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For today’s prompt, write a story poem. Think of a story, could be a long, complicated, winding story, but for a poem, it may make more sense to make it a short, direct story. ***** Re-create Your Poetry! Revision doesn’t have to be a chore–something that should be done after the...

2018 April PAD Challenge: Day 26

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Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day! For today’s prompt, write a relationship poem. Of course, there are human relationships, but there are also plant-animal relationships, animal-animal relationships, and even mathematical relationships. Good, bad, healthy, and not-so-much. Dive deep today. ***** Re-create Your Poetry! Revision doesn’t have to be a chore–something that...

2018 April PAD Challenge: Day 25

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For today’s prompt, pick an intriguing and/or seldom-used word, make it the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. If you have a limited vocabulary, try out brabble, dandle, feracious, impavid, lippitude, or vulgus. Or pick up a dictionary or thesaurus. ***** Re-create Your Poetry! Revision doesn’t have to...

2018 April PAD Challenge: Day 24

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Closing in on the finish line of another April Poem-A-Day Challenge, so today I’m upping the stakes for anyone who wants an extra challenge! For today’s Two-for-Tuesday prompt: Write a roundelay. Guidelines here. Or… Write an anti-form poem. ***** Re-create Your Poetry! Revision doesn’t have to be a chore–something that should...