poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and the like, including class/homework assignments resulting in a creatively written piece of work
Day 30—Write a poem employing extended metaphor to illustrate the experience of the last thirty days. Molasses The jar with molasses never runs dry, but it does run slow. Sweet and sticky, it makes a mess of things before I can ever get any in my mouth. The sweet isn’t for the faint of heart—it’s …
Day 29—Briefly research a poetic form of your choice and write a poem according to the rules of that particular form. (I chose the pantoum.) PTSD Pantoum Stand in front of me, where I can see you. Wake me up slowly, gently. Don’t worry; it’s just post-traumatic stress. Some “jokes” aren’t jokes— Wake me up …
Day 28—Visit a virtual art gallery and look around until you find a piece that intrigues you. Write a poem inspired by the artwork. Winged Victory of Samothrace —a found poem An original Greek statue probably destroyed by an earthquake, this work was found in countless pieces in 1863 on the island of Samothrace, in …
Day 27—Begin with the title “The Poem I’d Never Write.” Then, write that poem. The Poem I’d Never Write Rape is fun. It’s just surprise sex! I really did want it, anyway; honestly, what was I expecting? In jeans and a frumpy t-shirt, I was totally asking for it. It’s all right; I liked rough …
Day 26—Gather some magazines/catalogs you don’t mind cutting up and spend ten minutes flipping through them looking for words/sentences that spark your interest. Cut out the words as you go, and (at the end of the ten minutes) arrange the words to form a cutout poem. Lady Lace Metropolis living hits rock bottom: have dog, …
Day 25—Write a poem that includes all of the following words: pistachio, ink, pebble, weather, varnish. The Rain When my writing’s dark ink dries, I look in on my sister’s progress with the varnish. It hasn’t come far, as I imagined it wouldn’t. The pistachio-colored walls are hindering her creative process, she says, and I …
Day 24—Write a poem that’s different in some way from anything you’ve ever written. Take a chance! Be wild! I have written so many poems I have written so many poems, I can’t remember what I’ve written or not. I’ve written poems about poems, verses about verses, words about words. They all flow into one …