4/30/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #120: 3x5x7 Wordbank Sprints 16


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#120
3x5x7 Wordbank Sprints 16
For today's writing exercise complete the following steps. The wordbank exercise has changed so be sure to take a peek at the new 'rules'. I recommend using the timer on your phone or computer and setting it for 1 minute. Each time you write a sentence, quickly reset the timer. If it goes off before you're finished with the sentence—wrap it up ASAP!

In order to complete the large number of sentences demanded of this exercise it is imperative that you write fast. Don't think too much at all until you've reached the final exercise. The process of this quick production is to thrust past second guesses or other stumbling blocks that sometimes impede your writing. You're aiming to write 23 sentences in at most 20 minutes so you have ten minutes to organize and write that actual piece, so you're going to be writing more than a sentence a minute.

WRITE FAST, DON'T OVERTHINK


  1. Pick one word from each of three groups and write a sentence that includes all of the words, feel free to change tense, pluralize, gerund etc. Repeat the process five (5) times using different combinations. No dawdling! 
  2. Now write three (3) sentences that are six (6) words or fewer in length that use any two (2) words from the wordbanks.
  3. Now write three (3) sentences that use four (4) or more of the words.
  4. Now write five (5) sentences which begin with one (1) of the words and contain a second one (1) of the words.
  5. Now write five (5) sentences which are fewer than ten (10) words in length and conclude with one (1) of the words from the wordbanks. Remember, keep up the pace! Don't overthink!
  6. Now rephrase two (2) of your sentences from exercise #1 in either a more efficient or more descriptive manner.
  7. Now write a piece of fiction or poetry that uses at least three (3) of the sentences you've written throughout this process of exercises. Try to use as many of the (good) sentences as you can, or parts of the sentences if the whole thing doesn't fit or works better altered.


Word Bank 1:
  • Slime
  • Heal
  • Hem
  • Dress
  • Potato
Wordbank 2:
  • Scoop
  • Neckline
  • Tape
  • Challenge
  • Hare

Wordbank 3
:
  • Chewy
  • Platter
  • Ghost
  • Jail
  • Dingy

Bonus writing exercise: In your piece, include someone tripping on a child or a child's toy, and part of the poem should take place on May 1st.

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Want some unobtrusive background writing music? Try this "Chinese Guqin And Bamboo Flute" lofi mix.



National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 30


April 2020 has one more left! So let's live up...
Every day for National Poetry Month I'll be posting a few fun or interesting poetry links or videos, a Throwback writing prompt from this site, a few poems published in the last couple years and a couple classic poems—things that are poetry-related interesting or fun.

You will have a change to write poetry even if you've never done it before—the writing prompts aim to demystify the process of writing a poem. This will not take the place of the 2020 Writing Exercise Series, but will be in addition to it, so there will be a bounty of poetry to feast your eyes upon.

So. Let's begin.

April 30, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 30


1)  Lets start off with Edward Hirsch giving his take on how to effectively read a poem. I probably should have posted this the first day, but oh well.


2) TV TIME! Let's first watch Paul Muldoon give us all the advice he'd give a young poet—a little tough love we can all use.



Here's Paul Muldoon discussing "Overrated Poetry" and more specifically, how a good poem can come from any source at any time. And yes, that is a different video.


Here is a video interpretation of Pablo Neruda's "Tonight I Can Write the Saddest Lines" translated by W.S. Merwin.


And finally here is another video interpretation of "Alone with Everybody" by Charles Bukowski



3) Now go read one, or preferably all of the following three 'recently' published poems:

"Molly Pecon Moment" by Patty Seyburn (second poem) in Ghost Town Issue 10.
"Cliff Path" by Anne Britting Oleson  in Mad River Review Volume 4 Issue 1. 

4) Go read all of the following three poems that were published more than two years ago:


5) We've seen Paul Muldoon, so now let's look at Irish poet Seamus Heaney in this video which includes a reading of the poems "Digging", "Plowing" and other poems with some funny interruptions and a short interview from what looks like the 1980s.


6) The time machine is set all the way back to March 22, 2016 for this "Narrative Thread" exercise based around a sentence. You can use it as the first sentence, or just the basis for your piece.

4/29/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #119: Three Things Together 16


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.


These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#119
Three Things Together 16
For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which contains the following three things, Nice and simple.

  1. A shot glass
  2. A weed wacker
  3. A skateboard

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If you'd like some background music to write to, try this "Jazzy Town" lofi mix.



National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 29


April 2020 has a few heydays remaining... so it's still...
Every day for National Poetry Month I'll be posting a few fun or interesting poetry links or videos, a Throwback writing prompt from this site, a few poems published in the last couple years and a couple classic poems—things that are poetry-related interesting or fun.

You will have a change to write poetry even if you've never done it before—the writing prompts aim to demystify the process of writing a poem. This will not take the place of the 2020 Writing Exercise Series, but will be in addition to it, so there will be a bounty of poetry to feast your eyes upon.

So. Let's begin.

April 29, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 29


1)  Lets start out with some comedy. Yesterday we watched Stephen Fry talking very seriously, today let's watch a couple of his poetry-related sketches from the sketch comedy show he had with Hugh Laurie when they were much younger men. First he plays a school English teacher chastising... well, you'll see.


And here is "Suitable Poetry Sketch" about poetry safety.


2) TV TIME! Let's stick with comedians and check out this "Hair Poem" by George Carlin.


Here's Carlin a little more serious with a SLAM poem called "Modern Man"


Here is a reading of Russell Edson's short American Surrealist poem "Fall"


3) Now go read one, or preferably all of the following three 'recently' published poems:

“Lowcountry Elegy” by Vivian I. Bikulege in The Petigru Review Issue 13.
"At Seventeen" by Carl Boon in jmww July 13, 2018.
"Whispers of Poland" by Tiffany Stachnick in Landlocked Issue 2.1. 

4) Go read all of the following three poems that were published more than two years ago:


5) Since we started light, let's get a little more studious (yet still interesting) at the end here with Academy of American Poets Chancellor Linda Gregerson talking about the history of the sonnet.



6) The time machine is set all the way back to August 8, 2014 for this "Killing the Pain" object exercise with multiple variations to try.. Even writers without much experience can have a piece coaxed out of them with this one.

4/28/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #118: Six Word Shootout 10


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#118
Six Word Shootout 10

For today's writing exercise write a piece that includes the following six words. While it perfectly sets you up for a sestina, feel free to write whatever you'd like (but ya know, give that sestina a shot!). Also feel free to make slight alterations to the required words if you want to avoid that eye-pokey repetition you can find in sestinas sometimes. All the words will either have homonyms or have easy substitution options, so look for those homonyms!

Required Words: 

1) Youth
2) Red
3) Light
4) Faint
5) Pick
6) Slant

-
Bonus Exercise: Choose your title from within the poem "The Colonel" by Carolyn Forché—a couple examples would be "What You Have Heard is True", "Daily Papers" "To Lace" or "The Parrot Said Hello" among many other  great moments from the tremendous poem.  
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If you'd like some background music to write to, try this "Coffee Shop Vibes" lofi mix.


National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 28


April 2020 remains... which means...
Every day for National Poetry Month I'll be posting a few fun or interesting poetry links or videos, a Throwback writing prompt from this site, a few poems published in the last couple years and a couple classic poems—things that are poetry-related interesting or fun.

You will have a change to write poetry even if you've never done it before—the writing prompts aim to demystify the process of writing a poem. This will not take the place of the 2020 Writing Exercise Series, but will be in addition to it, so there will be a bounty of poetry to feast your eyes upon.

So. Let's begin.

April 28, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 28


1)  What a terribly sad day yesterday with Eavan Boland passing. The world was only better for her being a part of it, and her words shall live on. So, let's start out with this video of Stephen Fry discussing meter and his love of classic poetry. I adore Fry, and though I don't share his infatuation with classical poetry, it's always great to see someone talk about their passions.


2) TV TIME! Let's go to the land of Neo-formalism for two videos by LA poet Timothy Steele. First the poem "In the Italian Alps"


Now let's listen Timothy Steele's lovely tetrameter poem "Jardin des Tuileries".


And finally, Edward Hirsch reads his poem "Self Portrait", with an animation effect that is interesting from the multi-media journal Rattapallax


3) Now go read one, or preferably all of the following three 'recently' published poems:

“Daisies” by James B. Nicola in Stickman Review V18N2.
"Evolution Theory" by Suzanne Verrall  in Star 82 Review Issue 8.1.
"The Thing That Keeps Me" by Holly Day in Studio One Volume 44, 2019. 

4) Go read all of the following three poems that were published more than two years ago:


5) Here is an insightful video of Edward Hirsch talking about what poets can learn from fiction writers and what fiction writers can learn from poets, among other things in this ranging 6 minute video.


6) The time machine is set to November 19, 2019 for this "Title Mania" exercise from the Fall Writing Exercise Series. Easy peasy! and see where your imagination/pen/keyboard takes you.

4/27/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #117: Beginning & Ending with Golf 13


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
#117
Beginning & Ending with Golf 13

F
or today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which begins with one image, scenario, line of dialog or place and ends with another, and an optional additional requirement.




Begin With: A group of people getting into a fight while playing mini golf.

End WithSomeone swimming in either the Gulf of Mexico or a different named gulf or your choosing.

Extra Credit RequirementsInclude in the first two paragraphs/stanzas the phrase "When you need a locksmith"; and somewhere in your piece include the words: "Gully" "Faulty" "Grapes" "Lamb" and "Solar".
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If you'd like some unobtrusive background music, here's Magical Flute "The Pan Forest"


National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 27


April 2020 remains... which means...
Every day for National Poetry Month I'll be posting a few fun or interesting poetry links or videos, a Throwback writing prompt from this site, a few poems published in the last couple years and a couple classic poems—things that are poetry-related interesting or fun.

You will have a change to write poetry even if you've never done it before—the writing prompts aim to demystify the process of writing a poem. This will not take the place of the 2020 Writing Exercise Series, but will be in addition to it, so there will be a bounty of poetry to feast your eyes upon.

So. Let's begin.

April 27, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 27


1)  Let's start out with this quick video of Charles Wright talking about poetry being a reason for living and reading some of his work

2) TV TIME! Not about Covid19, but here is a lovely and sad poem by Irish poet Eavan Boland called "Quarantine".


Here is the same poem, but with an animation/video and read by an actor.


And here is a >1 minute video of Charles Wright reading his short poem "No Angel"


3) Now go read one, or preferably all of the following three 'recently' published poems:

“The Melancholy Sound of Fog Horns” by Stephen Dunn in Beltway Poetry Quarterly Issue 21:2, Spring 2020.
"Treetops" by Jill Mceldowney in Bodega Magazine 91, March 2020.

4) Go read all of the following three poems that were published more than two years ago:


5) Now that we've listened to some Eavan Boland's poetry, let's watch her discussing her upbringing and poetry in the world at large.


6) The time machine is set to April 5, 2018 for this "Cooking with a Pet" exercise from 2018's National Poetry Month prompt series. and see where your imagination/pen/keyboard takes you.

4/26/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #116: Title Mania Plus "Land Snail" 17


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is here! These are daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
#116
Title Mania Plus "Land Snail"  17

For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which uses one of the following as its title. For a bonus challenge use the additional exercise of five random constraints.

Today's titles all come from the poem "Self Portrait as Land Snail" by Nickole Brown which is one of the three recently published poems from today's National Poetry Month "Activity Pack".


Titles:
  1. Prim as Gidget
  2. Nearly Mythic
  3. A Flotsam
  4. Mollusk Congress
  5. A Home for my Body
  6. A Willingness to be Wounded

Bonus Exercise: 5 Random Constraints
(I recommend picking any required words or lines before writing with a little surplus for options, but with your chosen title in mind)
  1. The first or second word of your piece must start with a "Y".
  2. You must include at least five words which rhyme with "Make".
  3. You must include someone riding a bike.
  4. You must include the words "Rain" "Heel" "Wept" "Exquisite" and "Drop".
  5. You must include in your piece at least one person's last name.
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If you'd like some synthy background music to write to, try this lofi retrowave/chillwave "S P A C E    T R I P" mix.

National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 26


April 2020 is still here... which means...
Every day for National Poetry Month I'll be posting a few fun or interesting poetry links or videos, a Throwback writing prompt from this site, a few poems published in the last couple years and a couple classic poems—things that are poetry-related interesting or fun.

You will have a change to write poetry even if you've never done it before—the writing prompts aim to demystify the process of writing a poem. This will not take the place of the 2020 Writing Exercise Series, but will be in addition to it, so there will be a bounty of poetry to feast your eyes upon.

So. Let's begin.

April 26, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 26


1)  Let's start out with this quick video with spoken word poet Sarah Kay talking about how to approach poetry with people that may feel they don't 'get' poetry from the "Brief But Spectacular" series.


2) TV TIME! First lets watch Robert Bly read his poem "Snowbanks North of the House" at his writing cabin on Moose Lake in Minnesota back in the 1980s.



Some years later, at the same cabin, here is Bly reading his poem "Winter Poem" while playing his Appalachian dulcimer.



And finally, let's take 5 minutes to watch a short video about the life of Pablo Neruda narrated by Ilan Stavans.



3) Now go read one, or preferably all of the following three 'recently' published poems:

"Aubade with Ravens" by Jessica Lynn Suchon in The Pinch November 22, 2019.
"Self-Portrait as Land Snail" by Nickole Brown in Bellingham Review November 15, 2019. 

4) Go read all of the following three poems that were published more than two years ago:


5) Now that we've read John Ashberry's poem, let's play fly on the wall for a Harvard poetry PhD class discussing that poem.


6) The time machine is set to November 30, 2016 for this "First Line" exercise where you begin with the given line and see where your imagination/pen/keyboard takes you.

4/25/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #115: 3x5x7 Wordbank Sprints 15


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#115
3x5x7 Wordbank Sprints 15
For today's writing exercise complete the following steps. The wordbank exercise has changed so be sure to take a peek at the new 'rules'. I recommend using the timer on your phone or computer and setting it for 1 minute. Each time you write a sentence, quickly reset the timer. If it goes off before you're finished with the sentence—wrap it up ASAP!

In order to complete the large number of sentences demanded of this exercise it is imperative that you write fast. Don't think too much at all until you've reached the final exercise. The process of this quick production is to thrust past second guesses or other stumbling blocks that sometimes impede your writing. You're aiming to write 23 sentences in at most 20 minutes so you have ten minutes to organize and write that actual piece, so you're going to be writing more than a sentence a minute.

WRITE FAST, DON'T OVERTHINK


  1. Pick one word from each of three groups and write a sentence that includes all of the words, feel free to change tense, pluralize, gerund etc. Repeat the process five (5) times using different combinations. No dawdling! 
  2. Now write three (3) sentences that are six (6) words or fewer in length that use any two (2) words from the wordbanks.
  3. Now write three (3) sentences that use four (4) or more of the words.
  4. Now write five (5) sentences which begin with one (1) of the words and contain a second one (1) of the words.
  5. Now write five (5) sentences which are fewer than ten (10) words in length and conclude with one (1) of the words from the wordbanks. Remember, keep up the pace! Don't overthink!
  6. Now rephrase two (2) of your sentences from exercise #1 in either a more efficient or more descriptive manner.
  7. Now write a piece of fiction or poetry that uses at least three (3) of the sentences you've written throughout this process of exercises. Try to use as many of the (good) sentences as you can, or parts of the sentences if the whole thing doesn't fit or works better altered.


Word Bank 1:
  • Notch
  • Egg
  • Trench
  • Click
  • Boil
Wordbank 2:
  • Canary
  • Faulty
  • Palm
  • Cushion
  • Heel

Wordbank 3
:
  • Chevy
  • Paprika
  • Daisy
  • Jump
  • Dusty

Bonus writing exercise: In your piece, include a car driving quickly by someone, and a particular flavor of ice cream—your choice on the flavor.

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Want some unobtrusive background writing music? Try this "The Garden" lofi mix.


National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 25


Yep—April 2020 is still straggling along... which means...
Every day for National Poetry Month I'll be posting a few fun or interesting poetry links or videos, a Throwback writing prompt from this site, a few poems published in the last couple years and a couple classic poems—things that are poetry-related interesting or fun.

You will have a change to write poetry even if you've never done it before—the writing prompts aim to demystify the process of writing a poem. This will not take the place of the 2020 Writing Exercise Series, but will be in addition to it, so there will be a bounty of poetry to feast your eyes upon.

So. Let's begin.

April 25, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 25


1)  Let's start out with this short clip of filmmaker Jim Jaramush talking about the poetic influences for his movie Paterson, of course Williams who long-made Paterson, NJ his home, but also a funny anecdote about Wallace Stevens.


2) TV TIME! Since we heard a little about Paterson, here is the scene from the movie in which Adam Driver reads William Carlos Williams' "This is Just to Say"




Here's a short clip where Adam Driver's character writes a poem.


Here is Larry Levis reading "The Wish to be Picked Clean" recorded in 1979.



And finally here is James Dickey reading his poem "For The Last Wolverine" from 1969.


3) Now go read one, or preferably all of the following three 'recently' published poems:

“Body of Rags, International Bridge Between the US & Mexico” by Ray Gonzalez in Poetry Magazine March 2019 (audio at link as well).

4) Go read all of the following three poems that were published more than two years ago:


5) I really enjoyed this short 'day in the life' style documentary about Stephen Dunn. Pulitzer prize winning poet, sure—but the guy also doesn't mess around with the ping pong.



6) The time machine is set to the blissfully ignorant time of February 28, 2015 for this "Narrative Thread" writing prompt inspired by the movie Falling Down..

4/24/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #114 And Yes Anaphora—Repetition Files 8


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.


These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#114
And Yes Anaphora—Repetition Files 8

For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which focuses on repetition. In this instance we will work with anaphora. It's a handy little bit of poetic craft that goes a little something like this:

the repetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines to create a sonic effect.
Take a moment and read the above-linked Poetry Foundation article, even if you know the term. For even more fun check out this longer article called Adventures in Anaphora.

The word or phrase we'll use for our exercise today is:

"And yes"

    There are a number of ways you could approach this bit of anaphora. You could be explaining something in reverse order, you could be making excuses for someone, or describing something in increasing detail, or with great reluctance. Or do something completely different. Just be sure that the repeated phrase earns its worth in your piece. It should be necessary.

    Bonus Exercise: Include these five words into your piece "Pepper" "Elongated" "Liquid" "Dove" and "Callous".
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    If you'd like some background music to write to, try this mix of middle eastern lofi.


    National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 24


    Yep—April 2020 is still rolling along... which means...
    Every day for National Poetry Month I'll be posting a few fun or interesting poetry links or videos, a Throwback writing prompt from this site, a few poems published in the last couple years and a couple classic poems—things that are poetry-related interesting or fun.

    You will have a change to write poetry even if you've never done it before—the writing prompts aim to demystify the process of writing a poem. This will not take the place of the 2020 Writing Exercise Series, but will be in addition to it, so there will be a bounty of poetry to feast your eyes upon.

    So. Let's begin.

    April 24, 2020
    National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 24


    1)  Let's start out with this quick video about Sherman Alexie talking with Alberto Ríos' about 'accidental poetry' and keeping creativity fresh with his son by improvising new song lyrics to famous songs for what he called "family opera".


    2) TV TIME! Alberto Ríos was the 'First Poet Laureate of Arizona', a 6-time Pushcart Prize winner, Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts fellow, National Book Award nominee and was the Chancellor for the Academy of American Poets from 2014-2020. It is because of that last fact that we have videos of him reading poems every year in the same set up in the Academy's "Dear Poet" series from 2016-2020. Watch him age four years before your very eyes! Oh, and enjoy the poems. First we have "When Giving is All You Have" in 2016.


    Next is Alberto Ríos reading his poem "Refugio's Hair" in 2017. 


    Here is Alberto Ríos reading "Don't Go Into the Library" in 2018.


    Here is Alberto Ríos reading the poem "A House Called Tomorrow" in 2019


    And finally, here is Alberto Ríos reading "Nani" in 2020.


    3) Now go read one, or preferably all of the following three 'recently' published poems:

    "Cocktail" by Daisy Bassen in Packingtown Review Volume 13, Spring 2020.
    "Migraine" by Lexie A Reese in Peacock Journal February 2019. 

    4) Go read all of the following three poems that were published more than two years ago:


    5) Since we were on a Dear Poet kick (it's a great and quite varied/long series) here is Terrance Hayes' Dear Poet entry from 2018 reading his poem "Barberism"

    4/23/20

    2020 Writing Exercise Series #113: Six Word Shootout 9


    The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

    These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

    #113
    Six Word Shootout 9

    For today's writing exercise write a piece that includes the following six words. While it perfectly sets you up for a sestina, feel free to write whatever you'd like (but ya know, give that sestina a shot!). Also feel free to make slight alterations to the required words if you want to avoid that eye-pokey repetition you can find in sestinas sometimes. All the words will either have homonyms or have easy substitution options, so look for those homonyms!

    Required Words: 

    1) Will
    2) Meat 
    3) Write
    4) Reign
    5) Toe
    6) Road

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    Bonus Exercise: Choose your title from within the poem "I Flew Into Denver April" by Arian C. Louis—a couple examples would be "On a Downtown Street", "Wanton Winds" "A Dead End Bar" or "Lilacs" among many other  great moments from the tremendous poem.  
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    If you'd like some background music to write to, try this Spring 2020 lofi mix from The Jazz Hop Cafe channel.


    National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 23


    Yep—April 2020 is still rolling along... which means...
    Every day for National Poetry Month I'll be posting a few fun or interesting poetry links or videos, a Throwback writing prompt from this site, a few poems published in the last couple years and a couple classic poems—things that are poetry-related interesting or fun.

    You will have a change to write poetry even if you've never done it before—the writing prompts aim to demystify the process of writing a poem. This will not take the place of the 2020 Writing Exercise Series, but will be in addition to it, so there will be a bounty of poetry to feast your eyes upon.

    So. Let's begin.

    April 23, 2020
    National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 23


    1)  Let's start out with this 15 minute documentary from 1966 about Frank O'Hara with him talking about paintings, movies, a film he was making with the painter/filmmaker Alfred Lindsey shortly before he passed, and reading a number of poems including "The Day Lady Died" and "Having a Coke with You" as well as others.


    2) TV TIME! First let's watch Time Magazine ask John Ashberry ten questions.


    Here is John Ashberry reading the poem "Song"


    And finally, here is Charles Simic reading three short poems "Ghosts" "County Fair" and "Sunday Papers"


    3) Now go read one, or preferably all of the following three 'recently' published poems:

    “Plucking Away” by Di Jayawickrema in Jellyfish Review April 14, 2020.
    "Elsewhere" by Emily Jungmin Yoon in New England Review 41.1.
    "Volley of Darkness" by Marilyn McVicker in Front Porch Review April 2020. 

    4) Go read all of the following three poems that were published more than two years ago:


    5) Now let's watch Yale Series of Younger Poets 2010 winner Katherine Larson reading her poem "Metamorphosis"