4/22/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #112: Three Things Together 15

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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.

#112
Three Things Together 15

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 Life Preserver/Vest
  2. A Library
  3. The Danube River
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If you'd like some background music to write to, try this video of the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra featuring Alexander Malofeev playing S.Rachmaninoff. Piano Concerto No.3 in D minor, Op.30

National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 22

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Yes ma'am—April 2020 is still trickling by... 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 22, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 22


1)  Let's start out with this short documentary filmed with Donald Hall when he was 89. I'd call it a 'thoughtful bummer', which is a pretty accurate description of poetry, to be honest. It's interesting, and is a poignant way to begin today, ruminating on life and loss.


Here is a short video of a younger Donald Hall talking about his meeting and experiences with T.S. Eliot from the very interesting channel Web of Stories - Life Stories of Remarkable People.


2) TV TIME! First let's watch this Big Think video of Billy Collins talking about his attraction to Samuel Coleridge's poetry and other 'great' poets.


Here is Donald Hall from 1995 reading his short poem "Old Roses"


And here is Jane Hirschfield reading her ode to her skeletal system and mortality in the poem "My Skeleton" 


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

“Hello, My Parents Don't Speak English Well, How Can I Help You?” by Su Cho in Four Way Review Issue 17.
"Elegant Spots" by Dionne Custer Edwards in Storm Cellar Quarterly Volume 8 Issue 1.
"The Openings in My Life" by John Grey in Fourth and Sycamore February 13, 2020. 

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


5) Now let's watch this video where Jane Hirshfield talks about the civic responsibility of the poet and what inspires her own writing.

4/21/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #111: Title Mania Plus "Them" 16

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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.
#111
Title Mania Plus "Them"  16

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 "They Come" by Ha Jin which is one of the three 'older' poems from today's National Poetry Month "Activity Pack".


Titles:
  1. From Behind Pillars
  2. To Hide or Flee
  3. Sneaking Out
  4. Trembling When She Speaks
  5. After Settling
  6. The Color of Your Dream

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 be a color.
  2. You must include at least five words which rhyme with "Male".
  3. You must include two lists of at least three things.
  4. You must include the words "Watt" "Flick" "Melt" "Pork" and "Emote".
  5. You must include in your piece at least one street sign (Stop, Yield, Deer Crossing etc).

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If you'd like some background music to write to that is nice and unobtrusive, try Korean pianist Yiruma's album "First Love"

National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 21

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Yessir—April 2020 is still rolling by... 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 21, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 21


1)  Let's start out Mark Doty reading his short essay about the first English poet whose name we know, Cædmon, called "Poet as Hermit or Social Being".



2) TV TIME! Since we're already been lulled by Mark Doty's pleasant voice, let's hear a little more of it. Here is him briefly describing the inspiration of the poem, then reads "A Display of Mackerel"


And here is Mark Doty reading his poem "Brian, Age Seven" From the series Dear Poet 2017.


And finally, here is Marilyn Chin reading the poem "Hospital in Oregon" from the Dear Poet 2020 series.


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

“Dark Star” by David Underdown in Bracken Magazine Issue VI.
"Mega Man" by James Davis in Cartridge Lit December 17, 2019.
"Through the Dark" by David J. Bauman in Citron Review 10: Winter 2019. 

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



5) Now let's watch this video where Billy Collins is asked about writing poems for an audience and he expands to talk about growth as a writer with some very good advice.


6) The time machine is set to July 24th, 2019 for this ekphrastic exercise using an image by the fantastic surrealist Rob Gonsalves. I love Gonsalves' surreal work and I think it lends itself tremendously to ekphrastic poems because of their metaphoric nature. Check out the image and be moved by it.



4/20/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #110: Beginning & Ending with Trees 12

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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.
#110
Beginning & Ending with Trees 12

For 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: Someone climbing a tree.

End With: A tree being cut down.

Extra Credit Requirements: Include in the first two paragraphs/stanzas the phrase "pepperoni pizza"; and somewhere in your piece include the words: "Gum" "Junk" "Salty" "Prod" and "Dowel".
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If you'd like some unobtrusive background music, here's a "Night in the Forest" Chillhop lofi mix.


National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 20

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Yeppers—April 2020 is still on... 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 20, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 20


1)  Let's start out today with something a little different. A TED Talk/performance by Lemon Anderson that is a mix of a couple of performance poems, some of the poet's history and journey learning about craft and its importance even in the world of SLAM poetry and while at times it's a little 'motivational speaker' for my tastes, it's worth your 8 minutes.


2) TV TIME! Since we're already in the performance poem mood, Taylor Mali's famous performance poem "What Teachers Make" from the SLAM final stage in 2000.


This next video has somewhat controversial subject matter, if you're wary of philosophical topics maybe steer clear of this one (also, swearing warning) but those warnings aside, this is an animated Beat poem by comedian and Broadway composer Tim Minchin about a dinner party gone awry called "Storm"


And a little more serious (but at other times, not serious at all—which is part of the balancing act), here is Taylor Mali performing his poem "For the Life of Me" that really took me by surprise. I think you'll enjoy it.

 

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

“Darkly,... Then Face to Face” by Tim McBride in Southern Poetry Review Guy Owen Poetry Prize Winner 2018.
"We Play Life" by Robin Gow in jubilat Issue 37.

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



5) Today let's watch another couple very short poetry readings, since we focused on poetry on the performance side earlier. First, here is a short audio recording of Robert Hayden reading his poem "Those Winter Sundays"


And finally here is Pulitzer Prize winning poet Louis Simpson reading his poems "A Lion in the Wind" and "Hot Night on Water Street" 



Highlight the following lines to see the answers to yesterday's Poet Anagrams
S H A N T   J O K E     =      John Keats
' H A N D S Y '   L . A .    T O M     =      Dylan Thomas
S N O R T   R U B B E R     =      Robert Burns
W A I L - L I K E   B A L M     =      William Blake
S A I L O R   C R E W   L     =      Lewis Carroll
P O X   A N D   A   P E E L E R     =      Alexander Pope

6) The time machine is set to June 7th, 2015 for this "Fact-Based" exercise about Flamingos. There's a little optional reading about flamingos for inspiration, and an interesting fact about them. There's lots to work with, and the subject lends itself to minimalism if you ask me, so don't be scared. You got this. Time to write.



4/19/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #109: 3x5x7 Wordbank Sprints 14

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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.
#109
3x5x7 Wordbank Sprints 14
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:
  • Illustrates
  • Comic
  • Facility
  • Sidekick
  • Tunnel
Wordbank 2:
  • Crouch
  • Zone
  • Dinosaur
  • Thirty
  • Lava

Wordbank 3:
  • Bisecting
  • Blame
  • Slug
  • Cinnamon
  • Glowing

Bonus writing exercise: In your piece, a sentence that includes four /E/ sounds like "We keep the bees knees separate" and someone climbing a fence.

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Want some unobtrusive background writing music? Some retro 90s lofi sound good? Try "The 8 Bit Highway" - A Retro Chill Mix.

National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 19

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Yessir—April 2020, 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 19, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 19


1)  Let's call today Steve Kowit day. First, this short video of Steve Kowit talking about his main piece of advice to writers, as a longtime teacher in San Diego.


For reasons which will become apparent soon, here is a short overview of the villanelle form using Theodore Roethke's poem "The Waking"


2) TV TIME! Here is Steve Kowit shows the place where he was inspired to write, and reads the poem "Refugees"


Here is Kowit reading his poem "Dusk in the Cuyamacas"



And finally here is Wendy Cope's poem "Summer Villanelle"

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

“Here Comes Someone Whose Name I Should Know” by John Kenney in The New Yorker Daily Shouts April 18, 2020.
"Do You Sleep" by Ace Boggess in Isthmus Issue 9 (Summer 2019).
"The Window" by Josh Mauler in Puerto Del Sol Online April 10, 2020. 

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


5) To learn more about the villanelle, read this in-depth article the form that I spent a long time researching and writing, complete with a number of villanelles you haven't read here (and a couple you did), some history and writing prompts. Villanelle by Numbers: The Poetic Form Decoded

6) For today's game we have more poetry anagrams! This time it's all poets.

(The very serious poet...) 
S H A N T   J O K E 

(An alternate universe where Mr. Hanks is a predator, he is known as...)
' H A N D S Y '   L . A .    T O M

(A playground taunt to nose-vacuum eraser shavings...)
S N O R T   R U B B E R

(It can feel good to let it all out after a tragedy as a sort of...)
W A I L - L I K E   B A L M

(After Crew K got scurvy, they called up...)
S A I L O R   C R E W   L

(The disciplined WWI soldier with pustules had)
P O X   A N D   A   P E E L E R

7) The time machine is set to August 27th, 2015 for this "How to" exercise that lends itself very well to the villanelle. It's not explicitly a villanelle prompt, so don't be scared. You got this. Time to write.



4/18/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #108: Six Word Shootout 8

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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.
#108
Six Word Shootout 8

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) Wood
2) Menu 
3) Sweet
4) Keep
5) Locket
6) Red

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Bonus Exercise: Choose your title from within the poem "Either, Or" by Nick Lantz—a couple examples would be "Masks on the Backs of Their Heads", "Out of Limestone" "Cicada Husks" or "Imagination Kills" among many other  great moments from the tremendous poem.  
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If you'd like some background music to write to, try The Best of Andrés Segovia album "Guitar Masterpieces for Classical Music Lovers"


National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 18

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Yep. April 2020, 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 18, 2020
National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 18


1)  Let's call today Billy Collins day. First we have this two and a half minute video talking about how to become a better poet with, while not groundbreaking advice, he explains the common advice he gives in a way that few people do. (Hint, read)



In this short video Billy Collins talks about the place of the ego and egotism in poetry, vs. other genres.


And finally, here is a brief interview where he talks about how he, as Alice Fulton put it (as quoted by the interviewer) "Puts the 'fun' in 'profundity'".


2) TV TIME! Everyone loves Billy Collins' poem Lanyard, so let's start there.


And now here's him reading his love poem "Litany"


And how about a little bit of Kim Addonizio. Here is a video of her reading the poem "Muse" with a train's a
3) Now go read one, or preferably all of the following three 'recently' published poems:

"Orchard" by Jeremy Radin in Muzzle Magazine Issue 24 (Summer 2019).
"Cans" by Laura Vrcek in Coal Hill Review Issue 23 (Fall 2019). 

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


5) For a little good fun, here are the two poets we've watched videos of both reading their own satirical poems called "Introduction to Poetry". First Kim Addonizio


And much shorter, here is Billy Collins reading his poem "Introduction to Poetry".


6) The time machine is set to August 25th, 2014 for this "Cereal" themed exercise with 3 options. This is a little more open-ended than other prompts so if you're not sure what to write about, literally just pick something and run with it. Staring at a blank page isn't writing—you can do it!

4/17/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #107 But First Anaphora—Repetition Files 7

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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.

#107
But First Anaphora—Repetition Files 7

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:

"But first"

    There are a number of ways you could approach this bit of anaphora. Whether you're telling a story from the ending backwards, or you're telling the origins of a number of related (or unrelated) things. Maybe you're talking about plans that are made despite tremendous obstacles that must be overcome first. Or maybe you're recalling a famous character actor's filmography in a way that shows how they came from humble beginnings. 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 "Sweet" "Twirl" "Omelet" "Gunpowder" and "Cart".
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    If you'd like some background music to write to, try this nature and flute ambient album "Pure Flute" by Terry Oldfield

    National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 17

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    We continue through April 2020 which means more of...
    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 17, 2020
    National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 17


    1)  Instead of having a featured poet to start off, let's have a featured performer! Here is Tom Hiddleston reading 30 minutes of poems from the likes of Pound, Neruda, Larkin, Dylan Thomas, Mary Oliver and more.

    2) TV TIME! It is time to watch/listen to some more poetry. Let's start out with Bukowski. We haven't had any Bukowski yet. Here's him reading his poem "Bluebird".



    Since we listened to an actor reading earlier, now let's watch Michael Caine reading the Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" and reflecting a little on why he likes it.


    And finally let's watch Mary Oliver reading her poem "Dog Songs"

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

    "Mental Health" by Kai Carlson-Wee in Great River Review Issue 66.
    "The Museum of Trees" by Susan Wardall in Cordite Poetry Review Issue 95 (Feb. 2020).
    "Plums" by Jane A Wayne in Cumberland River Review Issue 9-2. 

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


    5) From the channel "Poems That Make Grown Men Cry" here's evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins reading AE Housman's poem "Last Poems: XL" and speaks briefly on why the poem means so much to him.


    6) The time machine is set to April 1st, 2016 for this "Three Things" exercise. Easy peasy. Write that poem!

    4/16/20

    2020 Writing Exercise Series #106: Title Mania Plus "Passing Through" 16

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    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.
    #106
    Title Mania Plus "Passing Through"  16

    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 "Passing Through" by Stanley Kunitz which is one of the three 'older' poems from today's National Poetry Month "Activity Pack".


    Titles:
    1. In the Secrecy of My Room
    2. No Documentary Proof
    3. To Bully
    4. Through a Phase, Gradually
    5. Choose to Claim

    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 begin with a "W".
    2. You must include at least five words which rhyme with "Make".
    3. You must include the image of someone singing.
    4. You must include the words "Hub" "Bowl" "Physical" "Towed" and "Shrill".
    5. You must include in your piece at least one type of bread.

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    If you'd like some background music, try the "Hot Club of Croatia" album by Django Reinhardt songs played by the Croation jazz band Oridano Gypsy Jazz Band.




    National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 16

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    Wanting to never be complacent, I checked once more, still April 2020 and...
    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 16, 2020
    National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 16


    1)  Let's begin with Li-Young Lee today. I've dug up two very interesting videos that both have a couple poems read and the poet discussing editing, his relationship with poetry (including the insane schedule he kept for a number of years, editing and much more).

    In this first segment, from the PBS show "A Movable Feast" from the early 90s, the poet reads from his long poem "Always a Rose", tells some of his crazy biography about his childhood, then his punishing journey in poetry and reads some more from the long poem.



    The second video starts off with a reading of the poems "Eating Alone" and "Eating Together" and he talks about editing and much more.


    And here is a video of Li-Young Lee reading one of my favorites of his, From Blossoms.


    2) TV TIME! Let's start off with the Poetry Everywhere video of Galway Kinnell reading his poem of love and parenting "After Making Love We Hear Footsteps"


    For something completely different, but still good and entertaining, here is a piece of spoken word and an accompanying video by the young poet Timmy Sutton from the Button Poetry channel called "Hands".


    And now let's watch T.S. Eliot Prize and MacArthur Fellow Ocean Vuong perform his poem "Head First" for Page Meets the Stage.


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

    "Lumberjacks Pound Their Dead into the Ground" by Michael Mark in Cutbank Weekly Flash Prose and Prose Poetry January 7, 2020.
    "Sublet, Pay-Later System" by Mira Rosenthal in Subtropics Issue 26 (Fall/Winter 2018).

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


    5) Let's watch one more short reading. Why not. Linda Pastan reading "Why Are Your Poems So Dark?" from the Poetry Everywhere channel.


    6) The time machine is set to June 6th, 2019 for this "A Boy and his Bug" Ekphrastic exercise, using an awesome photo by photographer Arturo Sortillo. Go, be inspired! Let your eyes spark a poem!

    4/15/20

    National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 15

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    April 2020 is tipping! Now is the best time for...
    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 15, 2020
    National Poetry Month 2020 Activity Pack Day 15


    1)  Let's begin with Ted Kooser today. He's a poet from Iowa that celebrates the quotidian and nature with conversational verse. He doesn't mire his poetry with obfuscation but instead seeks to convey meaning straightforward, yet with layers of meaning. He won a Pulitzer Prize and has served as the US Poet Laureate. This first video is from a series called "Why I Create" and is Kooser talking about his relationship with poetry and relates some of his experiences.



    2) TV TIME! Let's start off with a few of Ted Kooser's poems. First here's him reading his poem Opossum


    Here is a Kooser reading his poem "A Man's Voice" from his series of poems about the devastating blizzard of 1888.


    Here is a video, well, really an audio recording of Kooser reading his poem "Splitting an Order"



    And now for something a little different, but not that different, here is a video of Philip Levine reading his poem "A Simple Truth" 


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

    "Twelve Bones of Architecture" by Matt Dennison in Red Eft Review April 9, 2020.
    "A Little Thing" by Rebecca Cross in elsewhere Issue 17.

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


    5) I didn't get enough Naomi Shihab Nye, so here's a video of her talking about poetry that's helped her through hard times, then reading three of such poems, starting off with "Ted Kooser is My President".


    And, this is parody, but still quite entertaining. Nick Offerman performing "A SLAM poem to Bacon"



    6) The time machine is set to June 11th, 2019 for this "Erasing 'The Crystal Egg' #1" Erasure exercise, using the beginning of HG Wells's classic "The Crystal Egg" to create your own erasure poem.