OctPoWriMo Day 20

 

I'm a huge fan of participating in different writing events when I can. In addition to OctPoWriMo, one of my favorites is the Weekend Coffee Share. The idea is that you have a virtual coffee date with your readers and share your imagined conversation. I post these every few months and love the responses. It's led me to the work of some incredibly creative people and is a great way to feel connected to the writing community. What does being a part of this community mean to you?

Suggested Word Prompts:

support

shared interests

introduction

exchange

inspiration

Suggested Poetry Form

Free choice - there are so many directions this can take!  Shadow Poetry is a good resource if you're looking for new forms to try.

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you and if this is your first year or if you have been with us from the beginning.

Michele Vecchitto is a writer, recruiter, and  former middle school teacher.  Her poetry has been published in literary journals and anthologies as well as in four self-published volumes. Michele was invited to read her poems at the Austin International Poetry Festival and was honored to be included in When Time and Space Conspire.  In addition, she published a young adult fantasy novel, Tales from Blarnach: The Chosen One. She continues to hone her craft simply to breathe life into the stories living in the corners of her mind. Please visit her blog, Writing and Reflections to see more of her work.

OctPoWriMo Day 15 - Change of perspective

 "Perhaps nothing is entirely true, not even this." ~ Multatuli

 

 

Art by A. van Son 

 

I remember reading this quote by Multatuli, a Dutch 19th century writer, for the first time and feeling like I was hit by lightning.
 

The prompt for today is change of perspective. We can get stuck in what we believe in, even though it might not be entirely true. Today's suggestion for the writing process is taken from my work as a coach. It might bring you unexpected views on a familiar subject. Or not. The idea that you HAVE to come up with something new is nothing more than a perspective...

 

Step 1 

Choose a subject that you find challenging in your life. It can be small (a daily detail) or big. Free write about that for at least 5 minutes. 

 

Step 2  

Make a list of things: 

• Write down three stages of moving through life (for example baby, toddler, teenager). Consider using words from your mother tongue. 
• List a book you’ve read, a film you’ve seen, a song you love.
• Name three parts of your body that are not your head or your heart. 

Step 3  

Explore three things from your list further, through one of these suggestions:

• free writing
• writing 10 lines per subject
• mind-mapping

Step 4 

Look at your chosen challenge through the lens of one or more of the explorations you did in step. This will bring new perspectives. Choose which perspective you want to write from.

An example:

1) Patience is a challenge I often face and fail

2) My list:

• baby, peuter, puber
• the goelag archipelago, ice age, moondance
• left foot, elbow, earlobe

4) If I look through patience through the lens of puberty, I get really angry. I want it, I want it now, and I’m not going to waste my life waiting for things I will not get.

If I look at patience through the lens of my left foot it starts tapping, the tapping slowly turns into exploring movement and I end up dancing.

I’m bored with the first perspective, it feels too familiar. I’m curious about the perspective of the left foot, so I’ll let that inform my poem.

Step 5 

Choose a form:

• any form you feel called to for this one.
• a diamante
• a prose poem 
  

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you and if this is your first year or if you have been with us from the beginning.

 

Angela van Son has been an #OctPoWriMo participant since 2014. She is about to publish More than meets the I, an alloy of poetry and photography that brings beauty, depth and wonder. 

Angela's poems have been published in a number of online magazines, for example Cold Mountain Review, Auroras and Blossoms Poetry Journal, and Art Saves Lives International.  

As a coach Angela helps people change their life stories by getting things done, facing the rabbit holes of their choice and creating wonderful ever afters.

 

OctPoWriMo Day 14

 

Sometimes truth is the hardest thing to face, especially when you take a moment to examine YOUR truth. What you see or believe may be very different from what that means to another person, but that's the beauty of it all. Your truth makes you unique. It can give you strength or challenge you to face situations or beliefs which may be painful or filled with sorrow. It can bring great joy or supreme satisfaction. 

Poetry Prompt

Take some time to think about your truth. Where do your thoughts lead? Are there particular images or memories this truth conjures? Was it something you felt the need to defend or was it that something that fortified you in times of need? Your truth is a part of your being. Introduce us to him/her.

Word Prompts

absolute                            bravado                           reckoning

freedom                            peace                               flexible

fortitude                            independent                    reason

Poetry Type

Villanelle

     or

Cascade

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you and if this is your first year or if you have been with us from the beginning.

Michele Vecchitto is a writer and a former middle school teacher.  Her poetry has been published in literary journals and anthologies as well as in four self-published volumes. Michele was invited to read her poems at the Austin International Poetry Festival and was honored to be included in When Time and Space Conspire.  In addition, she published a young adult fantasy novel, Tales from Blarnach: The Chosen One. She continues to hone her craft simply to breathe life into the stories living in the corners of her mind. Please visit her blog, Reading, Writing, and Reflections to see more of her work.

Day 28 – Belonging

Long, long ago, people found out when they joined forces, belonged to a tribe or group, life became easier and more satisfying. It was also safer, thereby providing a better chance of survival.

When we band together, we are cared for, feel comfortable and needed, and contribute to the good of all. We satisfy the basic human need for love and belonging by cooperating with others.

Spouses, partners, family, and friends satisfy  our need for love and belonging. So do groups, clubs, organizations, sports teams, and workplaces.

Alaska Drummers. Annis Cassells (c) 2010

Free write for ten minutes about belonging and see where it leads you. Where do you belong? What tribe, group or club? With whom? How did you know it was your place of belonging? What is it that makes you feel like you belong? How do you help others feel they belong?

For further inspiration, check your local newspaper for articles that portray or suggest belonging. Look for events that one might join and find their place of belonging.

Suggested form: Clarity Pyramid  -- a 7-line poem consisting of two triplets and a single line. Usually displayed  center aligned. Click the Shadow Poetry link for detailed explanation and examples.

Word Bank Prompt

Affirmation

Clash

Community

Country

Estranged

Family

Flag

Home

Team

Visual Prompts

Coos Bay 2016. Photo by Marilyn Wilson (c) Used with permission.

Africa, 2005. Photo by Judy McDole (c) Used with permission.

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you.

Day 12: Imagination Stands in the Road

Our imagination is a powerful thing, it's what fuels us as children and hopefully continues to fuel us as adults. As I'm writing this, I have the Disney-Pixar movie "Inside Out" playing in the background. If you haven't seen it, it's a fun watch with some important life lessons that anyone can gather from it. 

One of the supporting characters is Bing Bong, the main character Riley's imaginary friend who she might have forgotten. He's mostly cotton candy, part cat, part elephant, and part dolphin as he describes himself. They went on adventures on their imaginary rocket, usually trips to the moon!

 Did you have an imaginary friend as a kid? Do you have one now? What about your kids if you have them? What are some adventures you went on? 

On a sadder note, when did you stop playing with your imaginary friend? What was the moment where you grew past that? 

​

For those prompt lovers that commented nice things about my prompts last time, I have another for you! You'll either love me or hate me for it. Let's go around the world to France, for a 39 line poem called the sestina

Today I challenge you to try your hand at a sestina. Back in college when I was getting my poetry degree, I had to write several of these and hated most of those minutes. However, once I found my beat, I really found it and that was a pretty awesome feeling. 

A sestina is 39 lines, 6 stanzas with 6 lines each plus a tag. 

First, start with 6 words of your choice. Make sure you like them because you'll be using them over and over again. Take those words and rotate them at the ends of your stanzas. They rotate in a round with the last word of the last line being the last word of the first line in the next stanza.  Your lines can be any length, though it just looks nicer if they're quite regular. 

Example of how that will look with the words imagine(A), joy(B), coffee(C), clouds(D), rocket(E), music(F)

Stanza 1
Line 1-imagine (A)
Line 2-joy (B)
Line 3-coffee (C)
Line 4-clouds (D)
Line 5-rocket (E)
Line 6-music (F)

Stanza 2
Line 7-music(F)
Line 8-Imagine(A)
Line 9-rocket(E)
Line 10-joy(B)
Line 11-clouds (D)
Line 12-coffee(C)

Stanza 3
Line 13-coffee(C)
Line 14-music (F)
Line 15-clouds (D)
Line 16-imagine (A)
Line 17-joy (B)
Line 18-rocket(E)

Stanza 4
Line 19-rocket (E)
Line 20-coffee (C)
Line 21-joy (B)
Line 22-music (F)
Line 23-imagine (A)
Line 24-clouds (D)

Stanza 5
Line 25-clouds (D)
Line 26-rocket (E)
Line 27-imagine (A)
Line 28-coffee (C)
Line 29-music (F)
Line 30-joy (B)

Stanza 6
Line 31-joy(B)
Line 32-clouds(D)
Line 33-music (F)
Line 34-rocket(E)
Line 35-coffee (C)
Line 36-imagine (A)

Stanza 7
Line 37-imagine(A), joy (B)
Line 38-coffee (C), clouds (D)
Line 39-rocket (E), music (F)

There is a modification for an envoi for Stanza 7 

Line 37- imagine (A), joy (B), coffee (C)

Line 38- clouds (D), rocket (E), music (F) 

1. ABCDEF
2. FAEBDC
3. CFDABE
4. ECBFAD
5. DEACFB
6. BDFECA
7. (envoi) ECA or ACE or AB, CD, EF 

Do you love or hate me now? 

For those that hate me, maybe I can redeem myself with more normal prompts: 

Imagine yourself on a mountain: 

Word prompts: 

Joy, clouds, music, rocket, coffee, imagine. 

Cheers and sunshine, 

-Beverly Tan

Poetry Writing Challenges

Congratulations, you made it all the way to the end of OctPoWriMo 2014! It has been a wonderful journey this year from September's poetry tips through October's poetry prompts. Some of you have been with us every single day and some of you popped in when your schedule permitted.

You shared your poems - your heart, your life, your experiences - with us and they have touched our hearts. We have one last prompt for you and we look forward to reading your poems.

Poetry Prompts:

What have you learned from this journey? Did you stretch in unexpected ways? Did you take it easy during OctPoWriMo compared to years past?  Free write about your OctPoWriMo experience.

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Word Prompts:

Poetry
Writing
Experience
Journey
Flowing
Sharing

Feeling Words:

Feeling
Love
Hope
Excitement
Gratitude
Wonderment



I want to thank you for participating in OctPoWriMo and I look forward to seeing you next year. Make sure you sign up to receive our posts in your email so that you know when we begin again.

Special thanks to the other contributors of OctPoWriMo who shared their creativity and love of poetry with us.

Julie Jordan Scott - You can find creating her literary themed mixed media art every day during November.

Amy Phelps McGrath - Will be participating in NaNoWriMo during the month of November and hopefully she will keep us updated on her blog about how things are going for her.

Tamara Woods - Will also be participating in NaNoWriMo but has decided to share her experiences through vlogs as she tries to stay sane during the challenge.

You can find me, Morgan Dragonwillow, sharing writing prompts and inspiration on Mondays and Wednesdays over on my blog.

It has been a pleasure and an honor sharing our love of poetry with you.

I will be announcing the rest of the winners of the Raffle tomorrow, Saturday.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Morgan Dragonwillow: Writing rebel, stress relief explorer, recovering perfectionist, cooking as therapy, poet & author that (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of #OctPoWriMo. She lives in Marietta, Ga. with her loving and patient partner, their dog that thinks she's a princess, and the cat that reminds her that she isn't.
You can find her on Google+

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Poetry Prompts - For All the Loves You've Loved Before

The time is drawing near for the last day of OctPoWriMo and this poetry challenge. It makes me think of things in the past and when I think of things from the past I think of past loves.

When first falling in love there are the moments of joy and euphoria, being completely head over heals. When the honeymoon phase was over did you start noticing all the things that you used to love but now annoy the heck out of you or are they still endearing? Are you one of the lucky ones and your love keeps growing each day.

Poetry Prompts:

What phase of love are you in, before, during, or after? Are you dancing with euphoria or are you crying with despair at the unfairness of life and love?

Is your relationship one of passion and romance, playful and fun, or each of you doing your own thing?

Is your beginning love story one of magic or of fumbling awkwardness?

Did you have a relationship in the past that burned hot and fast, or did it grow over time?

Share your love journey through your words, through your poetry, dance with us on the page.

Word Prompts:

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Love
Bliss
Consuming
Blind
Honeymoon

Feeling Words:

Euphoria
Joy
Bewildered
Annoyed
Grief

Congratulations to Alexis for winning an autographed copy of Wild Woman Waking! Congratulate her on Twitter @LexC666 

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Morgan Dragonwillow: Writing rebel, stress relief explorer, recovering perfectionist, cooking as therapy, poet & author that (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of #OctPoWriMo. She lives in Marietta, Ga. with her loving and patient partner, their dog that thinks she's a princess, and the cat that reminds her that she isn't.
You can find her on Google+

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Poetry Prompts - Magic and Possibilities

I thought today we could lighten things up with a little magic and mystery. I'm keeping the poetry prompts short as well. Hope you are doing well and being compassionate with yourself on this poetry journey in this last week of OctPoWriMo.

Poetry Prompts: 

I choose to believe in magic, I think it makes life more interesting. Whether it is the magic of life, synchronicities, or another magical event, write for ten minutes about magic, possibilities and mystery and see where it takes you.

Do you believe in magic?

Have you ever followed synchronicities to see where they would lead?

Word Pompts:

Fascinating
Captivating
Enchanting
Magnetic
Irresistible

Photo Prompts:

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Photo from PublicDomainPictures.net

Remember these are all only suggestions to inspire you to write poetry, feel free to follow your words wherever they lead.

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Morgan Dragonwillow: Writing rebel, stress relief explorer, recovering perfectionist, cooking as therapy, poet & author that (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of #OctPoWriMo. She lives in Marietta, Ga. with her loving and patient partner, their dog that thinks she's a princess, and the cat that reminds her that she isn't.
You can find her on Google+

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Poetry Prompt - A Challenge

Every year I challenge you to do a video of yourself reading or reciting one of your poems. Most of you have been too intimidated by such a prospect. I understand. This year, for today's poetry prompt, I challenge you to audio record yourself reading/reciting one of your poems - no video just audio. I audio recorded a poem today that I am posting on my blog with mistakes and all. I'm hoping that will help you have courage to record your poem.

Poetry Prompt:

Choose your favorite poem that you have written this month during OctPoWriMo and record it and share either on your blog or on Youtube.

I know the thought of recording yourself can be scary, I hope you will at least give it some thought.

If that is still something you don't feel comfortable with you can find more prompts to your liking down below or share one of your poems that has been inspired from another source.

Word Prompts:

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Tantalizing
Adventurous
Audacious
Valiant
Spontaneous

Feeling Prompts:

Encouraged
Motivated
Provocative
Impulsive
Elated

Sentence Starters:

I can do anything I set my mind to...
When I think of...
I feel...

Last Friday's Winner: Congratulations to Meg Hammil for winning an autographed copy of Wild Woman Waking! Congratulate her on Twitter @thehachmom  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Morgan Dragonwillow: Writing rebel, stress relief explorer, recovering perfectionist, cooking as therapy, poet & author that (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of #OctPoWriMo. She lives in Marietta, Ga. with her loving and patient partner, their dog that thinks she's a princess, and the cat that reminds her that she isn't.
You can find her on Google+

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Poetry Prompts: Writers Fully Writing

We are at the halfway mark for OctPoWriMo and it is that time when we take a look at how we feel about where we are in our writing - poetry - where we've been, and where we want to take it.

When I was thinking about halfway I found myself thinking about love and like the quote I created for the meme - there really isn't any way for love to be a halfway measure - you either love with all your heart, or the love isn't really there. Regardless of whether that love is for yourself or for someone else, you just can't do it halfway.

As in love, there are no halfway measures in writing, you're either writing or you're not.

Poetry Prompts: 

What comes to mind for you when you hear the word halfway? Are you a half empty or half full kind of person? Do you look at half the month gone with regrets or excitement for what is yet to be written? Do you believe love is an all or nothing, or do you believe that you can love halfway? Free write for ten minutes about what halfway means to you or any of the previous questions.

Image by Morgan Dragonwillow

Word Prompts:

Halfway
Middle
Stuck
Open
Love

Feeling Words:

Receptive
Loving
Attracted
Skeptical
Hesitant


Suggested Poetry Type from Shadow Poetry: Diatelle 

So how ARE you doing?

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Morgan Dragonwillow: Writing rebel, stress relief explorer, recovering perfectionist, cooking as therapy, poet & author that (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of #OctPoWriMo. She lives in Marietta, Ga. with her loving and patient partner, their dog that thinks she's a princess, and the cat that reminds her that she isn't.
You can find her on Google+

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Autumn poetry-OctPoWriMo Day 5

The wind is taking on a chillier bent. Leaves are rushing to change. People are having pumpkin flavored everything and the Halloween decorations are going up. It's that autumn time of year.

Fall is also the time for harvest when the fruit of labor pops up to nourish our lands. Sunlight shortens and the nights grow longer.

Autumn itself can symbolize the melancholy of change, growing older and even death. There's also the new beginnings that start as well- school sessions, sports beginning to play in the Fall, the fun of Halloween. So many options to chose from.

There's such a beautiful dichotomy of renewal and death. Poets have been using autumn for creative fodder for years. Some classics are John Keats: 'To Autumn' and Robert Frost: 'Gathering Leaves.'

Poetry Prompt:

Here's your challenge (if you chose to accept it): Write a poem influenced by your feelings about autumn. Do you see autumn as a beginning or the beginning of the end?  Chose at least three from this list of words below.

The words:
                              chill
                              renewal
                              death
                              rebirth
                              harvest
                              melancholy
                              aging
                              change

Day 5 is here! Are you ready to write?



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Poetry Prompts Day 4 - Poetry Revolution

“The pen is mightier than the sword!”― Edward Bulwer-Lytton

There is power in words and how we use them. I often write poems about social injustices and needed social change. In this day and age there is plenty of fodder for it, women's rights, LGBT, racism in America, child abuse, sexual abuse, genocide, the Middle East, Religion, and I could go on. 

Many poets in history/herstory have fought for change through their words on the page, through their poetry. 

Here are a few I found on Poems of Protest and Revolution.

• Walt Whitman, “To a Foil’d European Revolutionaire” (1881)
• Paul Laurence Dunbar, “The Haunted Oak” (1903)
• Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “Protest” (1916)
• Carl Sandburg, “I Am the People, the Mob” (1916)

Women have been fighting for a place in poetry probably since the beginning of time. The poets that have predominantly been shared in history have been men and it is past time that the wonderful women poets are allowed to shine. To find those in Herstory, check out Julie Jordan Scott's Literary Grannies. 

Below you will find more recent women poets of our time.

One of the most influential Feminist Poets of this century, Adrienne Rich said, "The mother's battle for her child with sickness, with poverty, with war, with all the forces of exploitation and callousness that cheapen human life needs to become a common human battle, waged in love and in the passion for survival."

You can find the 10 Feminist Poets You Should Know here that include: 

• Maya Angelou
• Anne Waldman
• Carol Ann Duffy
• Margaret Atwood
• Lyn Hejinian
• Alice Walker
• Katha Pollitt
• Susan Howe
• Carolyn Kizer
• Marge Piercy

All poets with a passion for changing the world through poetry.

Poetry Prompts:

When was the last time you took a risk for something you believed in? How do you use your words? What are you creating in the world with your poetry? Choose one or all of these questions and Free write for ten minutes.

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

Word Prompts: 

Risk

Revolutionary

Reawaken

Reclaiming

Feeling Words:

Courageous

Energetic

Liberated

Spirited

Watch (and dance) to this video to help motivate your writing.






This is day four here at OctPoWriMo, how are you doing so far? Are you writing daily?

We have goodies! Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

FIRST #OctPoWriMo WINNER OF WILD WOMAN WAKING - STEPH BETH NICKELS! Congratulate her on Twitter for winning! @StephBethNickel

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Morgan Dragonwillow: Writing rebel, stress relief explorer, recovering perfectionist, cooking as therapy, poet & author that (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of #OctPoWriMo. She lives in Marietta, Ga. with her loving and patient partner, their dog that thinks she's a princess, and the cat that reminds her that she isn't.
You can find her on Google+

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Breaking Out of the Box

Welcome to the third year of OctPoWriMo; 31 Poems in 31 Days! Whether you participated in previous years or are brand new, all are welcome here - younger and older, new to poetry or have been writing it for years - this is the place to be if you love or want to explore poetry.

There aren't many rules:

• Be courteous to your fellow poets.
• Visit, share, and comment on as many participants as you are comfortable with.
• And most of all have fun!

There will be a linky that you can link up to daily regardless if you write to the poetry prompt or not. We are here to encourage and inspire you but where and how you come up with your poems is up to you. 

Poetry Prompts:

The above quote is probably true about most if not all poets (and those that write poetry but don't consider themselves a poet -yet) that they cannot contain themselves, or at least they are working on breaking out of the box, the chrysalis that is holding them in.

What stage are you in, caterpillar, chrysalis, or butterfly?

Do you feel like you are boxed in or are you flying free?

Word prompts:

Chrysalis
Butterfly
Transformation

Shadow Poetry type: Free Verse

Remember all the prompts are suggestions, feel free to let your words flow wherever your muse takes them.

We have goodies! Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

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Morgan Dragonwillow: Writing rebel, stress relief explorer, recovering perfectionist, cooking as therapy, poet & author that (mostly) doesn't let her fears get in the way of her passion for writing and creating. She is team leader at @StoryDam, creatrix of #OctPoWriMo, and you can find her at, A Poet's Kitchen, cooking up simply delicious meals. She lives in Marietta, Ga. with her loving and patient partner, their dog that thinks she's a princess, and the cat that reminds her that she isn't.
You can find her on Google+

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