informal talk about forms: a brief napowrimo approach
by Christine Swint
Here’s the long and short of it …
Can we really write 30 poems in 30 days? Yes, we can!
This past November, I participated in NaBloPoMo, National Blog Posting Month. After joining Dana’s group, Read Write Poem, I used the challenge of posting every day to write a poem a day. I was able to write 30 poems by exploring the world of short forms.
In light of the upcoming NaPoWriMo, we thought it would be helpful to round up several short forms for everyone to play with. Who knows, it might become your new favorite way to write!
- Pleiades: This is a modern form invented in 1999 by Craig Tigerman. The Pleiades, named after the constellation also known as the seven sisters from Greek mythology, consists of seven lines of seven syllables each. The title is one word, and each line starts with the same letter as the title.
- Cadae: Another form based on counting syllables, the cadae follows the sequence of the first seven digits of Pi (which equals 3.141592). The first line consists of three syllables, the second one syllable, and so on. You could include several stanzas, or just one. Another variation would be to write three words for the first line, one word for the second line, etc.
- Fib: The fib is similar to the cadae, in that the form is based on a sequence of numbers (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21). It too is a modern form. There are several ways to write a fib, but the most common way I’ve seen is to write a one syllable line for the first two lines, two syllables for the second, etc. This form creates a great visual effect, because the Fibonacci curve found in nature reveals itself on the page. (See Prompt # 11 where we explored this form in Januray.)
You can also read more about the fib at Gottabook, site of author Gregory K., who coined the title “fib”:
- Rothko: I’ve never written a Rothko poem, but I’m going to soon. There are three basic guidelines to writing one: have a Rothko painting in front of you, write three lines of poetry, each containing three words, and include three colors. If you follow this link to About Poetry, you can also read about the Pollock. Maybe you have your own favorite painter. Why not invent your own short form based on that artist’s work?
- Nonet: The nonet contains nine lines. The first line contains nine syllables, the second eight, etc … (9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1).
Besides these forms, you might already enjoy American Sentences, a form Dana brought to us for our first prompt (way back in November).
This is a short but sweet list to get you started. If you have a favorite little form you’d like to share, leave us a link, and we’ll thank you!
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get the read write poem badge! 
Wear it loud, wear it proud! Display the Read Write Poem badge on your site. Just click here or on the image above to get the code! read write poem news- yes, yes, here’s another virtual book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 6, 2010 | 11:37 amFind the latest tour stop for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace at Jillypoet, Jill Crammond Wickham’s blog, where you can find an interview with Pamela that discusses how she creates manuscripts.
Previous stops include Daniel Romo at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies and James Brush at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- the best of the web is in our ranks
February 6, 2010 | 11:35 amSarah J. Sloat’s poem,”Attending the Tasting” (published in The Literary Bohemian) has been selected for Best of the Web 2010. Congratulations, Sarah!
- another (w00t!) read write poem member on the joe milford poetry show
February 6, 2010 | 11:34 amOn the Joe Milford Poetry Show tomorrow (Feb. 6): W.F. Roby at 9 AM (PST). Find the show here!
Joe describes Will as a “great language poet and bad-ass.”
- ‘literary podcasting made simple with wordpress.com’
February 6, 2010 | 11:33 amDave Bonta has published a how-to article that might be of interest to WordPress users: “Literary Podcasting Made Simple with WordPress.com,” based on his and Beth Adams’ experience at Qarrtsiluni.
Thanks, Dave, for continuing to help make the community aware of technological resources that can expand our art.
- the latest (virtual) book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 3, 2010 | 3:53 pmThe latest tour stop has been posted for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace. Find out how Daniel Romo responded to the work at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies.
James Brush provided our first tour stop at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- planning for napowrimo in april, and you are invited!
February 2, 2010 | 6:12 pmHello, hello dear Read Write Poem community members! We are in the planning stages for NaPoWriMo. (What? Is that a groan I hear, or an excited exclamation?)
We are planning another prompt-every-day for those folks who love to write a daily poem in April (which is, as most of you know, National Poetry Month in the United States — although there is an international following of writing poetry every day in April, too, so it is not just about the States).
Anyway! This is a call for prompts because we want to run your ideas, one every day, in April. So here’s what to do:
- Prompts must be no more than 250 words, and we will take the first 30 that we receive.
- Include “NaPoWriMo Prompt” in the subject line of your email as well as your username (e.g., the name you use when you log in) so we can match you up with your prompt and give you the link love.
- Email your submission (in the body of the email — no attachments please) to prompts (at) readwritepoem (dot) org!
We’ll let you know when we’ve got the 30, but don’t delay because it takes a lot of time to format the posts and we want to be ready come April Fools’ Day. Woohoo!
- new senior contributors at read write poem
February 2, 2010 | 11:51 amWe are thrilled to announce that Ren Powell and Dave Jarecki are moving into the senior contributor role at Read Write Poem. Both have been writing feverishly for the site, as well as providing ideas for content and for the community as a whole. In short, they make this site a more lively, and better, place.
Ren and Dave will fill the roles vacated by Carolee Sherwood and Jill Crammond Wickham, who have moved into the manager role.
Everyone please thank Ren and Dave for their hard work and commitment to Read Write Poem.
- rounding out the virtual book tour of sarah j. sloat’s ‘in the voice of a minor saint’
January 31, 2010 | 1:53 pmOur last stop on the Virtual Book Tour of Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint is with Ren Powell. Find Ren’s review at More Babel.
Joseph Harker provided our first stop in December, and you can find David Moolten’s review at Edible Detritus. David’s was followed by Dave Jarecki’s. Dave’s review is at his blog. Find Jill Crammond Wickham’s at Jillypoet: Mom Trying to Write.
In case you missed the introduction, we are (virtually) hosting Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint. For complete tour information, such as how you can get your own copy of the collection or how you can get involved in future tours, read this post.
- make your own book: get off the computer and onto the paper
January 30, 2010 | 4:19 pmBeth Adams has posted her latest project at The Cassandra Pages. “A Handmade Book” may not explicate all the details of bookbinding, but Beth shows readers the “Secret Belgian Binding.” It’s a beautiful as well as inspiring post.
If you would like more detailed instructions, Google “secret Belgian bookbinding” and find sites such as this one. Or look for a local book arts class for hands-on instruction.
As Beth says, ” … it did me good to get away from the computer and feel my hands at work!”
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I love your ideas. Thanks to you, I might expand beyond American Sentences for this years’ NaPoWriMo.
Very helpful! I’m always looking for cool ideas for my poetry-writing students. I’ve already printed these ideas out! Thanks!
Thanks, deb. The Rothko is great for finding yet another way to enjoy visual art and poetry at the same time. I tried one yesterday.
Linda, I’ll bet your students will love the idea of short forms – less homework, right? Just kidding. I’m glad the list is useful.
Very cool post. Thanks, Christine!
[...] has a post today with a few form ideas to help keep the poems flowing, and, as someone who generally [...]
You’re cool, pepek.
Here’s another link to a site listing all kinds of crazy configuations. To write poems like these, I think of it as more of a mental exercise rather than p.o.e.m.i.n.g. Check it out! The site is called Spineless Books.
Spineless Books
If you follow this link to Spineless Books, go to Table of forms at the bottom of the page, and then click on “forms” in the table of contents.
Whoops. Link didn’t work….
But Spineless Books is a very fun place!
I fixed the link with an explanation of how to find the page I liked. There was a code thar prevented me from linking directly to the page.
christine, i am not formally doing NaPoWriMo this year,, but i am sure i write more than 30 poems a month,, as do many of us… i am here to offer a suggestion to those of you that are taking part.. i was introduced just this week to a really quality prompt site called easystreet prompts
… and in the event you feel a lack of inspiration they have over 100 excellent visual and multiple word prompts to re-ignite your fire… please do yourself a favor and check it out.. if you do use a prompt,, please let the author know by way of a comment and link back,, i really do not want them to think no one is enjoying the amazing work they are doing….
Paisley,
Thanks for this link. I’m hoping that others link here too with inspirational sites and forms. I’ll be sure to check it out.
wow…thanks for this..and the links..
im going to try some of them…
Very cool post. I’ll definitely come back to this list when I’m stuck for a form (read: day 2!).
Quite happy to see the Fib here — a form I’m quite fond of, indeed. And I love the Rothko/any artist idea!
Thanks for the list of ideas….
I was remiss in not adding a link to the originator of the fib, writer Gregory K.
I added the link to the above post, but I’ll also add a link here:
Gottabook
Thanks, Gregory, for stopping by readwritepoem. Many of us have been enjoying the fib, and fibbetry in general.
Hello everyone and Christine~ I have stopped by to let everyone know that I will have a prompt a day everyday for National Poetry Month starting tomorrow. These prompts include Friday 5, Monday Mural, Poetic Forms and Poefusions. You can find a quick overview of what’s offered “here” if you would like to stop by sometime. Oh yeah! There’s also a small give away for those who like to win things. Have a nice day everyone and you too Christine.
Thanks for this link, Michelle! i know there will be many days when I’ll need the inspiration.
January, you are such a creative writer. I’ll go to your blog for hints!
Wow, I would need this for sure, my first day wasnt so bad, but thirty is pretty daunting…will follow Michelle too…thanks Christine for these suggestions.
wow…great references….thank you…michelle, thanks for including your info as well..hi paisley i saw that site too …excellent suggest…i am excited abt the 30-day poem…the reference list will defintely assist in that endeavor
Do I post my NOMOPO poem on my blog or must it be a new blog?
Also I am not sure how to make pages on my web site.
-bd
[...] Writing I was miraculously able to eke out enough time last night to write another poem, another Pleiades – I’m really enjoying this form, have decided to write a series of poems, Spring [...]
Here’s a link to another short form. I think I made this one up – I haven’t seen it elsewhere. Very fun.
De Chiriku!
This is a long one and rather sad. I’m sorry but this has been in my mind for days.This is my poem# 3.
NAPOWRIMO
love-bd
[...] 9, 2008 Nonet: nine lines, with syllable counts 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. form found at NaPoWriMo; photo, daffodils, betzspt, [...]