poetry book club: four books to break writer’s block

There are times in my life when I don’t crack open my journal. When I don’t read poetry. When I don’t even think about poetry. I wish I could say that those times were few and far between, but to be honest, they happen frequently. I can go for weeks without writing anything. During these [...]

Posted by Jessica on 09.30.2008 at 12:01 am// Tagged: Discussion Thread, Jessica, Poetry Book Club , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


welcome to read write poem

Read Write Poem is an online gathering place for those who love poetry — and for those who suspect that, with a little nurturing, they could grow to love poetry. Whether you are new to writing poetry or have been writing for years, you are welcome here. If you don’t write poetry but love to read and discuss it, this is also the place for you. Read more about the project.


Get the Read Write Poem badge for your site! We have two versions to choose from. Just click on the badge to the left to snag the code.


read write poll

Do your new year's resolutions include poetry goals? (Choose the best answer.)

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

other read write poem joints

Facebook (sign up to be added to our mailing list)
Identica (sign up to be part of impromptu collaborative poem events)

participant-run journals, zines and sites


  • read write poem newsfeed

      "Adam Penna is on a roll. For nearly a decade, he’s written one poem every day, almost without fail. He writes for the love of poetry, believing that poems reveal truths that can easily be missed, and offer a way of connecting the universal human condition with individual experiences.

      Mr. Penna writes poetry because he believes it’s the best type of writing to distill the essence of a simple moment. Simply put, poems transform the ordinary into extraordinary, he said."

      Read the full article, which includes news about his *two* new books, published by different houses. "Success for an everyday poet" is written by Pat Rogers for The East Hampton Press & The Southampton.

      And visit Adam Penna's online poetry journal, Best Poem.

      -----

      Have you visited The Page? It's a spot for gleaning bits of "poetry, essays, language, ideas."

      Cool content, and it looks good, too. Edited by Andrew Johnston, with contributions by Stephen Burt.

      -----

      Dana and Jacob are at it again. If you are interested in learning more about The Seattle Poetry Brothel they are creating, visit My Gorgeous Somewhere for the scoop.

      -----

      A new poem by Sean O'Brien, written in response to the latest phase of conflict between Israel and Hamas:

      Katyusha, Katyusha

      -----

      One of our new participants, Lyn Hopper, will be using our writing prompts as a way to fulfill her personal challenge and be creative every day. Sound like something you'd like to do? I am sure you would be welcomed by Leah Piken Kolidas, the CED diva, into her creative fold.

      -----

  • Read all newsfeed items.

  • random
    poetry prompt

      A different word or phrase will appear here each time you visit the site or refresh the page. Your current prompt is — zip line

  • random
    collaborating tip

    Use instant messaging to write a poem with a collaborator by taking turns one word, one phrase or one line at a time. With group chat, you can do this with more than one partner.


  • random
    writing tip

    Find a news story — maybe something well-known and controversial, maybe something obscure and bizarre — and write a poem based on those events.

  • random
    reading tip

    Reading poetry is better with a partner! Find a friend (online or in person) who has different poetry taste than your own and trade favorite poetry books with them. Not only will you learn more about your friend, you’ll learn more about the diversity of poetic styles.

  • random
    poetry quote

    Art means nothing if it simply decorates the dinner-table of power which holds it hostage. — Adrienne Rich