read write prompt #39: writing for months, writing for mouths

The Olympics begin in two days.
China’s central government in Beijing, despite its pledges and promises to be open to media and the Internet, has agreed to allow free access for only “some” Internet domains. And Tienanmen Square has once again become a political staging ground as people protest their forced dislocation to make way for [...]

Posted by Ren on 08.06.2008 at 12:01 am// Tagged: Read Write Prompt, Ren , , , , , , , , , ,


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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.


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  • read write poem newsfeed

      You still have time -- until December 15 -- to get into the current Postal Poetry contest. Find details about it here.

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      Here's the New York Times article about all the winners of the National Book Award, including Mark Doty for Fire to Fire.

      Congratulations, Mark Doty!

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      "My Career in Radio" by Garrison Keillor: The poem, and there is always a daily dose of Garrison's poetry selections (of others' poems) in The Writer's Almanac.

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      poetryvlog.com is a terrific site, "A weekly video reading of poetry by the poet".

      About.com has an intriguing (long, and not vetted by Read Write Poem) list of "Video Poetry Archives and Anthologies" with links to all kinds of stuff.

      Christine offers us Collin Kelly's latest project: a video blog on YouTube.

      Do you have some link love, know of some? Do tell. Email us at news (at) readwritepoem (dot) org.

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      So how do you find poetry news in your area? One way is to look for the closest (geographically) writing program and find the supporting blog it is sure to have.

      Examples? Bulletin Board: MFA Carbondale for Southern Illinois and G*L*O for Portland, Oregon.

      It's a good way to find readings, seminars, submissions, etc.

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    poetry prompt

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

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    collaborating tip

    Write two-word phrases with someone else. One person can supply the first word of the phrase, and the other person can supply the second word. Write your phrases down and each use some of them in a poem.


  • random
    writing tip

    Don't censor your experiences or ideas by telling yourself, "That's not important" or "Nobody would care about that." People write poems grass. Nothing is out of bounds. What you consider mundane or inane or insane may deliver to you a moment or clarity or a bit of joy.

  • random
    reading tip

    Some poets are so prolific that it would take a year to read all of their works. So, why not take a year and piece through a hefty collected works? You can learn a lot about the development of a poet’s aesthetic by reading their collected works chronologically. Sometimes, reading a famous writer’s juvenilia makes you feel much better about your own junior high verse.

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    poetry quote



    I love poetry for the unemployment it causes, for how it constrains one to work always beyond one’s own intelligence, for its not requiring one to rise socially. — Les Murray