OctPoWriMo

I read an inspiring post this morning on The Boynton Blog. Poetry Karma by Dayna Patterson has good suggestions about how to spread your good energy and intention through the community. The post made me realize that my OctPoWriMo posts have been missing a crucial element: other people’s poems! So from now on, I’ll be starting my posts with recommended poems to read and a feature of one of the other poets participating in OctPoWriMo.

The concept of poetry karma also made me think of the online critique site Poetry Free-for-all. If you have a poem that you have edited and think is ready for fresh eyes and feedback, you may want to try your hand at critiquing some poems and then post your own.

Read for inspiration and craft

I read a lot of poetry. Every morning, I receive a poem from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Rattle, and Poetry.com in my email. I recommend spoiling yourself with these free daily treats.

I’m also participating in ModPo which is a deep-reading poetry program, discussing Modern & Contemporary American poetry presented by the University of Pennsylvania through Coursera.org and headed by Al Filreis. I had no idea people study poetry like this.

There are also many online journals, so many, with new poetry. So where to start? I think I’ll approach daily recommendations the way I have with the horror flash fiction: I’ll look at an online magazine/journal and find a poem to share.

Recommended poem: Nuestra Señora de las Iguanas by Brenda Cárdenas
This poem really speaks to me because I have lived that moment, though my “shower” was a bucket of cold water and a plastic scrubby.

Online journal: Poets.org

Spotlight Poem from OctPoWriMo Day 6

A Desire to Dream by Roshni at Let’s read our words
I enjoyed the imagery of tiny, twinkling wishes that drop and burst in this Con-verse.

Today’s Poem

Poetry prompt Today’s OctPoWriMo prompt is Growing Pains

Forms Triolet or Villonet – I had fun with a Triolet

Everything’s changing to stay the same

It’s all erased, I start again
The cycle repeats, though I alter
The needle reset, I know not when
It’s all erased, I start again
At the moment my foggy days brighten
The stacks will wobble and falter
It’s all erased, I start again
The cycle repeats, though I alter

Writober

For today’s visual prompt, I chose Destruidor de mundos

micro-story : Hyphae pierce through the surface, releasing enzymes and absorbing nutrients. Growing into mycelium of destruction, they weave in secret.

Read for inspiration and craft

Horror flash fiction story The Practical Downsides of Accidental Necromancy by Jack Remiel Cottrell

(Horror) online magazine NUNUM
NUNUM posted a great list of journals accepting flash fiction.

Yesterday, I browsed #Writober on Twitter and found some lists of word prompts people are using to inspire their October writing. It may be fun to incorporate some of these into your poetry and/ or flash fiction.

NaNo Prep

There’s a webinar this evening (4 pm Pacific) with Grant Faulkner, the executive director of NaNoWriMo and author Aya de León. It’s a zoom meeting, so you’ll need to register (for free). It’s promoted as a Q & A about how to have a successful NaNoWriMo.