NaPM 2018, Please Read This

[Todd]

April will soon be here, and along with taxes in the States another thing we can look forward to is National Poetry Month (NaPM). We've been doing these prompts since 2013 at the Pen and I've always been shocked by the amount of strong work that can be produced when we use the prompt to get out of our own way and reach toward creating art. 

So, participate as much as you like or as little as you like. The idea is not to create a perfect poem but to get creatively unleashed. During the month or later throughout the year you may choose to workshop some of the poems you started here--I know I have. This is a time for ideas and fun. Stretch yourself and see if you can create something on each day.

I leave you with Milo's first send-off from 2013 (because why not steal I have enough work in front of me without stealing from Milo Smile) .

We'll begin on April 1.

Best,

Todd

April is NaPM in the states (probably the month of searching for clean drinking water and dreaming about electricity where you are from). In honor of this we are running a NaPM event. The rules are simple, we try to write a poem for each day of April. To enable the process, a topic will be posted daily in a thread with the date in this forum.

FAQ:

I wasn't here for the beginning can I still participate?
Yes, jump in at any time. If you feel up to it, go back to the earlier threads and see if you can write a poem for those days as well, but it is ok to start whenever you wish.

I don't want to write a poem for every day, but I would like to participate in some of the topics, is this ok? 
Yes, feel free to participate in any of the topics. Ideally, if you can produce a poem for each day that is best, but not required.

I missed a day, can I go back and make it up? 
Yes, the threads are left open and unlocked.

I am a newer writer will the quality of my writing be up to par? 
NaPM is "crit-free", more a celebration of poetry than anything and all are welcome. Poems should still be edited and you should try to produce work to the best quality of your skill level.

What is up with these topics? Can't I just write about flowers and birds? 
Topics sometimes push people out of their comfort zones, inspire new ideas or get people to look at poetry in a different way. Feel free to write about whatever you wish.

I read something I like, is it still ok to comment? 
Yes, it can be trying to write a poem a day everyday and many suffer from "writer's fatigue" around day ten. A little encouragement goes a long way.

Go on, jump right in there and have some fun!!

[just mercedes]

For the first time I am scared of this - I feel empty of ideas, in a rather barren place. I hope I can pull something out of the sand! Looking forward to the prompts.

[Todd]

For the first time I am scared of this - I feel empty of ideas, in a rather barren place. I hope I can pull something out of the sand! Looking forward to the prompts.

I understand that was me last year. I'm sure you'll be great. I never have any ideas before I sit down with the prompt--which is weird when you're the one writing them. I force myself to write them all out quickly, then I save the document, and stash it away. I try to write prompts that will piss me off when I read them--what idiot wrote that...geez. Then I remember I'm that idiot.

The prompts are ready to go...I busted them out today in about 15 minutes. Looking forward to it. 

Best,

Todd

[just mercedes]

Good - I await the alchemy of poetry ...

[Leanne]

It will be good to write without having to think of anything for myself -- bereft of ideas right now. Thanks Todd.

[cloud]

*sigh*

I feel like I'm going to be exposed for being a horrible poet

here goes nothing, literally.

[ellajam]

ha, maybe I'll remember how to write a poem. I'm taking on a weekend work project so maybe I'll be so desperate to avoid that that I'll get a poem from my brain out into print.    Even at my best I've always posted some stinkers for NaPM, but every now and then a lovely bit comes through. Don't worry, cloud, we're all in the same boat, if one or two are keepers it still moves us forward.

[Richard]

I like the sounds of this.   I feel like I've been going in circles with some of my poems lately.

[Todd]

I've been enjoying the many poems so far. A ton of interesting, creative reads.

I love this time of year.

[Keith]

Just back from Hols, need to catch up on the reading. Some great poems thus far, keep at it. Keith

[Todd]

Hey Everyone,

I'll be traveling for a few days. I still intend to get the prompts posted though my own participation on them may be spotty for a bit.

Enjoying everyone's poems so far.

[just mercedes]

Hey Todd - travel safe. I'm enjoying being at the mercy of a prompt! Never know where I'm going. You've posted some strong work - everyone has. A privilege to read and post here.

[Richard]

Yes, safe travels Todd. I've been enjoying both the prompts and the poems. April is my favorite month right now.

[danny_]

My wishes too, safe travelling, and hope to see you around here again soon!

[dukealien]

One tiny problem which
one hesitates to mention:
during NAPM, on the "flagpole"
at the homepage's left
(which I follow)
NAPM entries tend to fill the waterfall,
washing other submissions away
before I give them a good look...
or it just seems that way.
No fault, no foul, just
one lazy watcher's observation.

[Leanne]

One tiny problem which
one hesitates to mention:
during NAPM, on the "flagpole"
at the homepage's left
(which I follow)
NAPM entries tend to fill the waterfall,
washing other submissions away
before I give them a good look...
or it just seems that way.
No fault, no foul, just
one lazy watcher's observation.

You can always ignore the ribbon and go to "View New Posts" at the top of the page.

[dukealien]

One tiny problem which
one hesitates to mention:
during NAPM, on the "flagpole"
at the homepage's left
(which I follow)
NAPM entries tend to fill the waterfall,
washing other submissions away
before I give them a good look...
or it just seems that way.
No fault, no foul, just
one lazy watcher's observation.

You can always ignore the ribbon and go to "View New Posts" at the top of the page.

Thanks!  That's an excellent feature I hadn't used until now.

[Todd]

Hey Todd - travel safe. I'm enjoying being at the mercy of a prompt! Never know where I'm going. You've posted some strong work - everyone has. A privilege to read and post here.

Thanks Mercedes, I didn't see this until now.

Well, I have the last prompt ready for tonight and I'll post it in a few hours. I can't wait to slow down and give some of these poems you've all written more attention.

Thanks for participating everyone. If you haven't done all the prompts, you can still go back and try them throughout the year.

I hope many of you choose to workshop the poems if you're so inclined.

Best,

Todd

[just mercedes]

It took me a while to get into the groove - and now it ends! Feeling a bit lost.

[Richard]

It was good set of prompts, looking forward to the final one tonight/tomorrow. Greatly appreciate your efforts here Todd, and I also appreciate all the poems I got to read this month as part of NaPM.