I do appreciate all the new stories and poems I get to enjoy because of people posting their own and others’ on social media sites. I admit I do way too much doomscrolling, but the poems and stories people share are why I stay. The first stanza of this sonnet, that echo and inversion of the eight line in its last, and the imagery of “a bizarre fried blood-egg, the yolk of it” is worth the bad news and worse replies.
For the first prompt, write a poem or story, beginning with something you planted or built and including a shift, even if you prefer not to write a sonnet.
The second is to write a list poem of what “want[s] to float.”
For the third prompt, use the line “You take your chances when you praise” as a ghostline, the starting point for either a story or poem. Remember to erase the line and and credit the poet for your inspiration.
The last prompt is to write a story or poem using the following word list: “rose,” “supports,” “soil,” “fence,” “tough,” “chances,” “trench,” “float,” “dead,” “open.” Try to change the word’s part of speech, switch nouns to verbs and vice versa.
Bonus prompt: write whatever comes to mind from this photo of a yolk.
I will be at AWP this year and would love to chat about your process if you are there or at one of the offsite events.
Good luck with your writing! Have fun!