Poets & Writers Poetry Prompt Inspired by Jessica Abughattas

How is the first week of poems coming? Oof, a little rough for me, which does not bode well for the rest of the month. Here is a prompt from Poets & Writers, which posts weekly fiction and creative non-fiction prompts, in addition to poetry prompts, throughout the year). Here is the link for the latest poetry prompt: https://www.pw.org/writing-prompts-exercises.

While this prompt is similar to a previous one I posted (that one inspired by Beth Marquez who also structured the poem using a repeated “because”), its focus is on what is not said than the anaphora itself.

Here is “Litany for My Father“ by Jessica Abughattas. Check out other great poets and poems at Split This Rock, https://www.splitthisrock.org/poetry-database.

For a second prompt, use one of the lines, perhaps “Because home is too far for the scent of,” for the first line of your poem and go from there. Remember to erase the line and credit the poet for your inspiration with an “after Jessica Abughattas,” or you can use “Ghostline from Jessica Abughattas” in your title if you prefer.

A third prompt is to write a story or poem from the following list: “search,” splayed,” “plastic,” “drive,” “quartz,” “scent,” “beads,” “carving” oven,” “penance” and “upturned.”

Bonus prompt: write a poem describing this old fort or a story in which this is the setting.

Good luck writing this month! Have fun!

Prompts Inspired by and Publishing Resources from Jason B. Crawford

Hi all, I’ve started a blog post with prompts but wanted to include a friend’s artwork. My photos of the pictures didn’t turn out, so she will send me the original photos and I will have another blog post coming soon.

So instead I wanted to share a spreadsheet of contests and submission deadlines that Jason B. Crawford kindly posted.

I so appreciate their generosity. Check out their website if you would like to read their poetry, which I cannot recommend enough. My God, “Ode to the Soil” is amazing.

For the first prompt, write an ode to something normally considered mundane or unlovely. Surprise yourself (and your readers) by viewing the subject with a new lens.

The next prompt is to use “But you, you greet every body like a new / meal” as a ghostline, but have the “you” be something other than the soil or a grave or anything associated with death. Remember to erase the line and credit the poet.

For the third prompt, describe in a poem or story what you (or a character) would make if you/the character pushed out all the sorrow from within.

The final prompt is address a poem to a historical figure beginning or ending with the line “All this to say, I am jealous of your lack of / remorse.” Remember to use quotation marks around or italicize the line and give credit to the poet.

Good luck submitting! Have fun writing!

Prompts and Encouragement Inspired by Adedayo Agarau and Publication Resources

I want to share this poem because it is so beautiful and because the poet said it had been his most rejected piece. Since I am awaiting rejections from some out-of-reach publications, I need this encouragement myself.

For the first prompt, create your own footnote poem in which the title explains the lines’ reference(s). A religious book or the name of a myth or famous movie, book, or even character would all work.

The second prompt is to use the opening line “At what point does silence become surrender?” as a ghostline. Remember to erase the line and give credit to the poet.

For a third prompt, write a list poem on envy using the line “This is envy, this is my blood building a boat in your / raging voice” as either ghostline or title or epigraph. Do give credit regardless.

For the last prompt from this poem, write a poem using the following word list: “silence,” “whimper,” “storm,” “sacrifice,” “platform,” “knife,” “ram,” “voice,” “smeared,” and “speck.” Try to use the nouns in the poem as verbs and vice versa in yours.

Now for a change, rather than writing, let’s talk about where to submit poems. I ran across Angela T. Carr’s list of publication deadlines late so that many of the January submission periods have already closed, but there are still publications open until February.

If you have a full-length poetry collection ready, Emily Stoddard generously shared a list of 183 publishers, their deadlines (if set), and reading fees (if any) on her substack.

As always, I am grateful to the generosity of so many in the poetry community.

Bonus prompt: write an ekphrastic poem or short story based on this scene.

Good luck writing (and editing) and submitting!