The last couple years I've been running a closed group on Facebook for NaPoWriMo. I provided prompts for the month for anyone who wanted them, and we'd post about our progress (without clogging the feed with our actual poems). Last year's group had 179 members, the year before 139. When I learned my teaching load for the upcoming academic year and reckoned my other commitments, I told the group I couldn't do it a third time in 2019--but then started a file of prompts that I a

I'm delighted to say I managed over 30 poems in 30 days. Those are drafts, not finished poems, of course, but it's felt good to focus consistently on my poetry after a heavy workload this year at Bath Spa University. Part of the pleasure has been having company. Over 140 people ultimately joined my Facebook group for the challenge, some using prompts, some just taking daily notes, some writing independently, everyone sharing their experiences and encouraging one another. Will

It's 10:54 p.m. on the ninth day of drafting at least a poem a day, and I've just finished a draft of a short poem juxtaposing the figurative winter of Gorsuch's confirmation to the Supreme Court with a day of the best weather we've had in England this year. I think that's one thing I find interesting about drafting a poem a day: I write not only about what I thought were my current concerns in terms of a manuscript or ideas I've been wrestling with for a while, but also more

As spring break falls entirely within April this year, I thought I would try writing a poem a day for National Poetry Month (in the US, anyway) and gathering others to do it with me. It's entirely an honour system, and I recommend tailoring the challenge to one's own needs: if you prefer to write two poems one day and none the next, or to write a section of a long poem you're working on, etc., that's just as worthy. I'll post on my progress at various points and welcome your