2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 19

 

Today is a “Two for Tuesday” prompt. In fact, it’s the one that I include in every challenge. Old hands knew this one was coming sooner or later. Here are your two options:

• Write a love poem. Romantic or more general types of love. Or…
• Write an anti-love poem. Some folks just don’t like love poems of any type, so have at it.

That’s just doubled what I have to catch up on, hoping for some time tomorrow to catch up with PAD poetry writing.

Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community

 

PAD Challenge – Another Catch Up!

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 16

For today’s prompt, write a half-way poem. The poem might deal with a half-way point in time. Or perhaps, a place in the dead center of here and there–in a physical sense. Even a compromise on terms in a negotiation can work.

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 17

Whew! These are the dog days of the challenge, right? The middle wasteland, but remember: “The Wasteland” is like a pretty incredible poem (for some folks anyway). As we wander in the desert of the November PAD Chapbook Challenge, be sure to let your mind wander and maybe a mirage or two will spring into a keeper.

For today’s prompt, write an element poem. Maybe an element from the periodic table (hydrogen, oxygen, etc.). Maybe an element of surprise?!? Or a missing element, which could refer to a person, tool, or poem. Run wild with it.

 

I had to study The Wasteland for A-level English, it was good to re-read it today without having to dissect the meanings. 

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 18

Mondays feel so much better when we’re poeming. Well, I feel that way anyway, and I hope at least a few others do too.

For today’s prompt, write a “forget what I said earlier” poem. This poem could be a response to a poem you wrote earlier in the challenge (or just earlier in general). Or it could cover one of those moments–I have them all the time–when you say something that ends up proving wrong or that you wish you’d taken back.

 

I can’t wait to catch up with the poems in this challenge – I have my work cut out though!

 

PAD Challenge – The Catch Up Post

I have not written a poem for the PAD Challenge as I was performing at SpeakEasy and then out at Stanza followed by a weekend away *which was supposed to include a poetry workshop and a performance – long story I will link to that post when I have written it – so here is the PAD Challenge update and later on I will plug into the poetry machine and create!

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 14

Two weeks! We’ve made it two weeks into the challenge. I don’t know why I ever doubt it, but this month is flying by as it usually does.

For today’s prompt, write an exploration poem. Maybe you’re exploring a new land, the depths of quarks, outer space, the mind, the soul, etc. Your call. In fact, it could be said that most poems are an exploration of one sort or another. So get at it.

Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 15

After we finish today’s poem, we’ll have crossed the half-way point in this challenge. Congratulations for making it this far! It’s all downhill from here, right?

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “What (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: “What Luck,” “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas,” “Whatever You Say,” and so on.

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 13

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 13

For today’s prompt, write a self-help poem. It can be written in the style of a self-help article or book. Or you can take it in a more subtle self-help direction.

Robert Lee Brewer

 

I wrote a tongue in cheek poem called ‘Self-Help’ it is in its infancy – I know I will work on this one and make it something at a later date.

 

PAD challenge – back in real time after a hefty 4 poem catch up!

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 12

It’s that time again. Time for another “Two for Tuesday” prompt. Do one, do the other, do both, whatever keeps you poeming this month:

1. Write a poem about your happiest moment. Well, doesn’t have to be yours actually. Just a moment that is someone’s happiest.
2. Write a poem about your saddest moment. Conversely, take happy, flip it, and make it the saddest moment.

Robert Lee Brewer

 

I wrote 2 poems, one about the birth of my 1st nephew and one about my dad leaving us.

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 11

Robert Lee Brewer

For today’s prompt, we’re going to write ekphrastic poetry–or poetry based off another piece of art. In the past, I’ve provided paintings, but today, I’m picking photographs (for something a little different). You may use one of the images below or choose your own.

Sam Taylor-Wood (via The Picture)

T S, “Hakuna Matata, 1″ (via 1stDibs)

Mikola Gnisyuk, “People in Trees” (via Baibakov Art Projects)

 

I was inspired to write a poem for each picture – but when it came to my catch up PAD write, I chose the 1st picture and wrote a couple of versions of a poem called ‘Tipping Point’.

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 10

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 10

Ten days is kind of a big deal for this poetry challenge. I mean, we’re talking double-digit days now. The big “one-zero.” Yeah, ten!

For today’s prompt, write a poem incorporating something sweet. Maybe a cake or pie. Possibly a candy bar or pixie stick (you know, that paper straw with delicious sugar inside–mmm). Or move it sweetly in another direction.

Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and a bit of a sugar junkie who especially favors tangy candies (like Sweet Tarts, Appleheads, and Skittles), though he can also go for chocolate, caramel, and vanilla. His mouth waters just thinking about all the sugary goodness in the world.

Funny that this should come up because the friend we met at the bar yesterday afternoon is a master baker – we are trying to get him to open a shop! He made this gorgeous creation that I was tempted to write about last night too! He included homemade cookie dough and Oreo’s (product placement please send me some!) as well as gooey good chocolate. It was an immense, highly layered extravaganza and the sugar rush off one small slice of that cake… well!

The staff all shared it and loved it too and Mr G and I myself were given the remaining cake slices to bring home! It helped me through last night’s Nano write – as I was falling asleep and I will have some for late night pudding tonight! MMMMMMMM! It is tempting to eat it whilst writing about it – but I may get sticky, messy fingers on the keys. So instead, I will imagine it! 🙂

HmmmmmmummmmmmmmHmmmmammmmmmm!

Today’s poem is called Cake Man and will be taken with me to the Oxford Emmapress workshop next weekend for some work!

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 9

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 9

Nine days may not seem like much, but hey, we’re now 30% of the way through November, and that’s a lot of percents, right? We’re making real progress, and I hope making some real poems.

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “The Other (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Some possible titles may include: “The Other Side of the Story,” “The Other Brother,” “The Other Hand,” or whatever else you concoct. And remember: I really don’t care if you bend or break the prompt in your favor. My prompts are just a starting place.

Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community

 

Possibly the best poem I have written yet on this challenge, yes I know I have already made this claim, about the one before the one that you are now – something we can all relate to – the ex. I called it ‘The Other Lover’.

Day 7 – 1 WEEK of NaNoWriMo

After two hours catching up on PAD poems I finally managed my NaNo write – which has taken the best part of another 2 hours. I have also being trying to join  PiBoldMo – tonight was the last time you could register but I keep getting errors. Maybe next year.

I started with 906 words in 40 minutes which I was very pleased with and then I changed scenes – and characters, I managed to create 560 something words and came a little unstuck so left the computer for a bit.

I came back and typed away and when I started to feel my brain give in – I decided I must be 1667 words in … It was 1589 I thought that was close enough and because I am currently a bit ahead of schedule it would have been fine to leave it.

This is my first year of Nano though and from my camp experiences I know that to try to stay ahead or on count is important. So I pushed on …. 1653….. 1764

Which is where I left it for tonight.

WORD COUNT = 1764

TOTAL WORDS = 14710 – great JOY! How close it is to 15000? I know that I will definitely reach through that next barrier tomorrow!

WORDS LEFT = 35290

Top Tips

Self discipline – push yourself. You will be amazed at how resilient and flexible you are.

Try to make the daily word count if you can.

Keep enjoying yourself…. if you’re not – walk away for a while.

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 7

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 7

Wow! We’ve made it a week into the challenge now. Let’s keep the momentum going.

For today’s prompt, write a hardship poem. The hardship could be moving forward after a tragic loss, having to work through a difficult problem, or even just showing up to work. It can be serious, funny, or complicated.

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community

Robert Lee Brewer

And I am FINALLY (2 hrs later) up to date with the PAD challenges, with 5 new poems in the collection.

This Sunday is Remembrance Day and I am attending a Poems for Peace event, where I am reading a set (of yet to be written, chosen poems) – this prompt spoke volumes and I thought of the hardship soldiers face in life after the battlefields. It is a poem written especially for Sunday’s event. A list poem. Every verse is a question.