Everyday throughout April I am posting an image for you to use as a writing prompt. Feel free to post links to the resulting work in the comments.
Please be aware by sharing your work digitally, it is considered published and may prevent you from submitting it to journals and anthologies.
Day #1
Maureen Thorson is both humble and selfless in her annual encouragement of poetry. One thing which struck me when I discovered NaPoWriMo (2014) was how generous Maureen was with her time and Napo prompts. She wasn’t after any awards or even a mailing list, she was just giving.
So I am delighted this year to be able to give something back. I feel Maureen truly deserves it!
National Poetry Writing Month, is an annual project in which participating poets attempt to write a poem a day for the month of April.
This website (napowrimo.net) is owned and operated by Maureen Thorson, a poet living in Washington, DC. Inspired by NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month), she started writing a poem a day for the month of April back in 2003, posting the poems on her blog. When other people started writing poems for April, and posting them on their own blogs, Maureen linked to them. After a few years, so many people were doing NaPoWriMo that Maureen decided to launch an independent website for the project.
This site was designed by the very nice people at 2the9design, who know waaaaayyyyy more about back-end coding stuff than Maureen does. But this site isn’t meant to be “official,” or to indicate ownership or authority over the idea of writing 30 poems in April. There is no corporate sponsorship of this project. No money is intended to change hands anywhere. Maureen just likes poems and wants to encourage people to write them. The site doesn’t ask for your email address, or any other personal information. Heck, you don’t even have to give your name.
© 2011-2022 NaPoWriMo
The first official post of 2022 shares this information, https://www.napowrimo.net/coming-soon-na-glopowrimo-2022/ but I wanted to share it over here in AWF. I know there are some people who love to read poetry over here and thought you might like this.
Maureen has a new poetry collection out, sadly I missed the Book Launch but found a reading from the new book from earlier in the year.
Share the Wealth is my third full-length collection of poetry, published by Veliz Books on March 1, 2022.
Previously Maureen Thorson published two collections of poetry, My Resignation (Shearsman Books 2014) and Applies to Oranges (Ugly Duckling Press 2011).
Some poems from her NEW book can be found here.
And from the blurb…
Maureen Thorson’s collection Share the Wealth combines playful persona poems and satires with beautiful lyrics about life in the woods. One can’t move to Maine without channeling the ghost of James Schuyler, so it’s not surprising that his careful and sly observational style informs Thorson’s most grounded lyrics. “Bliss is relative,” says a frog in one of her poems, and I’m grateful to these poems for reminding us to look for bliss, however relative it may be.
— Joanna Fuhrman, author of To a New Era
And here you can find a reading from February 2022 – Boog City festival.
Congratulations Maureen!
Maureen Thorson is the author of Share the Wealth (Veliz Books, 2022), On Dreams (Bloof Books 2021), My Resignation (Shearsman 2014), and Applies to Oranges (Ugly Duckling Presse 2011), as well as the chapbook Mayport, which won the Poetry Society of America’s national chapbook fellowship for 2006. She lives in Falmouth, Maine.
Projects in the Poetry World which keep longevity are to be praised, heartfelt gratitude to Maureen for keeping NaPoWriMo part of our lives every April!
It has been a long while since I was on top of blog updates. I have a lot of news to share. I am finally (as much of any of us are able to this year) back in the flow.
I read some of the 2019/20 posts I managed last night and was reminded of my Annus horribilis, but the truth is we all have them and for those lucky enough to escape them, this year we had a pandemic that shook the whole world.
When I mention in those posts I was off the meds, I was referring to morphine, I am still on daily tablets for both the neuropathy (which is unlikely to improve beyond what it is) and the chronic illnesses. But that’s the difference. They are this way now forever, this is me. From a life of daily medical appointments, physio and 27 tablets to one of 5 daily tablets and quarterly consultations. The pain is less intense and is liveable. Life is precious, 2020 taught everyone that. So like a bad relationship, I have to put it all behind me and move on.
I am starting a string of posts to fill the gaps of 2020. This pandemic has been the worst thing most of us have ever experienced and I still feel guilty writing about the year in a positive way when so many have lost loved ones.
It gave us time to slow down and although I should have been more productive (I have a house to sort out) and could have made up some of the lost income by selling online (I have a lot of never worn/pre-loved clothes, books that I have read but are in perfect condition and size 5 shoes to offload, if anyone is interested) – and that’s on top of bags sorted for charity (but then not dropped off as they were all inundated with donations/ lockdown – shut them/ and now I am not sure they are taking donations yet). I could have worked systematically through my to do list…. could/should… tough thoughts when you think about what we face, just staying okay and not dipping into depression and anxiety is hard enough for us. So forgive yourself right now if (like me), you didn’t bake sourdough, exercise daily, read every book on your shelf, redecorate every room. You hung in there. Gold stars all round!
At the beginning of it all I was very concerned (still am) but learning to live with it and feel less anxious. Not less cautious though, no Christmas bubble going on here! I disappeared into a year which has become my learning year. Which has been incredible, thanks to the generosity of many creatives who gave their time and expertise to provide so many of us with valuable options.
I have not been in a position to buy anything, I am far luckier than many I have some work again, I have a home etc. but I have also not lived this thinly since I was a student. I arrived in 2020 with the debt of not working for a year and then lockdown. But people have been very generous and I am very grateful and I will pay it forward when I can.
I have always been a fan of the pretty notebook, who isn’t? This year I unpacked them all and started using them. I have filled many books (approx. 14) with notes/writing/ideas. I finally started submitting again and managed to complete several projects / commissions and applications (the latter were unsuccessful). And I started to work again after 7 months of lockdown (I stayed self-isolated pretty much), that has been an adjustment!
And today (one year since the launch of my 2nd pamphlet Patience), my new website went live! I started it back in April 2019 – but wasn’t properly back at the desk until late summer so it became a lost project.
https://ninalewispoet.wordpress.com
As a run up to Christmas I am going to attempt a whistle stop highlight tour of 2020 and then plan a monthly dip in the Fountain again as we get on with 2021.
Thanks to everyone who still visits and enjoys the rambling reads!
Sadly October has not turned out as I planned. At the end of the 1st week of the month I underwent an operation and am currently convalescing and undergoing daily outpatient appointments.
Our FREE Online Writing Retreat at the end of October is still going ahead – it is always the final weekend of the month. This year the 27th/28th October.
Guest Writers will be revealed on Friday and I am delighted this will be the 6th annual INKSPILL.
I will not be posting on the blog this month as healing well is paramount, however, I hope you will join me for INKSPILL… spread the word!
INKSPILL is an annual writing retreat right here on AWF. This year marks the 5th year and as with previous years we have some Special Guest Writers for you.
Behind the scenes there is a lot of preparation going on, so take advantage of this FREE writing weekend at the end of October. Book yourself some time off online now!
Coffee and a writing challenge
Grab yourself a drink, watch this short video. Return to the video and freeze on an image that speaks to you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thuViaxRd_w
WARNING Grammatical errors – I have chosen this film for the images.
Choose a screen shot or part of the short film and just free write – or word association and then look back at your list of words and choose one as your writing focus.
This is just to open your mind to writing and get you started. It would be great if you post the whole or extracts of your free write here in the comments or send us the link to your blog to read it.
Stretch into the day writers and begin…
respond in any writing style that feels right for you.
INKSPILL 2015 Programme
Having given yourself the gift of a writing weekend, I am sure you are eager to see how it pans out. Timings are given in GMT, posts will remain active beyond the weekend and can be commented on at any time.
We dream of conversations between participants on threads, do make the virtual seem real and join in actively throughout the weekend.
Throughout the weekend if you prefer, you can email directly to:
awritersfountain[at]hotmail[dot]com or join the closed Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/194707454197891/
If you want to share work that you are considering submitting you can share it on the closed Facebook page and it won’t be considered published. Let us know you have done that with a link back in the comments box, so we can find and read your work.
Please appreciate that I may not have time for individual responses over the weekend.
SOCIAL MEDIA – Share links throughout the weekend across social media.
INKSPILL – The Programme 2015
SATURDAY 24th
DAY 1
9:00 Coffee and a writing challenge
10:00 WORKSHOP: Exploring Self
11:30 Introducing Our Guest Writers Alison May, David Calcutt and Daniel Sluman.
11:45 VIDEO & DISCUSSION
Inspirational writing video By Rae Dover
Discussion on writing on the hop and how to deal with rejection.
Opening of the INKSPILL SHOP
12:30 LUNCH – after lunch we start back with a short excerpt from an Amy Tan interview (2008), you may be interested in watching the full interview (1hr 23 mins) if so, maybe view it with your lunch.
13:45 INTERVIEW short video an interview by Roger Rosenblatt with Amy Tan (2008)
14:30 GUEST WRITER Interview with David Calcutt
15:00 WORKSHOP: CHARACTER
16:40 GUEST WRITER Interview with David Calcutt Part 2
17:40 GUEST WRITER Interview with Alison May
18:00 Free time to spend on your own writing from this retreat or projects you are currently working on.
19:30 Poetry Film ‘The Beach’
Followed by another
21:00 Night Write challenge
And for those of you who do not wish to sleep, links will be shared from the 2013 INKSPILL retreat to keep you busy!
SUNDAY 25th
DAY 2
9:30 Coffee and a short film.
10:00 Beautiful Ugly Writing Challenge
11:30 GUEST POET Daniel Sluman Interview
11:50 Free time to spend on your own writing from this retreat or projects you are currently working on.
12:00 Lunch – As it is Sunday, take a break.
13:30 How not to Waste Time – Article & discussion
14:00 WORKSHOP Weather and Folklore
16:00 REFUGEES – An exploration of poetry, writing and person.
17:30 Explore the Archives, including Guest Posts from 2014
20:00 Evaluation & Ending – this will include a quick and easy click poll (rather than a 2 sided sheet of A4 evaluation), please take a few moments to leave your mark. Thank you.
A BIG Thank YOU post
20:30
The INKSPILL posts will remain active – the LIVE element is over. There will be no more INKSPILL related posts until next 2016.
*Over the following week this programme will have active links embedded and be posted to the top of the blog roll to help you navigate to specific parts of the INKSPILL programme.
If after that, you wish to find retreat posts use the keyword INKSPILL in Categories at the bottom of the page OR click 24th or 25th on the OCTOBER calendar to the right of the screen.
INKSPILL PROGRAMME 2015
AT A GLANCE
| SAT 24th Oct | SUN 25th Oct |
| Writing Challenges
In Nature Night Write |
Writing Challenges
Beautiful Ugly Refugees |
| Meeting Guest Writers | FREE TIME TO WRITE |
| Workshops
Exploring Self Character |
Workshop
Weather & Folklore |
| Video & Discussion
On writing & rejection |
Poetry Films & Shorts
ARTICLES How Not To Waste Time |
| INKSPILL SHOP OPENS | INKSPILL SHOP |
| INTERVIEWS
With Amy Tan (2008) David Calcutt Guest Writer Alison May Guest Writer |
INTERVIEW
Daniel Sluman Guest Poet |
| ARTICLES Archived
INKSPILL 2013 Historical Research Writing Historical Fiction How to Write a Short story The WHY Technique |
ARTICLES Archived
GUEST WRITERS POSTS INKSPILL 2014 WILLIAM GALLAGHER |
| ARTICLES
Archived Links INKSPILL 2014 |
HEATHER WASTIE |
| INKSPILL 2014 | CHARLIE JORDAN |
A week of poetry; getting it published, reading it, writing to form and performing as a Headline act.
A busy and rewarding week with some full (much needed) writing days.
The first weekend I was without my car and missed The Ort with Debbie Aldous in Birmingham, the end of Cheltenham Festival, Caldmore Writing workshop with David Calcutt and Confab Cabaret in Malvern with Matt Windle ‘Poet with Punch’ and Kurly, who I recently saw perform at SpeakEasy in Worcester, which is where I will have to catch him again when he Headlines.
Studying Poetry and Writing West Midlands
I spent time catching up with my MOOC course, writing poetry, reading poetry and preparing this weekend’s writing session for WWM, as Ian is away and I get to be Lead Writer again. 
Submissions, Publications, Poetry Festivals & Blogs
I submitted to the Seamus Heaney anthology and had a poem accepted, to be published in print form later this year. I booked tickets for the 52 event as part of Stratford Poetry Festival and emailed a couple of poets about Guest Blog posts.
Performing Poetry/ Headlining
Performance wise I had just the one gig, it had been a week since I performed and I also (made what I have since learnt is a mistake) took a set with 80% new material to Headline at Permission to Speak, the Scary Canary – a wonderful new spoken word night created and hosted by Rob Francis.
I was headlining alongside the ever talented Ian Passey, a.k.a Humdrum Express.
I complete my week working with the Senior writing group at The Hive. 
Next Week at a glance:
An exciting start to 2015, the month has flown by! 
My car completely died on me the first day back at work and had to have a new battery, I’ve worked at ‘World’s End’, survived the first month of Mr G working away from home, been a Guest Poet at The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room -Ludlow, I was invited to be a guest poet at Word Up, Birmingham – alongside Antony Owen and Lily Blacksell, I was booked as a Special Guest for a charity event in March and as a headliner/Guest Poet for a new Open Mic Night in Stourbridge – that’s booked in for May, was worried March was looking a little full already. I’ve read 4 books, made contact with Rachel Kelly after reading her book ‘black rainbow’ and was inspired to write a New Year blog post – I have been really touched by this connection, got copies of Heather Wastie’s and Bert Flitcroft’s books, was the team leader in Mouth & Music’s Spark Off Event,
FINALLY got an appointment with my Doctor (have been trying since November), avoided all January SALES (mainly due to the car costing a small fortune and the rest being spent on poetry),
Had to survive with my mobile phone dying on me (for the 4th time) finally getting it sent away! I laughed at how they mistook my age to mean techsavvy lending me a Samsung Galaxy without any manual! The loaned charger didn’t work either – fortunately mine is designed to fit different handsets so it seems.
Mr G and I adjusted to a working life apart only to be reunited several months sooner than we expected.
It snowed! Four times – the 3rd time I narrowly missed two collisions on the brow of a hill and had to call in to cancel work as all exits were snowed in. Even people in Landrovers were struggling – I stood no chance – my car has a moped sized engine and is as useless as me in ice and snow.
BLOGS & PROJECTS
Delighted to see a new flow of followers this month, I have managed to blog about this month and also I think there are probably a high percentage of people looking and searching for things in January. Great to see the activity remain strong. You know me, always trying to beat the stats!
52 came to an end *which I missed as I was offline for Christmas, we are being weaned off with some new prompts from Norman and have the promise of books and anthologies to look forward to.
This year I am seeking to place my poetry in suitable places, rather than spending my life writing to theme (although no doubt I will do this also).
Work re-started (after Christmas break) on my own personal poetry project and will probably be the case for most of the year. I also submitted work for magazines and a collection of poems.
I continued to attend David Calcutt’s Community Garden workshops in Walsall. This month we were writing in the moment. My poetry can be seen on his website (link to follow). I was nearly an hour late but caught up with pages of ideas and two almost poems. Our path has been raked over ready for the community path to be built up to the wild area, this path will feature our group poem written in December.
Our Poetry Society Stanza group was invited to submit poetry for a competition at Corinium Museum, Cirencester http://coriniummuseum.org/, a group of us went on Poet’s Day Out Trip – cake, museum, lunch, shopping. I thoroughly enjoyed my day with Kathy Gee, Maggie Doyle & Claire Walker. I have written pages of notes, chosen the artefacts to write about… now I just to need to WRITE!
SUBMISSIONS
I submitted work to publications and poetry press.
Popshots Outsider
Magma Violence
Faber New Poets
PERFORMING POETRY
This year I decided to pull back on the 100+ gigs of last year to allow more time to work on writing. Despite this promise I couldn’t resist January, especially as I missed most of December. Wonderfully I started and ended the month with Guest Poet slots. I have more events booked through until July, which is brilliant.
The Poetry Lounge in The Sitting Room – Guest Poet alongside Bert Flitcroft – Jean Atkin, Ludlow
SpeakEasy New Year , Fergus McGonigal & Maggie Doyle, Worcester
Mouth & Music, Spark Off! – Team Leader in opposition with Peter Williams – Heather Wastie & Sarah Tamar
Drummonds 42 (the 42nd event) – Andrew Owens
Word Up – Guest Poet alongside Antony Owen & Lily Blacksell- Ddotti Bluebell & Jasmine Gardosi
It feels like I have attended more events than this – there were plenty I didn’t go to – needing writing time and having a different focus this year and of course, some just clashed; Spoken Word at The Ort (I hope to make it by March, the dates clash with Stanza meetings), Luck’s Weight Exhibition poems and photographs by Jean Atkin & Andrew Fusek Peters, Hit the Ode, Spoken Worlds, Sunday Xpress, Shindig, Grizzly Pear, Purple Penumbra, Je Suis Birmingham.
EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
Stanza
Writing West Midlands – Assistant writer/ Mentor- the new mentor role (which was a time-limited position came to a close this month to praise and positive feedback)
The Stanza Group working on Museum Poetry
David Calcutt – Caldmore Gardens Workshop & Poetry on the Path Project
A great start to the New Year and my 3rd year in the world of writing, 2nd year in the world of poetry.
PS: Like all Bloggers I keep my eye on the traffic and I forgot to add this gem to the review: BOOM!
Approaching The New Year
I have had a play around in Blogland and managed to actually visit and read other blogs and as one would expect at this time of year they are all filled to the brim with shiny new hope and goal setting.
As a trained Life Coach I know about this field and how to succeed. I don’t make resolutions, I make plans. Then I chase my way through all the obstacles to victory or a soothing acceptance somewhere close by.
I had a trawl through our own archives here and found some GEMS that I will link you up to, recommended reading for sure. As a blogger, I have been carrying the thought of my New Year message since Christmas, when as you remember I was offline and absorbing the full 3D reality of life in the big, wide world.
Reviewing Resolutions
ARCHIVED NEW YEAR / GOAL SETTING LINKS
https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/new-year-new-you-writing-resolutions/
It seems last year I did make resolutions, the best thing about this post ^ is knowing the results 12 months later;
Here are my resolutions – feel free to commit some of your own down in response to this post.
I am working towards a collection of poems for a pamphlet. I sent 2 manuscripts, both were rejected but one showed promise and I continue to make this my personal project of 2015. The process has opened up a whole new world. I had the wardrobe, now I have to find my way around Narnia!
I am starting work as an Assistant Writer with hope of having a position as a Lead Writer in 2015. I am coming up to 12 months as an Assistant Writer for WWM and have also been 1 of 3 writers picked as mentors for a term.
I am going to have a big presence on the Performance Circuit in the hope of being booked for guest spots by the end of the year. I managed 107 events, some were open mics, other were gallery openings, art projects, festivals, commissions, collaborations, everyone of them was a delight! I performed alongside many amazing people and have just had my 2nd Headline/ Main guest booking!
I will submit poetry for publication. I did! Some was published, others rejected, all were new writing fresh from my pen.
I will write some short stories for competitions. I did, I have shelved this as I was not particularly successful in this field although I corresponded with some incredible people and had a few close misses. However, posts I wrote back in 2013 about writing short stories are still top of the stats several years later.
https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2013/01/05/putting-the-stones-in-first/
Truth
I spent the holidays reading a rather large book which was an emotional mountain for me, reaching the peak took several attempts and I needed to find more strength to finish the final chapters. It was far from an easy read (and yet still enjoyable) it is the kind of book I have always imagined writing, the sort of book that I didn’t believe existed, the sort of book I have needed to read for years, but wouldn’t have been strong enough or open enough before now (and it was still being written) there in the final pages I found shining out at me ,a New Year message.
The book is 
by Rachel Kelly http://www.blackrainbow.org.uk/
I recommend it for any families with depression sufferers, as someone suffering it might be a monumental challenge but a worthwhile one.
I accepted help in 2012 and have been on medication (and other treatment) ever since, I spent the first 3-4 years trying to self help, medicate naturally and hid it from myself and others. I was diagnosed as high functioning but had slam-dunked the Beck Test, severe depression. It is something that affects lots of creative minds.
Part of my healing came from reading and later writing (journaling emotions initially) and eventually writing again after a 15 year break and finally entering back into the world of Poetry, all of which supports me in my day to day living.
I acknowledge that I attacked 2014 on the LIVE circuit with a vigour that was only possible to maintain through mania and that I myself need to calmly tread into 2015, stay behind the desk a little more, get things done, write my own rainbows. I’ve started, I am 90k into a manuscript that is still growing and assembling some shape, finding that there are books out there written by people who have lived it, that work to lift your head to a different space is exhilarating and I will definitely pursue my own version of such a record, more books like this are needed.
Having said that, the diary for January is already filling up and brimming with a few exciting new ventures. More on that later.
Rainbows
Look out for my post on Rainbows COMING SOON!
Until then, spend some time considering what you want to discover in this new year. Look around you, be a part of that.
Dream big & keep writing
ADDITIONAL LINKS
About one in 10 people, possibly more, in the UK will experience depression during their lifetime. However, the exact number is hard to estimate because many people do not get help, or are not formally diagnosed with the condition. When sadness and other symptoms of depression are intense and last for long periods of time, they can signal clinical depression or major depression, a serious medical illness that needs professional care.
awritersfountain 