2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 5

Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides Blog

For people new to these challenges, I like to do “Two for Tuesday” prompts on Tuesdays. In that way, I get to pretend like I’m a DJ on a radio station. Here are the two prompts today:

1. Write a concealed poem. Could be about a concealed weapon, concealing emotions, concealing intentions, etc. Cover it up and write about it.
2. Write an unconcealed poem. Okay, take everything from the first prompt and uncover it. Reveal everything that’s hidden.

Completed on day 7

I loved this prompt – had loads of ideas swimming around my head. What I finally wrote was semi autobiographical and was an experience I had once on a tube. The reveal was even better because I had no idea what was concealed and didn’t know until the end of the poem as I was still undecided.

 

Both poems have some amazing lines (you know when you write a stunner and think WOW!) and I have used clever word play in the title – I think I might perform part 1 or both next week at the SpeakEasy event.

 

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 3

The PAD challenge 2013 – A Poem A Day from Writer’s Digest is another NOVEMBER challenge I have set myself and so far it has produced 2 quality poems, I need new material for gigs I have lined up this month and am struggling to find my own poetic muse so using a impetus works fine.

Can’t believe we are 10% in already – that goes for NaNo too – which is where I am heading off next to write!

Robert Lee Brewer

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

It’s not too late to catch up, but for those who are already on day three: Great job! After today’s poem, you’ll be a whole 10% through the month. We’re going to poem this month out!

For today’s prompt, write a “the last time I was here” poem. Imagine you’re returning to a spot (physical, emotional, psychological, etc.): Is it a good thing? Bad thing? What did you leave behind (if anything)? What’s there to welcome you back (again, if anything)?

 

 

My Day 3 PAD poem is about visiting San Francisco – a city that stole my heart back in 2005!

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 2

November PAD Chapbook Challenge 2013

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 2

For today’s prompt, write a “news of the day” poem. The poem should use some sort of recent news event as a springboard. It can be a news story from today (this morning), but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, you could even go “old school” and find news stories from archived sources–like the “news of the day” from 1936 (to pick a random year).

My 2nd PAD poem ‘World’s Apart’ is about the juxtaposition of a 60 million Dollar diamond ring in an auction in NYC  and a makeshift tent school UNICEF have provided for Syrian refugee children. Same day. Same world.

Based on photographs of today’s news from around the world covered by The Guardian Newspaper. These pictures were consecutive and couldn’t have been further apart.

2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge

I have just discovered another November challenge – there are so many out there as alternatives to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) which I have already committed to. However, I do need to write as many poems as I can this month as I have several readings and like to do different sets as some of the audience are the same and I like them to have new material to listen to. I also have a workshop and a Stanza meeting I need to write new material for.

So with some thought I have decided to complete the 2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge on

 this month too. Run by Robert Lee Brewer.

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

Here’s some information about the challenge – in case you fancy participating too.

Full details can be found here; http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2013-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-guidelines

The November challenge. The guidelines in this post should help guide you through the month.

Here are the basics of the challenge:

• Beginning on November 1 (Atlanta, Georgia time), I will share a prompt and poem each day of November on this blog.
• Poets are then challenged to write a poem each day (no matter where you live on the planet) within 24 hours (or so) from when the prompt is posted. Don’t worry: If you fall behind or start late, you CAN play catch up.
• Poets do NOT have to register anywhere to participate. In fact, poets don’t even need to post to this blog to be considered participants.
• The Challenge will unofficially conclude around 24 hours after the final prompt is posted. That said…
• This Challenge is unique, because I expect poets to take all the material they’ve written in November and create a chapbook manuscript during the month of December. (Yes, you can revise material, and yes, the chapbook should be composed mostly of poems written for the challenge–I’m using the honor system.)

Day 1 prompt:

Welcome to Day 1 of the 2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge! Let’s get some poeming done this month!

For today’s prompt, write an appearing poem. This could be a poem about something (or someone) appearing out of nowhere. Or it could be about appearances–appearing one way to some people; appearing another way to others. If you’re new to my prompts, let me share one thing: I’m totally fine with you stretching the prompt in any direction you need to write; in fact, I encourage it. Now get poeming!

 My 1st PAD poem ‘Transformation’ is about the lifecycle of the caterpillar and was inspired by a YouTube time lapse video I watched.