The paintings of artist Donald Wilkinson evoke the landscape and poetry of William Wordsworth, so much so that landscape and poetry become one.
Poetry Prompt: The Laughable Limerick
When you’re in need of a good, hearty laugh, look no further than the limerick. With its catchy meter and rhyme, the limerick is fun to read and easy to memorize. Join us and write some laughable limericks!
Life Notes: Greensleeves, Green Tea, and a Circlet
In this Life Notes edition, a child takes one writer’s morning in an unexpected direction—as children are wont to do.
Play It Forward: Writing Workshop
Have you ever wished that whimsy and fun—that play itself—could be the beginning of serious work? Enrich your writing through play—in this special workshop with authors Laura Boggess and Laura Lynn Brown.
On Finding Stories—And Maybe Myself
Callie Feyen invites readers to consider not just what is in a picture, but what’s not in the picture, when finding the story to tell.
Can Your Distractions Make You a Better Writer?
Can being distracted make you a better writer? Charity Singleton Craig explores the ways we can use our distractions to fuel creativity and even improve our writing.
Poets and Poems: Bernard O’Donoghue and “The Seasons of Cullen Church”
“The Seasons of Cullen Church” by Bernard O’Donoghue is moving and soul-searching, an exploration of the memories that make a life.
Things Invisible Poetry Prompt: Our Ghosts
Our ghosts have taken a journey. Let’s not miss the opportunity to lean in and listen to (and tell) their stories. In the process, we may learn something about ourselves.
Thank You Notes: Books
Thank You Notes is a prompt that focuses on expressing our thanks to a particular person, place, or thing. In this post we’re crafting thank you’s to Books!
Poetry for Life Scholarship Winner: Teja Dupree, of Johns Hopkins University
Meet Teja Dupree, college sophomore from Woodbridge, Virginia, who is the 2017 winner of our Poetry for Life Scholarship.
Committing Prufrock: Poetry Memorization Tips & Memories
Sandra Heska King uses her Phone-a-Friend to crowd-source poetry memorization tips and memories as she continues her Committing Prufrock Poetry Dare.
Poets and Poems: Kate Tempest and “Let Them Eat Chaos”
“Let Them Eat Chaos” by Kate Tempest is a long poem written to be read aloud, and it blows up the boundaries between poetry and performance.
“Guilty Thing: A Life of Thomas De Quincey” by Frances Wilson
“Guilty Thing: The Life of Thomas De Quincey” by Frances Wilson details the life of the writer who had, and still has, a major influence on literature.
Poets and Writers Toolkit: Play-Doh Creative Nonfiction
Teacher and writer Callie Feyen has been there—not knowing how to resolve a story, not knowing what to write and how. Her advice is to get some Play-Doh.
Tea Quest: Bantha Tea Bar, Pittsburgh
In the schedule’s in-between space, Laura Brown discovers a new tea shop on her Pittsburgh tea quest, and a fragrant cup of tulsi.
Book Club Announcement: The Wild Swans
Join us during National Poetry Month 2017 to read The Wild Swans by Jackie Morris and write poems to the fairy tale together.
“Mariner: A Voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge” by Malcolm Guite
In “Mariner: A Voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge,” Malcolm Guite tells the story of the poet’s life through the words and themes of his most famous poem.
Form It: Things Invisible Poetry Prompt
“Form It” is a poetry prompt that focuses on exploring our topic through form poetry. The prompt includes recommendations for each form’s best use! This time, we’re going to “form” Things Invisible.
Romeo and Juliet: Kissing a Fair Dragon in His Cave
When Callie Feyen teaches Romeo and Juliet, she uses the Oxford Press edition, and it is this one-sentence paragraph she makes sure the students discuss: “And then she meets Romeo.”
Poets and Poems: Angela Alaimo O’Donnell and “Still Pilgrim”
“Still Pilgrim” by poet Angela Alaimo O’Donnell tells us that both the major events of our lives and the everyday are but steps in a pilgrimage.