At the begining of 2016 I proposed three poetry challenges for 2016. They were:
So how did you do? How did I do? Mixed, but overall good. Let’s take a look.
April Poems
April poems is something I’ve done a few years now, and suspect will continue to do for a while. Write a poem each day in April. It is the poetry nanowrimo, and for me, has had mostly good results.
This year was no different from 2011 and 2015, in that the collection was a bit random, with things from poems that came on strong, to the tired scribbles made before bed.
April Poems: Recommended!
1 in 12
This challenge was one I thought of. The idea was simple: write a poem in January. Then, write the same poem again in February, and March, etc. One poem, twelve times. The thought was that you would be editing, but also bringing in the elements of the year itself into the piece.
This one didn’t work for me. The reason was quite evident very early on: I didn’t like the poem I wrote in January.
And here is the hard part about this challenge: you have to start with a base that is worth coming back to 11 more times.
I think there is still something here in this challenge, and with a new take, or tweak on the bounds, it could very well be interesting. But for now…
1 in 12: Needs work….
Monday Poems
For Monday poems, the plan was simple: each Monday, take 5 minutes and reflect on the past week, then take another 5 minutes and write a simple poem.
This was fairly straight forward, and successful for me. Admittedly there were a few that weren’t written on Monday, but I did write one a week.
This too, I think I will keep going with. It is a good writing habit, and even if the poem made isn’t high art, it is both a good practice and a neat way to keep some memories.
Monday Poems: Recommended!
2017…
For 2017, I plan to do both April Poems and Monday Poems. Between now and the New Years, think of a new challenge(s?) to go along with them. I intend 2017 to be a year filled with art, and hope you’ll come along with me.