First poetic form challenge of 2015, and it’s a doozy! This time, we’ll be tackling the paradelle. Click here to check out how to write a paradelle.

This crazy form created by Billy Collins started as a joke, but it’s target audience (poets!) are gluttons for punishment and a real poetic challenge. And, well, these WD Poetic Form Challenges are supposed to be a challenge too, right? Just remember: I didn’t create this form.

So start writing them and sharing here on the blog (this specific post) for a chance to be published in Writer’s Digest magazine–as part of the Poetic Asides column. (Note: You have to log in to the site to post comments/poems; creating an account is free.)

Here’s how the challenge works:

• Challenge is free. No entry fee.
• The winner (and sometimes a runner-up or two) will be featured in a future edition of Writer’s Digest magazine as part of the Poetic Asides column.
• Deadline 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, GA time) on March 15, 2015.
• Poets can enter as many paradelles as they wish. The more “work” you make for me the better, but remember: I’m judging on quality, not quantity.
• All poems should be previously unpublished. If you have a specific question about your specific situation, just send me an e-mail at [email protected]. Or just write a new paradelle.
• I will only consider paradelles shared in the comments below. It gets too confusing for me to check other posts, go to other blogs, etc.
• Speaking of posting, if this is your first time, your comment may not appear immediately. However, it should appear within a day (or 3–if shared on the weekend). So just hang tight, and it should appear eventually. If not, send me an e-mail at the address above.
• Please include your name as you would like it to appear in print. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to use your user/screen name, which might be something like HaikuPrincess007 or MrLineBreaker. WD has a healthy circulation, so make it easy for me to get your byline correct.
• Finally–and most importantly–be sure to have fun!

******

2015 Poet’s Market

Publish your poetry!

Get the most trusted guide to publishing your poetry: the 2015 Poet’s Market!

Edited by Robert Lee Brewer, this edition of Poet’s Market includes articles on the craft of poetry, business of poetry, and promotion of poetry. Plus, interviews with poets and original contemporary poems. Oh yeah, and hundreds of poetry publishing opportunities, including book publishers, chapbook publishers, magazines, journals, online publications, contests, and so much more!

Click to continue.

*****

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of the poetry collection, Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53). He edits Poet’s Market, Writer’s Market, and Guide to Self-Publishing, in addition to writing a free weekly WritersMarket.com newsletter and poetry column for Writer’s Digest magazine. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

*****

Find more poetic posts here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 295.
• Gogyohka: Poetic Form.
• The Poetry World A-Z.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a gogyohka! I’ve been sitting on the winner and already have the erasure winner ready too (look for that next week).

My initial short list included nearly 50 poems, so it was crazy competitive (like usual). But I did cut it down to one winner and 10 finalists. This time around Marian O’Brien Paul won for her poem “Parsing Autumn,” which was actually a gogyohka chain.

Here’s the winning Gogyohka:

Parsing Autumn, by Marian O’Brien Paul

In our courtyard
two locust trees
one drenching us
with gold
before the other

Slate-gray lake
lounging
beneath the sky
mirror image:
a selfie

On the ground
a dead squirrel
its tail still bushy
body curled
as if sleeping

Pumpkins piled
into mounds
at markets
promising pies
Jack-O’Lanterns

*****

2015 Poet’s Market

Publish your poetry!

Get the most trusted guide to publishing your poetry: the 2015 Poet’s Market!

Edited by Robert Lee Brewer, this edition of Poet’s Market includes articles on the craft of poetry, business of poetry, and promotion of poetry. Plus, interviews with poets and original contemporary poems. Oh yeah, and hundreds of poetry publishing opportunities, including book publishers, chapbook publishers, magazines, journals, online publications, contests, and so much more!

Click to continue.

*****

Here is the Top 10 list:

1. “Parsing Autumn,” by Marian O’Brien Paul
2. “Two Big Herons on a Little Pond,” by William Preston
3. “Lump,” by Marie Elena Good
4. “(When I misplace),” by drnurit
5. “Envy,” by J. Lynn Sheridan
6. “Dying Embers,” by Tracy Davidson
7. “Landlord,” by Jessica Cummins
8. “(the moon),” by James Brush
9. “Trouble in Paradise,” by Daniel Roessler
10. “lost,” by Nancy Posey

Congratulations to Marian and everyone in the Top 10! And thank you to everyone who took the time to participate and comment on each others’ poems.

As mentioned above, an announcement on the erasure challenge is coming soon. In the meantime, watch for the next poetic form and poetic form challenge.

Also, be sure to read through all the comments from the gogyohka challenge. Click to continue.

*****

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of the poetry collection, Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53). He edits Poet’s Market, Writer’s Market, and Guide to Self-Publishing, in addition to writing a free weekly WritersMarket.com newsletter and poetry column for Writer’s Digest magazine.

He loves reading and writing the various poetic forms and can’t wait for the next April Poem-A-Day Challenge (not far away now).

Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

*****

Find more poetic posts here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 295.
• Gogyohka: Poetic Form.
• The Poetry World A-Z.

It is time for another poetic form challenge. This time, we’ll be doing erasures. Click here to discover what an erasure is.

Since it’s a form that uses another piece of text as source material, I’m going to ask that all entries credit their source. Also, this is the one form in which I’ll let folks submit directly to me but only if you use the subject line: WD Poetic Form Erasure. Any variations may be deleted without being read.

So start writing them and sharing here on the blog (this specific post) or via e-mail for a chance to be published in Writer’s Digest magazine–as part of the Poetic Asides column. (Note: You have to log in to the site to post comments/poems; creating an account is free.)

Here’s how the challenge works:

• Challenge is free. No entry fee.
• The winner (and sometimes a runner-up or two) will be featured in a future edition of Writer’s Digest magazine as part of the Poetic Asides column.
• Deadline 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, GA time) on December 12, 2014.
• Poets can enter as many erasures as they wish. The more “work” you make for me the better, but remember: I’m judging on quality, not quantity.
• All poems should be previously unpublished. If you have a specific question about your specific situation, just send me an e-mail at [email protected]. Or just write a new erasure.
• I will only consider erasures shared in the comments below or sent via e-mail using the specific subject line mentioned above. It gets too confusing for me to check other posts, go to other blogs, etc.
• Speaking of posting, if this is your first time, your comment may not appear immediately. However, it should appear within a day (or 3–if shared on the weekend). So just hang tight, and it should appear eventually. If not, send me an e-mail at the address above.
• Please include your name as you would like it to appear in print. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to use your user/screen name, which might be something like HaikuPrincess007 or MrLineBreaker. WD has a healthy circulation, so make it easy for me to get your byline correct.
• Finally–and most importantly–be sure to have fun!

******

2015 Poet’s Market

Get your poetry published!

Learn how to get your poetry published with the premiere book on publishing your poetry: the 2015 Poet’s Market, edited by the always lovable and encouraging Robert Lee Brewer.

This essential resource includes hundreds of listings for book publishers, magazines, journals, contests, grants, and so much more. Plus, there are articles on the craft of poetry, business of poetry, and promotion of poetry. Beyond that, there’s an hour-long webinar, a subscription to the poetry slice of WritersMarket.com, original poems, poet interviews, resources galore, and more-more-more!!!

Click to continue.

*****

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of the poetry collection, Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53).

He edits Poet’s Market, Writer’s Market, and Guide to Self-Publishing, in addition to writing a free weekly WritersMarket.com newsletter and poetry column for Writer’s Digest magazine.

He loves learning new poetic forms, sharing them with the Poetic Asides poets, and then with the world (through Writer’s Digest magazine).

Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

*****

Find more poetic treats here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 284.
• The Poetry World A-Z.
• 2014 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Guidelines.

You knew it was coming: another poetic form challenge. And, as you may have guessed, we’ll focus on the concise (but liberated) gogyohka this time around. Click here to read the guidelines on writing the gogyohka.

Since it’s such a short form, I’m expecting a lot of submissions. Plus, I’m hoping I can fit in a runner-up or two this time around. So start writing them and sharing here on the blog (this specific post) for a chance to be published in Writer’s Digest magazine–as part of the Poetic Asides column. (Note: You have to log in to the site to post comments/poems; creating an account is free.)

Here’s how the challenge works:

• Challenge is free. No entry fee.
• The winner (and sometimes a runner-up or two) will be featured in a future edition of Writer’s Digest magazine as part of the Poetic Asides column.
• Deadline 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, GA time) on November 3, 2014.
• Poets can enter as many gogyohkas as they wish. The more “work” you make for me the better, but remember: I’m judging on quality, not quantity.
• All poems should be previously unpublished. If you have a specific question about your specific situation, just send me an e-mail at [email protected]. Or just write a new gogyohka.
• I will only consider gogyohkas shared in the comments below. It gets too confusing for me to check other posts, go to other blogs, etc.
• Speaking of posting, if this is your first time, your comment may not appear immediately. However, it should appear within a day (or 3–if shared on the weekend). So just hang tight, and it should appear eventually. If not, send me an e-mail at the address above.
• Please include your name as you would like it to appear in print. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to use your user/screen name, which might be something like HaikuPrincess007 or MrLineBreaker. WD has a healthy circulation, so make it easy for me to get your byline correct.
• Finally–and most importantly–be sure to have fun!

******

Win $1,000 for Your Poetry!

Writer’s Digest is offering a contest strictly for poets with a top prize of $1,000, publication in Writer’s Digest magazine, and a copy of the 2015 Poet’s Market. There are cash prizes for Second ($250) and Third ($100) Prizes, as well as prizes for the Top 25.

The deadline is October 31. Enter as often as you’d like; win as much as you can.

Important note: This is separate from the gogyohka challenge. The Writer’s Digest Poetry Awards is open to all forms, styles, subjects, etc. So enter your haiku, free verse, and so on.

Click here to learn more.

*****

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of the poetry collection, Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53).

He edits Poet’s Market, Writer’s Market, and Guide to Self-Publishing, in addition to writing a free weekly WritersMarket.com newsletter and poetry column for Writer’s Digest magazine.

He loves learning new poetic forms, sharing them with the Poetic Asides poets, and then with the world (through Writer’s Digest magazine).

Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

*****

Find more poetic treats here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 284.
• The Poetry World A-Z.
• 2014 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Guidelines.

I’m sorry for taking so long to share the winner of the madrigal challenge. I’ve known for a week or two now, but you know what they say about good things coming to those who wait, right? If you don’t, trust me on this one.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a madrigal! They were really fun to read, and I found myself constantly caught up in their musical nature.

My initial short list included 22 poems, but I’m always stuck having to pick one winner. This time around, that winner is Bruce Niedt for his poem “Senior Discount,” which won me over with its humor.

Here’s the winning Madrigal:

Senior Discount, by Bruce Niedt

Apparently I’ve reached a certain age
where I’m forgiven at least ten percent.
I wonder how and when my youth was spent.

The movies, the museum and the stage
all offer handsome discounts for this gent.
Apparently I’ve reached a certain age
where I’m forgiven at least ten percent.

Nobody checks ID, they simply gauge
me by my face and how my spine is bent.
Free coffee doesn’t ease my discontent.
Apparently I’ve reached a certain age
where I’m forgiven at least ten percent.
I wonder how and when my youth was spent.

*****

Win $1,000 for Your Poetry!

Writer’s Digest is offering a contest strictly for poets with a top prize of $1,000, publication in Writer’s Digest magazine, and a copy of the 2015 Poet’s Market. There are cash prizes for Second ($250) and Third ($100) Prizes, as well as prizes for the Top 25.

The early bird deadline is October 1 and costs $15 for the first poem, $10 for each additional poem. Enter as often as you’d like.

Click here to learn more.

*****

Here is the Top 10 list:

1. “Senior Discount,” by Bruce Niedt
2. “A Tree in an English Garden,” by William Preston
3. “Christina’s World,” by RJ Clarken
4. “What She Needs,” by Taylor Graham
5. “A Conversation with Nana,” by Nancy Posey
6. “Windthrift,” by Jane Shlensky
7. “The Unneeded Weed,” by Susan Schoeffield
8. “Passion Play,” by James Von Hendy
9. “Midsummer Night,” by Daniel Ari
10. “Barbecue,” by Andrew Kreider

Congratulations to Bruce and everyone in the Top 10! And thank you to everyone who took the time to participate and comment on each others’ poems.

The next WD Poetic Form Challenge is already in motion for the terzanelle. Click here for the guidelines and to participate.

Also, be sure to read through the 450+ comments from the madrigal challenge. Click to continue.

*****

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of the poetry collection, Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53). He edits Poet’s Market, Writer’s Market, and Guide to Self-Publishing, in addition to writing a free weekly WritersMarket.com newsletter and poetry column for Writer’s Digest magazine.

He loves hosting, reading, and judging these challenges.

Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

*****

More poetic good stuff here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 281.
• Solving the World’s Problems: Year One.
• Call for Submissions: 2016 Poet’s Market.

It’s that time again: time for another poetic form challenge. And, as you may have guessed, we’ll focus on the terzanelle this time around. Click here to read the guidelines on writing the terzanelle.

Once you know the rules for the terzanelle, start writing them and sharing here on the blog (this specific post) for a chance to be published in Writer’s Digest magazine–as part of the Poetic Asides column. (Note: You have to log in to the site to post comments/poems; creating an account is free.)

Here’s how the challenge works:

• Challenge is free. No entry fee.
• The winner (and sometimes a runner-up or two) will be featured in a future edition of Writer’s Digest magazine as part of the Poetic Asides column.
• Deadline 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, GA time) on October 6, 2014.
• Poets can enter as many terzanelles as they wish. The more “work” you make for me the better, but remember: I’m judging on quality, not quantity.
• All poems should be previously unpublished. If you have a specific question about your specific situation, just send me an e-mail at [email protected]. Or just write a new terzanelle.
• I will only consider terzanelles shared in the comments below. It gets too confusing for me to check other posts, go to other blogs, etc.
• Speaking of posting, if this is your first time, your comment may not appear immediately. However, it should appear within a day (or 3–if shared on the weekend). So just hang tight, and it should appear eventually. If not, send me an e-mail at the address above.
• Please include your name as you would like it to appear in print. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to use your user/screen name, which might be something like HaikuPrincess007 or MrLineBreaker. WD has a healthy circulation, so make it easy for me to get your byline correct.
• Finally–and most importantly–be sure to have fun!

******

Win $1,000 for Your Poetry!

Writer’s Digest is offering a contest strictly for poets with a top prize of $1,000, publication in Writer’s Digest magazine, and a copy of the 2015 Poet’s Market. There are cash prizes for Second ($250) and Third ($100) Prizes, as well as prizes for the Top 25.

The early bird deadline is October 1 and costs $15 for the first poem, $10 for each additional poem. Enter as often as you’d like.

Important note: This is separate from the terzanelle challenge. The Writer’s Digest Poetry Awards is open to all forms, styles, subjects, etc. So enter your haiku, free verse, and so on.

Click here to learn more.

*****

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53). He loves reading poetry, writing poetry, and studying poetry–but he especially loves sharing poetry and is happy that Poetic Asides is a place that accommodates just that.

For the terzanelle, in particular, Robert appreciates its complex structure of rhymes and refrains that when done well make for a really enjoyable poem. He looks forward to reading through this batch.

Robert is married to the poet Tammy Foster Brewer, who helps him keep track of their five little poets (four boys and one princess). Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

*****

Find more poetic posts that rock here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 280. Every Wednesday, a new prompt and poem.
• Interviewing Poets: Why and How. Guest post from Glenda Council Beall.
• Solving the World’s Problems: Year One. Books sold, lessons learned.

Earlier this week, I hinted it was coming, and here it is: the next WD Poetic Form Challenge. Of course, we’ll be writing the madrigal, specifically the English madrigal, for this challenge. Click here to read the guidelines for the madrigal.

Once you know the rules for the madrigal, start writing them and sharing here on the blog (this specific post) for a chance to be published in Writer’s Digest magazine–as part of the Poetic Asides column. (Note: You have to log in to the site to post comments/poems; creating an account is free.)

The golden shovel challenge drew 750+ comments–so consider the bar raised.

Here’s how the challenge works:

• Challenge is free. No entry fee.
• The winner (and sometimes a runner-up or two) will be featured in a future edition of Writer’s Digest magazine as part of the Poetic Asides column.
• Deadline 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, GA time) on August 31, 2014.
• Poets can enter as many madrigals as they wish. The more “work” you make for me the better, but remember: I’m judging on quality, not quantity.
• All poems should be previously unpublished. If you have a specific question about your specific situation, just send me an e-mail at [email protected]. Or just write a new madrigal.
• I will only consider madrigals shared in the comments below. It gets too confusing for me to check other posts, go to other blogs, etc.
• Speaking of posting, if this is your first time, your comment may not appear immediately. However, it should appear within a day (or 3–if shared on the weekend). So just hang tight, and it should appear eventually. If not, send me an e-mail at the address above.
• Please include your name as you would like it to appear in print. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to use your user/screen name, which might be something like HaikuPrincess007 or MrLineBreaker. WD has a healthy circulation, so make it easy for me to get your byline correct.
• Finally–and most importantly–be sure to have fun!

2015 Poet’s Market

******

Pre-order the Latest Poet’s Market!

The 2015 Poet’s Market is now available for pre-order at a discounted price. Get the most up-to-date information for publishing your poetry, including listings for book and chapbook publishers, magazines and journals, contests and awards, and more!

Plus, this edition includes information on poetic forms, poet interviews, articles on the craft and business of poetry, and so much more!

Click to continue.

******

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53). He loves reading poetry, writing poetry, and studying poetry–but he especially loves sharing poetry and is happy that Poetic Asides is a place that accommodates just that.

Walks in the park, kissing after dark, watching Jimmy Stewart films–these are some of the other things that Robert enjoys. He writes nearly daily and is happy to sacrifice cable TV to continue this practice.

Robert is married to the poet Tammy Foster Brewer, who helps him keep track of their five little poets (four boys and one princess). Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

*****

Find more poetic posts that rock here:

• Writing the Urban Sketch.
• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 273.
• Judith Skillman: Poet Interview.

Thank you for all the golden shovels this summer! With more than 700 comments, I felt like I had to “dig out” of a pile of golden shovel amazing-ness. This form seemed to really appeal to everyone, and I can see why, because it’s kind of like a poetic puzzle.

My initial short list included 21 poems, but I’m always stuck having to pick one winner. This time around, the winner is Margie Fuston for her poem “When the Moon Fell,” which uses the opening line of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.”

Here’s the winning Golden Shovel:

When the Moon Fell, by Margie Fuston

–after Edgar Allan Poe

The moon dropped from the clouds once.
I found her behind my house, lying upon
a patch of dried-up needs. She wore a
frown. I thought she always smiled at midnight,
but up close she looked dull and dreary.
We sat in the dirt in solidarity for a while.
I asked if she ever wished on stars, and I
sighed when she told me no. Together we pondered
what made the air and the clouds too weak
to hold us up. Eventually, we tired and
I tried to lift her back, but I found myself too weary.

*****

2015 Poet’s Market

Pre-order the Latest Poet’s Market!

The 2015 Poet’s Market is now available for pre-order at a discounted price. Get the most up-to-date information for publishing your poetry, including listings for book and chapbook publishers, magazines and journals, contests and awards, and more!

Plus, this edition includes information on poetic forms, poet interviews, articles on the craft and business of poetry, and so much more!

Click to continue.

******

Here is the Top 10 list:

1. “When the Moon Fell,” by Margie Fuston
2. “Composer,” by William Preston
3. “A Man With Secrets,” by Daniel Roessler
4. “Not Everyone Appreciates My Lit Humor,” by Linda Hofke
5. “Passing,” by James Von Hendy
6. “Habeas Corpus,” by Daniel Ari
7. “Things I’ve learned along the wrong path,” by J. Lynn Sheridan
8. “The Hunt,” by Shethra Jones-Hoopes
9. “None of These Say What Needs to Be Said,” by Gabrielle Freeman
10. “Very Funny,” by Naomi Poe

Congratulations to Margie and everyone in the Top 10! And thank you to everyone who took the time to participate and comment on each others’ poems.

The next WD Poetic Form Challenge is likely to go live in the next few days. Meanwhile, click here to check out all 700+ comments for the Golden Shovel challenge.

*****

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53). He loves reading poetry, writing poetry, and studying poetry–but he especially loves sharing poetry and is happy that Poetic Asides is a place that accommodates just that.

Robert is married to the poet Tammy Foster Brewer, who helps him keep track of their five little poets (four boys and one princess). Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

*****

Check out other poetic posts:

• Scaling in Nature Poetry.
• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 272.
• 2014 April PAD Challenge: Final Results.

Let’s get the next Writer’s Digest Poetic Form Challenge kicked into high gear. As you’ve probably already deduced, we’re going to write golden shovels this time around. Click here to read the golden shovel guidelines.

Once you know the rules for the golden shovel, start writing them and sharing here on the blog (this specific post) for a chance to be published in Writer’s Digest magazine–as part of the Poetic Asides column. (Note: You have to log in to the site to post comments/poems; creating an account is free.)

Here’s how the challenge works:

• Challenge is free. No entry fee.
• The winner (and sometimes a runner-up or two) will be featured in a future edition of Writer’s Digest magazine as part of the Poetic Asides column.
• Deadline 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, GA time) on July 20, 2014.
• Poets can enter as many golden shovels as they wish. The more “work” you make for me the better.
• All poems should be previously unpublished. If you have a specific question about your specific situation, just send me an e-mail at [email protected]. Or just write a new golden shovel.
• I will only consider golden shovels shared in the comments below. It gets too confusing for me to check other posts, go to other blogs, etc.
• Speaking of posting, if this is your first time, your comment may not appear immediately. However, it should appear within a day (or 3–if shared on the weekend). So just hang tight, and it should appear eventually. If not, send me an e-mail at the address above.
• Please include your name as you would like it to appear in print. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to use your screen name, which might be something like HaikuPrincess007 or MrLineBreaker. WD has a healthy circulation, so make it easy for me to get your byline correct.
• Finally–and most importantly–be sure to have fun!

******

Break into copywriting!

Learn how to make a living with your writing by breaking into the copywriting business. In this course, writers will learn the skills and techniques required to break into this field of writing.

Click to continue.

*****

Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community, which means he has the pleasure of doing a lot of fun writing-related projects. He’s also the author of Solving the World’s Problems. He’s married to a poet, Tammy Foster Brewer, who helps him keep track of their five little poets (four boys and one princess).

Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

*****

Find more poetic posts here:

• Jason Tandon: Poet Interview.
• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 268.
• Golden Shovel: Poetic Form.

Thank you for all the bref doubles earlier this spring! They were a lot of fun to read–and I’ve been having fun trying to write some more on the side. Something about 14 lines poems, I guess.

My initial short list included 21 poems, but there could only be one winner. The winning poem of the Writer’s Digest Bref Double Form Challenge is “The Zen of Fishing,” by Jane Shlensky.

Here’s the winning Bref Double:

The Zen of Fishing, by Jane Shlensky

He likes to fish late afternoon
when boaters pack and head for home;
he’s claimed a finger of the lake
where herons wade in shade of trees.

He packs a sandwich, water, flares,
humming a sentimental tune.
Sometimes he doesn’t bait a hook–
just sits, his elbows on his knees.

Long shadows stretch along the shore;
fish leap in arching brief ballet.
In silence he can’t bear to break,
he wades into deep empty ease,

but sometimes he will hear a loon
that moves him just like loving’s ache.

*****

Learn forms, get published!

The 2014 Poet’s Market is loaded with explanations of poetic forms, articles on the craft and business of poeming, poet interviews, original poems, and hundreds of listings for publishers of poetry–whether you’re trying to publish individual poems or an entire collection.

It’s the best all-around resource for poets looking to find readers for their poems.

Click to continue.

*****

Here is the Top 10 list:

1. “The Zen of Fishing,” by Jane Shlensky
2. “Decoration Day,” by William Preston
3. “Shell-shocked,” by Tracy Davidson
4. “Hiking,” by Connie Peters
5. “Caught Poetry,” by Jacqueline Hallenbeck
6. “Unrepentant,” by Nikki Markle
7. “String Theory Dining at Polignano a mare Bari Puglia,” by Linda Goin
8. “4th of July Parade,” by Daniel Roessler
9. “Wabi-Sabi Love,” by Linda Hofke
10. “In the morning,” by Amaria

Congratulations to Jane and everyone in the Top 10! And thank you to everyone who took the time to participate and comment on each others’ poems.

The next WD Poetic Form Challenge is likely to go live in the next few days. Meanwhile, click here to check out all the poems from the bref double challenge.

*****

Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53). He loves reading poetry, writing poetry, and studying poetry–but he especially loves sharing poetry and is happy that Poetic Asides is a place that accommodates just that.

Robert is married to the poet Tammy Foster Brewer, who helps him keep track of their five little poets (four boys and one princess). Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

*****

Check out other poetic posts here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 266.
• Rispetto: Poetic Forms.
• Jane Shlensky: Poet Interview.

Time for another WD Poetic Form Challenge. This time around, we’ll be writing the bref double, a 14-line French poetic form that is not a sonnet. Like many French forms, there’s a rhyme, but it also offers more variability than your typical French form. Click here to read how to write a bref double.

Once you know the rules for the bref double, start writing them and sharing here on the blog (this specific post) for a chance to be published in Writer’s Digest magazine–as part of the Poetic Asides column. (Note: You have to log in to the site to post comments/poems; creating an account is free.)

Here’s how the challenge works:

• Challenge is free. No entry fee.
• The winner (and sometimes a runner-up or two) will be featured in a future edition of Writer’s Digest magazine as part of the Poetic Asides column.
• Deadline 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, GA time) on May 26, 2014.
• Poets can enter as many bref doubles as they wish. The more “work” you make for me the better.
• All poems should be previously unpublished. If you have a specific question about your specific situation, just send me an e-mail at [email protected]. Or just write a new bref double.
• I will only consider bref doubles shared in the comments below. It gets too confusing for me to check other posts, go to other blogs, etc.
• Speaking of posting, if this is your first time, your comment may not appear immediately. However, it should appear within a day (or 3–if shared on the weekend). So just hang tight, and it should appear eventually. If not, send me an e-mail at the address above.
• Please include your name as you would like it to appear in print. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to use your screen name, which might be something like HaikuPrincess007 or MrLineBreaker. WD has a healthy circulation, so make it easy for me to get your byline correct.
• Finally–and most importantly–be sure to have fun!

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Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community, which means he has the pleasure of doing a lot of fun writing-related projects. He’s also the author of Solving the World’s Problems. He’s married to a poet, Tammy Foster Brewer, who helps him keep track of their five little poets (four boys and one princess). Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.

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Find more poetic goodies here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 261.
• Bref Double: Poetic Form.
• What Is the Value of Poetry?

Another poetic form challenge, another round of great reading–and tough decisions! The problem with these form challenges is not finding 10 great poems, but limiting it to 10–and then, choosing a winner. But that’s what I did, and I’m super happy with the winning poem: “The Thinnest Wall is Often the Thickest,” by Joshua Michael Stewart.

Here’s the winning triversen:

The Thinnest Wall is Often the Thickest, by Joshua Michael Stewart

The blue jays are eating the cat food
that flung to the ground
when I slipped on the icy back step.

I caught myself by grabbing the rail,
but the Meow Mix in the plastic cup
scattered among grass and pinecones.

I didn’t know it at the time,
but my neighbor was dead by then,
blood from his mouth staining his sheets.

The hallway between our apartments
began to reek of rotten eggs
tinged with a sickly sweetness.

The building manager came with a key,
and opened my neighbor’s door
to a silence that spread the news.

Maintenance is in there now
ripping out the carpets,
and I haven’t seen the stray cat all week.
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Get the National Poetry Month Kit!

Yes, this has been another great National Poetry Month, and here’s a great kit to celebrate: The Writer’s Digest National Poetry Month Kit, which includes a digital version of The Poetry Dictionary, a couple paperbacks (Creating Poetry and Writing the Life Poetic), a tutorial on building an audience for your poetry, the 2014 Poet’s Market, and more!

Click to continue.

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Here is the Top 10 list:

1. The Thinnest Wall is Often the Thickest, by Joshua Michael Stewart
2. Nowhere, by Sherry Toland
3. My “Self,” by Statten Ell
4. Hidden Love, by Tracy Davidson
5. The Eulogy, by Daniel Roessler
6. Grandpa’s Knee, by Joshua Michael Stewart
7. The Birds Scan the Birders, by William Preston
8. Pushing 50, by Laurie Kolp
9. Divinum Mysterium, by Jane Shlensky
10. For 370, by Bruce Niedt

Congratulations to Joshua and everyone in the Top 10! And congrats to all who participated and wrote triversens with abandon! There were many other poets who made the short list before I narrowed things down to a Top 10 list, and it was all great reading.

To read them all, click here.

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Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of Solving the World’s Problems. He plans to write more triversen in the near future. Learn more about Robert here: http://www.robertleebrewer.com/.

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Check out these poetic forms:

• Triversen: Poetic Form.
• Sijo: Poetic Form.
• Luc Bat: Poetic Form.

We’re going to try and get a WD Poetic Form Challenge going leading into the 2014 April PAD Challenge

This time around, we’ll be writing triversen, an 18-line poetic form developed by William Carlos Williams. Compared to many previous poetic forms, the triversen seems pretty “free,” but it’s not without rules. Click here to read how to write a triversen

Once you down the rules of triversen, start writing them and sharing here on the blog for a chance to be published in Writer’s Digest magazine–as part of the Poetic Asides column. (Note: You have to log in to the site to post comments/poems; creating an account is free.)

Here’s how the challenge works:

• Challenge is free. No entry fee.
• The winner (and sometimes a runner-up or two) will be featured in a future edition of Writer’s Digest magazine as part of the Poetic Asides column.
• Deadline 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, GA time) on April 6, 2014.
• Poets can enter as many triversens as they wish. The more “work” you make for me the better.
• All poems should be previously unpublished. If you have a specific question about your specific situation, just send me an e-mail at [email protected]

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Workshop your poetry!

Click here to learn more

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Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is the author of Solving the World’s Problems, a collection of poetry from Press 53. He’s also Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community, which means he edits books (Writer’s Market, Poet’s Market, and Guide to Self-Publishing), manages blogs, writes a poetry column for Writer’s Digest magazine, speaks on publishing and poetry nationally, leads online education, and more. A former Poet Laureate of the Blogosphere, Robert is married to the poet Tammy Foster Brewer, who will be traveling out to the Austin International Poetry Festival this April. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer

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Find more poetic posts here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 259

Well, well, well. I had a lot of fun reading through all the sijo entries

Out of that avalanche of entries, only 10 can make the Top 10 list–and only one can top the list!

Before I announce the winner and Top 10 list, though, I just want to give a shout out to our current Poet Laureate William Preston for being such an amazing force of support for everyone. Of the 600 comments, it would not surprise me if he contributed 200 (or more)–most of them insightful words of encouragement and appreciation. Bravo, William!

Winner and Top 10 List

That makes it all the sweeter for me to announce that William Preston won this installment of the WD Poetic Form Challenge for his sijo, “Wintry Vigil.” So let’s double down on the congratulations for William (also known as Bill to some on here)!

Since the sijo form is only three lines, I’m going to do a countdown of sorts for the Top 10 list–starting at number 10 and then working down to “Wintry Vigil.” For the Poetic Asides column in Writer’s Digest, I’m trying to include the top 3 poems as examples (if the editors will let me get away with using the space). Without further ado, let’s get this countdown started:

[He dressed up for the party], by Daniel Ari

He dressed up for the party, but his dumb hat was not a hit.
They could see under the brim he was faking, which is to say
I didn’t fit. I blamed my hat. It flopped like a fish on the sand.

The Beauty, by Azma Sheikh

She sashayed down the alley, so proud and so nonchalant
My sight swayed with her pendulum like struts, yearning to pick her up
If in my arms, I would brush her fur and keep her as my pet kitty

Freckles in Starbucks, by Kimberly Gladman Jackson

They cover her pale arms neck face hands calves in speckled gold
I say I’d love to have them and she laughs; I never hear that
Shoulders the door open; shimmers as she walks into the sun

All That Glitters, by Margie Fuston

Ladybugs cluster to form the brightness of your freckled cheeks.
Dandelions weave strands of gold to form your flowing hair.
But ladybugs turn brown in death, and dandelions are just weeds.

Easy Things, by Jane Shlensky

I’m getting old, in love with easy things, like laughter and losing
weight, waking fluent in languages and instruments, energy
settling over me like a cotton gown, lilting like praise and grace.

Missing, by Rosemary Nissen-Wade

My black cat is moping tonight, and wandering the whole house
uttering strident miaows; I know he wants me to fix it all
but I can’t bring back our dead man, I can only cuddle the cat.

Drowning, by Daniel Roessler

Murky waters of the swollen creek move swiftly toward merging
The willow’s branches droop downward, already weeping for him
Panic and desperation surface; sinking, then swallowed

Solution Unknown, by Bruce Niedt

Pencil sharp, I tackle them–crossword puzzles, devilish grids,
squares to fill with many words, intersecting. Yet you remain
an enigma. I write, then erase. No words I know can solve you.

Brushing My Daughter’s Hair, by Kimberly Gladman Jackson

Recessive genes surprised us with her flaxen helixed curls;
Fifty microns leaves a world of room to tangle. When she’s forty,
Will she still know I finger-combed to gentle out the knots?

Wintry Vigil, by William Preston

Every day the old coyote  visits the hedge by the old boat
and stands there, sniffing the air, first to the east, then to the west,
then sits, still. So do I. We wait, till we can smell Earth again.

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Congratulations to everyone who made the Top 10! And thank you to everyone who participated and who continue to make this a wonderful place to poem and share poems. I really enjoyed reading this form, and it appears many enjoyed writing it.

So in parting, here’s one more sijo; it didn’t make the top 10, but it was still a super fun read–and that’s really what these challenges are all about:

[Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious], by lionetravail

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
has just about the syllables, and meter’s not atrocious.
But why I’ve gone and sijo’ed it? It’s probably neurosis!

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Find even more entries by reading the comments on the original Sijo Challenge post

Look for the next form challenge before the April madness gets started! Speaking of which, here are the guidelines for the 2014 April PAD Challenge

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Workshop your poetry!

Click here to learn more

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Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and a parent who’s watched Disney’s version of Mary Poppins quite a few times lately (breaking out in “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” “Step in Time,” and yes, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” without a moment’s notice). He’s the author of Solving the World’s Problems

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Find more poetic posts here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 258

Are you ready for the next poetic form challenge? I hope you are.

This time, we’ll be writing the lai, a nine-line French form that utilizes the following “a” and “b” rhyme scheme: aabaabaab. The “a” rhyme lines have five syllables, the “b” lines offer two. Click here to read more about the lai

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Workshop your poetry!

Get feedback on your poetry and connect with other poets serious about the craft. Plus, do it all online–so you don’t have to deal with traffic, being on time, or getting dressed. Click to continue

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Here are the WD Poetic Form Challenge guidelines:

• Challenge is free. There is no entry fee.
• The winner (and sometimes a runner-up or two) will be featured in a future edition of Writer’s Digest magazine as part of the Poetic Asides column.
• Deadline: 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, GA time) on October 6, 2013.
• Poets can enter as many lai (lais?) as they wish. Feel free to pummel me with them.
• Also, I’ll allow poets to string together as many as three lai together if they wish. This is NOT a suggestion–just as an allowance for poets who like to string things together. I’m totally fine with poets who stop at nine lines.
• All poems should be previously unpublished. If you have a specific question about your specific situation, e-mail me at [email protected]

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Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and a guy who loves traditional forms, especially French forms. He edits books, creates blog posts, writes a poetry column for Writer’s Digest magazine, edits a free weekly newsletter on getting published, and a lot of other fun writing-related stuff. Voted Poet Laureate of the Blogosphere in 2010, Brewer recently celebrated the release of his debut full-length collection of poems, Solving the World’s Problems

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Find more poetry-related posts:

• Getting a Poetry Collection Published: From Submission to the Next Project

No joke; this was the most difficult form challenge I’ve ever had to judge. There are several outside the top 10 that deserve to be read multiple times. Believe me, I’ve done it, and I enjoy these poems the more I read them. All I can say is that the gwawdodyn is an incredible form

It was a challenge picking a winner, but I got there. This time around it is William Preston, who wrote several short-listed poems, for his gwawdodyn covering the battle of Gettysburg. It’s not only sonically sound, but it combines historical accuracy and specificity. Reading it over and over has been a real treat.

Gettysburg, by William Preston

In the year of eighteen sixty-three,
the great general, Robert E. Lee,
went sallying forth to fight in the North,
but his victory wasn’t to be:

for Stuart’s cavalry were no-shows;
A.P. Hill had prostatical woes;
Ewell and Early, timid and surly,
were both plagued with a case of the slows;

and Longstreet’s assault, on the second,
took longer than anyone reckoned;
and then, on the third, the charge was absurd
and thereafter, history beckoned.

So the Southern Confederacy,
after advancing north, had to flee.
Its high-water mark now sits in a park,
watched over by a statue of Lee.

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Receive feedback on your poetry!

Get the feedback on your poetry that can help take your poems in new directions. If you’re stuck in a rut, taking the Advanced Poetry Writing

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Congratulations to William for claiming the top spot, but every poem that made the top 10 (and quite a few that didn’t) is pretty outstanding.

Here’s the complete top 10 list:

1. Gettysburg, by William Preston
2. Goodbye, by Beverly B. Platt
3. Meditation, by Jane Shlensky
4. 32 Years, by Jennifer Heine-Baughman
5. Four-Year-Old’s Adventure, by Taylor Graham
6. The Only Thing Left Is A Book, by JR Simmang
7. Cliches, by Tracy Davidson
8. Welsh Holiday, by Bruce Niedt
9. Moveable Feast, by Jeep Walters
10. Alchemical Gardens I’ve Planted, by Helene Cardona

So congratulations to everyone who made the Top 10 list! It’s an impressive feat.

And thank you to everyone who wrote and shared their gwawdodyns. I read through every poem at least once to make a short list. Then, I go through the short list several times to whittle it down to the top 10. I had so much fun reading all these poems (read them all here

The next challenge will be the lai. Look for a post on that sometime next week.

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Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and ready to see what poets can do with the lai. He edits books, creates blog posts, writes a poetry column for Writer’s Digest magazine, edits a free weekly newsletter on publishing, and lots of other fun writing-related stuff. Voted Poet Laureate of the Blogosphere in 2010, Brewer also curates the Insta-poetry series for Virginia Quarterly Review. His debut full-length poetry collection, Solving the World’s Problems

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Find more poetic posts here:

• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 236

Okay, I left my brain in Georgia (currently up in Ohio) along with my Top 10 list for the haibun challenge. I will update this post when I get back down to Georgia, but I don’t need my list to remember the winning haibun. It’s not because the other haibuns were not excellent; it’s because this haibun haunted me personally (as the father of five children).

Look for updates next week, but here’s the winning haibun in the meantime:

Splash of Silence, by Taylor Graham

I hope you’re ready to poem, because it’s time for another WD Poetic Form Challenge. This time around, we’ll be tackling haibun poems. Click the previous link to view the details, but a haibun combines a prose poem with a haiku.

If this is your first WD Poetic Form Challenge, here are the guidelines:

• Write as many original haibun poems as you wish and share them in the comments below
• Please include your name as you would like it to appear in print (just in case you win)
• Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) on September 16, 2012
• Have fun!

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, these challenges incorporate the three F’s: fun, free, and fame. These challenges are primarily for the fun of poeming, and they’re completely free. But the winning poet/poem is selected to be published in a future issue of Writer’s Digest magazine as an example of the poetic form–this time a haibun.

So roll up your sleeves, unlock your brain, and start poeming!

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Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

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Click to continue.

Time for another WD Poetic Forms Challenge. This time around, we’ll be writing nonet poems. Click the link for the rules related to this type of poem. Nonets are pretty easy to figure out. Start with a 9-syllable line and lose a syllable in each line after–all the way down to the 1-syllable 9th line.

If this is your first time participating in a WD Poetic Forms Challenge, here are the guidelines:

• Write as many original nonet poems as you wish and paste them in the comments below
• Please include your name as you would like it to appear in print (just in case you win)
• Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta GA time) on July 29, 2012
• Have fun!

Why participate? Well, for one, it’s fun to write poems. For two, it’s free. But for three, the winning poem and poet will be featured in a future issue of Writer’s Digest magazine as a prime example of the nonet form in my Poetic Asides column.

So these challenges incorporate the three F’s: Fun, free, fame

Next week, I’ll announce the winner on this blog.

Until then, have fun poeming!

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Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

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Start your story right…

…with Awesome First Pages: How to Start Your Story Right, a live webinar by Kate McKean on July 26, 2012. All attendees receive a recorded version of the webinar for later reference and will have the opportunity to receive a critique on the first 500 words of their novels from McKean, who is a literary agent with the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency.

Click to continue.

I’ve come to realize one thing over the past week or so: I really like the luc bat form. It offers such an off-beat way to turn rhymes while still providing enough flexibility to deliver meaning as well. The top 10 luc bat poems (as well as many outside the top 10) all managed to delight in their own ways, but there can only be one winner.

This time the winner happens to be Nancy Posey for her luc bat titled “Vietnam: A Lesson in Geography (and More).” Here’s her poem:

Vietnam: A Lesson in Geography (and More), by Nancy Posey

          “War is how Americans learn geography.”
                              –from This American Life

We had to search the map
to understand what happened there.
We tried to be prepared,
to know the places where they went–
Saigon, Phnom Penh. They spent
those sweet years meant to grow
into adulthood—no
small task—having to go to war
in a country so far
away that they had hardly known
its name. Then they were gone
to jungles overgrown, so green
they looked more like a scene
on film, a magazine full-page
spread, just boys at the age
for adventure, not sage enough
to see the risk, the stuff
of nightmares, dreams too rough for boys
imprisoned in Hanoi, or flown
in coffins back to homes,
to families who’d known no more
why they were there, before
or after, some who swore to learn
about that place, who burned
with passions that they turned to zeal,
not sure how they should feel,
confused by Fortune’s wheel, by fate,
by lessons learned too late
and wars fueled both by hate and greed.
Instead we had to heed
our instincts, sate our needs as we
studied geography.

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Please congratulate Nancy on her winning poem! And then, go back to the original post to find these other luc bat poems in the top 10!

1. “Vietnam: A Lesson in Geography (and More),” by Nancy Posey
2. “What the Artist Said,” by Taylor Graham
3. “Whale Song,” by Susan Budig
4. “The Empty House,” by Daniel Ari
5. “The Blind Date,” by Tracy Davidson
6. “Softening,” by Andrew Kreider
7. “Luke Bats,” by George Smith
8. “The Source of Pain,” by Jane Shlensky
9. “Square Dance,” by Sara Ramsdell
10. “Winter Fire,” by J. Lynn Sheridan

After checking out the top 10 poems, please congratulate those poets–and thank everyone for participating. It won’t take you long to realize that there were many poems outside my top 10 that would easily fit on another reader’s top 10 list. Thank you so much, everyone, for participating!

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Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

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 Don’t Get Rejected…

…Get your submission right the first time and find more success immediately! Get published more frequently and paid more for your writing with this amazing kit.

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It’s time for another poetic form challenge from Writer’s Digest. This time around, we’ll be tackling luc bat poems, which are poems of alternating lines of 6 and 8 syllables with an intricate rhyme scheme. You’ll just need to check out my original post to see what’s involved, but I promise they’re fun after you wrap your head around the form.

The winner of the challenge will be featured in a future issue of Writer’s Digest magazine as part of my Poetic Asides column. And yes, anyone can win–so previous experience is not considered (just your luc bats).

Here are the luc bat poem challenge rules:

• Write and share your luc bat entries in the comments below.
• Your luc bats must be previously unpublished (and yes, it’s okay to enter any you’ve only shared on this or your blog).
• Challenge begins now and wraps at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday (6/23/12).
• Results will be announced on the Poetic Asides blog–probably around the beginning of next week.
• Please remember to include your name with your luc bat(s) as you would like it to appear in the Writer’s Digest magazine. You know, just in case your luc bat is selected as the winner.

I think that’s about it. If you have any further questions, just send me an e-mail at [email protected] with Luc Bat in the subject line. But I promise, I’m pretty laid back about the whole process. Just share your luc bat, include your name, and have fun!

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Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

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A week ago, I explained the quatern. It’s a fun form that includes a refrain but not too many rules beyond that. (Click here to learn more about the quatern.) Anyway, I … Read more

These tritinas were fun to read. If sestinas are poetic marathons, these tritinas are like half-marathons (or even 10Ks). Sorry, the runner in me has to reach for that metaphor. As usual, … Read more

After completing the recent November PAD Chapbook Challenge, a poet let me know he was relieved there were no poetic form prompts during the challenge. Usually, that’s something I’ll do on a … Read more

This is a place to post poems for the poetic form challenges mentioned in the Writer’s Digest magazines–not for active challenges. I’ll share more information in the near future. This post is … Read more