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Nov. 2nd, 2008
The below is from gurdymonkey
Can you think of anything more antithetical to the concept of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days than the discipline of coming up with one 31-syllable poetic gem a day?
Here's the concept - because I suspect some of my readers will want to jump on the old ox cart too:
Write one tanka (waka)* a day.
*Resources on tanka:
http://www.ahapoetry.com/TANKA.HTM
http://www.americantanka.com/
http://www.wodefordhall.com/heianpoetryjam.htm
Since I got this idea and posted this very late on November 1, one may opt to do a double entry to bring your total to thirty for the month, or you may skip November 1 with no penalty. This is the only date you get to double dip or skip on. The spirit of this poetic form being the impermanence of this dewdrop life, no other make-ups are permitted. If you miss a day, you miss a day and as in real life, you can never get it back. (You're on the honor system here....)
No limits on subject matter other than any you chose to impose upon yourself. Hopefully, some moment in your day will inspire you to write about it.
If you write more than one tanka a day, fine. However, you may not carry over tanka to other days except for the November 1 grace tanka. You have to write a poem on each day.
(If you are inspired to "answer" someone else's poem, great. Personally, if I do so, I am not going to count it toward my daily assignment. The idea is to come up with something myself each day. What you do is up to you.)
Adherence to the 5-7-5-7-7 line/syllable count is required, otherwise it's not a tanka.
It's poetry, not stereo instructions. It should say something and it should make sense.
No rewrites.
"A thousand raindrops
Dance madly against the roof,
Teasing and taunting.
Within there is no dancing,
Only one with memories. (11/1/08)."
If you want to participate, answer this post with a comment, then post your poems to your own respective journals with the tag "tanka challenge".
Can you think of anything more antithetical to the concept of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days than the discipline of coming up with one 31-syllable poetic gem a day?
Here's the concept - because I suspect some of my readers will want to jump on the old ox cart too:
Write one tanka (waka)* a day.
*Resources on tanka:
http://www.ahapoetry.com/TANKA.HTM
http://www.americantanka.com/
http://www.wodefordhall.com/heianpoetryjam.htm
Since I got this idea and posted this very late on November 1, one may opt to do a double entry to bring your total to thirty for the month, or you may skip November 1 with no penalty. This is the only date you get to double dip or skip on. The spirit of this poetic form being the impermanence of this dewdrop life, no other make-ups are permitted. If you miss a day, you miss a day and as in real life, you can never get it back. (You're on the honor system here....)
No limits on subject matter other than any you chose to impose upon yourself. Hopefully, some moment in your day will inspire you to write about it.
If you write more than one tanka a day, fine. However, you may not carry over tanka to other days except for the November 1 grace tanka. You have to write a poem on each day.
(If you are inspired to "answer" someone else's poem, great. Personally, if I do so, I am not going to count it toward my daily assignment. The idea is to come up with something myself each day. What you do is up to you.)
Adherence to the 5-7-5-7-7 line/syllable count is required, otherwise it's not a tanka.
It's poetry, not stereo instructions. It should say something and it should make sense.
No rewrites.
"A thousand raindrops
Dance madly against the roof,
Teasing and taunting.
Within there is no dancing,
Only one with memories. (11/1/08)."
If you want to participate, answer this post with a comment, then post your poems to your own respective journals with the tag "tanka challenge".
Writer's Block: Short Days
Nov. 2nd, 2008 09:41 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
I LIKE the dark. I hate the sun. Very little pleases me more than driving home from work in the dark and waking up in the dark. I don't get SAD, actually I find the sunlight annoying and downright painful if I spend any amount of time in it.
I LIKE the dark. I hate the sun. Very little pleases me more than driving home from work in the dark and waking up in the dark. I don't get SAD, actually I find the sunlight annoying and downright painful if I spend any amount of time in it.
