Category Archives: exercises

7:21 a.m. — Atlanta

listening to At the Zoo sung by Simon & Garfunkel

Hullo, all. Thank you for your good wishes for my vacation. Nine days ’til we take off. We already have a reservation at a lovely, little restaurant in Lafayette, Louisiana, where we’ll stop overnight on our way to San Antonio. I learned from my parents to map travel routes by restaurants. Let’s get into our own food for the soul.

Donna’s parking place.

At Naming Constellations Joseph Harker refines his own poem, a circumstance that must have felt a little weird, at times. However, if we can learn to look at and refine our own work like he can, even to a degree, we would learn so much about our own writing. He includes a prompt to do with sound. Give it a go, even if you, like I, run for the hills when words like dactylic are thrown around (actually I was taught all the meters as a child, but don’t have an ear for it when writing).

At The Music In It: Adele Kenny’s Poetry Blog, Adele asks what is our favourite childhood book. Well! I stopped for several minutes to ruminate and reminisce. What fun! My mother kept every single one of my childhood books and sent several boxes to me, a few years ago. I love seeing them on the bookshelves. Go on over to see what she suggests we write about.

At The Sunday Whirl, Brenda has a lovely selection of words. I even wrote a poem. No, I didn’t quite get to posting it. If you haven’t wordled yet, what are you waiting for? Brenda will have the new words up on Sunday. Visit to see the wordle and to read what others have done.

Over at Carry On Tuesday,  Keith has given us a line from The Sound of Music. It encourages a list poem. Head over.

Whoa! I found myself, a moment ago, with notebook in hand, writing a first line. It must be summer. We’re at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog for Limerick-off Mondays. Madeleine always writes a limerick, as an example. Look around while you are there. I visit because I know I will laugh and laughing is good, so visit to read, to laugh, perhaps to write.

Visit The Mag [Magpie Tales] for our first image prompt. This week we have a painting, Waking, Walking, Singing, in the Next Dimension? by Morris Graves. I found myself wanting to stop and write immediately. Many possibilities with this one. Remember that you do not have to address the whole image, or its subject. What was the first thought through your mind when you saw the image? Grab it. Write.

Laurie Kolp, at Poetry Jam, talks about vacations, and she has added a twist. Go on over and see what she says and to see her photographs.

This week on Carol’s Light Words she has given us some gorgeous photos of flowers and asks a great question, What is the scent of summer?. Don’t forget that Carol chooses a song each Friday to get us dancing around — remember that she is on California time. A different kind of poetry and a whole lot of fun.

At imaginary garden with real toads, I can’t choose. I want you to check out both Hardcore Americana and Kerry’s Challenge, so get over there. Investigate. I promise, you have never heard Amazing Grace sung like this. Go play with the toads.

We Write Poems is on the seventh of ten poems asking us to focus on a protagonist. This week, your protagonist is  metamorphosing. Head over to read the context and suggestions.

At dVerse, Charles Miller says, Take out the scissors!  He focuses on the cut-up as a form. Visit. Look around. Stay awhile; it’s a friendly place. For those who haven’t seen the cut-up machine, can you say: cyber-scissors, baby!

Flash fiction fans: I’m going to give you the link to the general site of Flashy Fiction, rather than always giving you Friday, as you might come to the site on a different day, thus be offered a different image. Pot luck.

If you have questions, ask. If you write in response to any of these, the people whose blogs you visit would love to read your responses. Post!

I shall see you Tuesday, for a profile poem and Friday for the round-up of prompts.

Happy writing, everyone. (Why do you suppose all my links are grey instead of their usual bright red? Sigh… yeh, I’ll go up and add a text colour. I just want to know why!)

8:22 a.m. — Atlanta

listening to East of Ginger Trees sung by Seals & Crofts

Hullo, all. We’re moving too fast, people. I wish I knew a way to slow it all down. One way, is to visit each site — wild, huh? Or, choose one you don’t usually go to, with the firm determination of writing a poem to its prompt. If you usually avoid, say, images, then make sure you try an image prompt. If you have not written a limerick… well? What are you waiting for? Did you know you can write a story poem through limericks? Check out Madeleine’s composition down in comments here.

Donna’s parking place.

At Naming Constellations Joseph Harker reviews Lesley Wheeler’s The Receptionist and Other Tales. No, not a prompt, but a good idea. Even if we don’t get around to reading chapbooks, we can learn a lot from a good review, and you know our Joseph. He says, in part, with tongue firmly planted in cheek: there is an equal mix of everywoman sensibility, nuanced university politics, and a rich literary allusiveness. Sounds intriguing, no? So head on over to read the full review.

At The Music In It: Adele Kenny’s Poetry Blog, she suggests we try writing transformation poems, that is, poems in which something becomes something else. Her suggestions were eye-opening. I hadn’t thought of transformation in such a wide sense. Plenty of scope for poems. Visit to discover for yourself.

At The Sunday Whirl, Brenda says My daughter and I constructed this list. If you haven’t wordled yet, what are you waiting for? Brenda will have the new words up on Sunday. Visit to see the wordle and to read what others have done.

Over at Carry On Tuesday,  Keith has given us the opening line from the 1949 movie Adam’s Rib. As a challenge, the phrase is in French. His extra is a trailer from the movie. Go on over.

We’re at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog for Limerick-off Mondays. Madeleine always writes a limerick, as an example. Look around while you are there. I visit because I know I will laugh and laughing is good, so visit to read, to laugh, perhaps to write.

Visit The Mag [Magpie Tales] for our first image prompt. This week we have an image by Last Exit which leaves it all to our imagination, if we ignore the title, Ponytail. Remember that you do not have to address the whole image, or its subject. What was the first thought that went through your mind when you saw the image? Grab it. Write.

Alan1704, at Poetry Jam, talks about goodbyes, the good and the bad. Go on over and see what he says.

This week on Carol’s Light Words I have given you the general URL, as I see several images that might spark a poem. Don’t forget that Carol chooses a song each Friday to get us dancing around — remember that she is on California time. A different kind of poetry and a whole lot of fun.

It seems I was just wondering what Hannah would be giving us next and here she is with the answer. At imaginary garden with real toads, Hannah promises us 22 weeks of magical, natural wonders. Visit. Investigate. Go play with the toads.

We Write Poems is asking us to focus on a protagonist for a few weeks. This week, your protagonist is going somewhere… odd. The post is titled Wizard of Oz Revisited. Head over to read the context and suggestions.

At dVerse, Victoria takes us through synesthesia. The main thrust of my summer prompts are sensory exercises, so give this one a go. Visit. Look around. Stay awhile; it’s a friendly place. Lemonade coming up.

Flash fiction fans: I’m going to give you the link to the general site of Flashy Fiction, rather than always giving you Friday, as you might come to the site on a different day, thus be offered a different image. Pot luck.

If you have questions, ask. If you write in response to any of these, the people whose blogs you visit would love to read your responses. Post!

I shall see you Tuesday, for the summer calendar and first summer prompt; and Friday for the round-up of prompts.

Happy writing, everyone.

8:51 a.m. — Atlanta

listening to Lee Greenwood singing Mornin’ Ride

Hullo, all. Summer is a-comin’, although our temperature has taken a nose-dive, today. Atlanta is like that. Let’s go for a prompt walk.

We start with Donna. It occurs to me that most of you are looking for prompts that you can write, then post. Giving you prompts from last year doesn’t hack it. I’m not a superstitious person, but Donna has started my Friday postings from day 1. For now, I am going to leave the old tow truck image as my start. I can’t quite bear not to start with Donna.

At The Refinery Joseph takes on a poem by Guy Traiber. I am amazed every time he presents us with his refining of a poem, how much I learn. Don’t forget to keep sending your poems in to Joseph, so he has a stockpile. Joseph also gives us a prompt where he asks us to, Write a poem that combines your everyday life with those images. What images? Head over to find out. You’ll like the prompt.

At The Music In It: Adele Kenny’s Poetry Blog, I had to laugh. She asks us for a portrait poem. Just a few days ago, I finished putting together my summer menu for your Tuesday prompts. One of the weeks asks for a portrait poem. Now I’ll just link to Adele!  [No, you may not link to your poem, if you write one. I want new, new, new.] Head over for her tips, her suggestions, and her example poems.

At The Sunday Whirl, the words come from a poem by Margaret Atwood: ‘Helen of Troy Does Countertop Dancing’. If you haven’t wordled yet, what are you waiting for? Brenda will have the new words up on Sunday. Visit to see the wordle and to read what others have done.

Over at Carry On Tuesday,  Keith has given us a song title from Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. You might want to wait until you have written your poem before listening to, or reading the lyrics of, the song. Keith has given us a Frank Sinatra recording for our listening pleasure. Go on over.

We’re at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog for Limerick-off Mondays. Madeleine always writes a limerick, as an example. Look around while you are there. After a year and a half of posting this link, I still smile as soon as I come to it on my list. I visit because I know I will laugh and laughing is good, so visit to read, to laugh, perhaps to write.

Visit The Mag [Magpie Tales] for our first image prompt. This week we have a painting by Jamie Wyeth. Remember that you do not have to address the whole image, or its subject. Find some small detail that sparks you and write about that. You can even riff off the title.

Peggy, at Poetry Jam, wants to know about shoes. What about them, you ask. Go on over and find out.

This week on Carol’s Light Words she gives us a lovely photograph to spark a poem. Don’t forget that Carol chooses a song each Friday to get us dancing around — remember that she is on California time. A different kind of poetry and a whole lot of fun.

At imaginary garden with real toads, it is Fireblossom Friday and a prompt to do with setting, something many of you are partial to. Head over to look at the wonderful photographs you might use as inspiration. Visit. Investigate. Go play with the toads.

We Write Poems is asking us to focus on a protagonist for a few weeks. This week, your protagonist is Playing Sherlock. Head over to read the context and suggestions.

At dVerse, Samuel Peralta gives us a complex but fun form, the glosa. Samuel is particularly good at taking people through a form, so give it a try. Visit. Look around. Stay awhile; it’s a friendly place.

Flash fiction fans: I’m going to give you the link to the general site of Flashy Fiction, rather than always giving you Friday, as you might come to the site on a different day, thus be offered a different image. Pot luck.

If you have questions, ask. If you write in response to any of these, the people whose blogs you visit would love to read your responses. Post!

I shall see you Tuesday, for an  image prompt; Thursday for links and such; and Friday for the round-up of prompts.

Happy writing, everyone.

7:26 a.m. — Atlanta

listening to Mumford & Sons singing I Will Wait… you’ll need to wait a moment. I can’t do anything and listen to the lead singer.

Hullo, all. Ready for the weekend? I thought so. Here are some prompts to accompany you.

We start with Donna’s Put Words Together. Make Meaning and a dip into the Tow Truck archives. We are asked to use the work of other writers for our own purposes.  This time, choose a rhyming couplet from any poem by another author. To find out what you are going to do with the couplet, head to the Tow Truck.

Aaaand, he’s back, ladies and gentlemen. The Refinery is open once more for your viewing pleasure. Not only can you watch a master class in taking a poem apart and discussing how it works, but Joseph adds a prompt to do with relationships and celestial bodies. You all have your metaphor on this week. Go on over. Don’t forget to keep sending your poems in to Joseph, so he has a stockpile.

At The Music In It: Adele Kenny’s Poetry Blog, Adele’s posts offer so much that she should be a must stop. Visit. This week her central focus is letting go. Head over for her tips, her suggestions, and her example poems. Like I said, Adele offers much.

At The Sunday Whirl, the words come from Time, a poem by Chris Martin. If you haven’t wordled yet, what are you waiting for? Brenda will have the new words up on Sunday. Visit to see the wordle and to read what others have done.

Over at Carry On Tuesday,  Keith has given us a phrase from the movie, Moulin Rouge. You might want to wait until you have written your poem before listening to, or reading the lyrics of, the song. Go on over.

We’re at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog for Limerick-off Mondays. Madeleine always writes a limerick, as an example. This week’s has two stanzas (no, I didn’t know, either). Look around while you are there. After a year and a half of posting this link, I still smile as soon as I come to it on my list. I visit because I know I will laugh and laughing is good, so visit to read, to laugh, perhaps to write.

What is going on at The Mag?! Only 41 responses to their photograph. Visit The Mag [Magpie Tales] for our first image prompt. Remember that you do not have to address the whole image, or its subject. Find some small detail that sparks you and write about that. Me, I’m fascinated with the ‘these things are forbidden’ sign.

Mary, at Poetry Jam, has a prompt that makes me want to stop and play, immediately. Head over to see all the possibilities to do with crystal, some of which might be fun to work together into a poem. Finish by listening to Tommy James and The Shondells. Of course I stopped to listen. That’s my generation’s music!

This week on Carol’s Light Words she gives us a photograph to spark a poem. Don’t forget that Carol chooses a song each Friday to get us dancing around — remember that she is on California time. A different kind of poetry and a whole lot of fun.

At imaginary garden with real toads, the images in Margaret’s post are so cool, I didn’t look further. You can explore while you are over there. Visit. Investigate. Go play with the toads.

We Write Poems is asking us to focus on a protagonist for a few weeks. This week, Your protagonist is having a Zen moment. Head over to read the context and suggestions.

At dVerse, Anna has a wonderful post on one of the underpinnings in the art of poetry, specifically, the role of volition and velleity. This is another case of my going no further. Visit. Look around. Stay awhile; it’s a friendly place. I hear they’re thinking Sangria time is coming.

Flash fiction fans: I’m going to give you the link to the general site of Flashy Fiction, rather than always giving you Friday, as you might come to the site on a different day, thus be offered a different image. Pot luck.

If you have questions, ask. If you write in response to any of these, the people whose blogs you visit would love to read your responses. Post!

I shall see you Tuesday, for a guest prompt; Thursday for links and such; and Friday for the round-up of prompts.

Happy writing, everyone.