In Praise of Writing to Prompts and Uncovering Poetic Inspiration
When writer’s block inevitably hits and I’m looking for some much-needed inspiration for my poetry writing, I’ve always turned to prompts. In a previous article, I shared several Instagram accounts that provide amazing jumping off points for poems and I’ll probably never stop singing the praises of writing to prompts. But what exactly is it that makes this writing exercise so beneficial when it comes to poetry?
Put simply, I’ve found that prompts help uncover inspiration I otherwise may have never found without them. Because, let’s be honest, sometimes the brain just doesn’t want to cooperate when it comes to trying to land on a good topic or idea, especially when other goings on in life are so hectic.
Every year during the month of April (National Poetry Writing Month), I attempt to write one new poem a day. And there are some days that I’d be absolutely lost without the help of prompts. They get the creativity flowing, jog long-forgotten memories, and make you think about your writing in a fresh way.
So where do some of the best prompt resources exist? Some of my favorites have come from workshops I’ve taken, led by some of the most brilliant poets I’ve come to know. Other prompts have come directly from the NaPoWriMo website, where they share daily prompts during the month of April to help participants keep up with their writing goals. There’s an archive on their site dating back to 2013 so if you’re ever looking for some great starting points, there’s plenty on the site.
I’ve also used poetry prompt generators (like this Robert Peake one), metaphor-generating dice, and online image and art galleries (great for ekphrastic poems!), but some of my most favorite prompts have come from people I’ve met within the poetry community itself. There’s no shortage of new prompts being shared on social media that are sure to spark a little poetic inspiration in your writing.
I cannot recommend writing to prompts (and even creating some of your own!) enough when it comes to your writing. Even if it’s only ever used once in a while for some motivation, your poems will no doubt be incredibly varied in content and so fun to write!
