Cycles in life | Poetry Prompt

June 27, 2016Tamara Woods 5 Comments

This week at The Reverie Journal, I’m carrying over a poetry prompt that I wrote for Poets on the Page. I was thinking about cicadas and how much they are annoying and terrible. But also, the little amount of time they have actually above ground and living. Already their siren song that sounds like the soundtrack of a slasher film has died down around here. They rise out of the ground in droves to mate and then are gone for 17 years. Only living for four to six weeks.

Let’s write a poem about something that has a cycle. Which cycle and how often is entirely up to you. Use your creativity and let your imagination run wild.

Remember, we’re potentially looking at these poems submitted for the anthology. What is this, you ask? Learn more about it here. Be sure to backlink your posts or share your link in the comments below.

Orlando Tragedy | Poetry Prompt

June 13, 2016Tamara Woods 10 Comments

Whenever there’s a mass shooting in the United States, I always want to write something about it. To give words to the emotions choking my throat. I never know what to say. I never know if it’s appropriate, or if my words are even necessary. So I stay silent.

Today, I want to give myself permission to write something about the Orlando tragedy and I want to extend that permission to you poets as well. One of the beauty of the written word is that we have the power to do with it what we will. We can comment on the beautiful as well as the ugly. I feel like today is the time to comment on the ugly.

There’s no specifics that you have to meet. Your politics do not have to meet mine. There are no expectations here. Just write.

Hunger Mountain| Publishing Opportunity

May 26, 2016May 26, 2016Tamara Woods 3 Comments

We at The Reverie Journal are trying to create a community where we help each other. Each week, we give you a prompt for writing, we try to highlight one of you (if you’d like to be in the spotlight on Wednesday learn more here) and on Thursdays we post a publishing opportunity. Of course, we’d like for you to publish with us, but as poets we realize that publishing can be a tough part of this journey. We try to help with the burden.

In this week’s publishing opportunity we have Hunger Mountain, which is out of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. They accept high quality work from unknown, emerging or successful poets. No genre fiction, drama, or academic articles.

Our mission is to cultivate engagement with and conversation about the arts by publishing high-quality, innovative literary and visual art by both established and emerging artists, and by offering opportunities for interactivity and discourse.

Submit using online submission manager.

Managing Editor: Samantha Kolber

Email: hungerman@vcfa.edu

Please go to their website for more information.

Weathering the Storm | Poetry Prompt

May 23, 2016May 23, 2016Tamara Woods 5 Comments

Remember when Howard Beale implored people to stick the head out of the window and yell, “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” in the classic Network? The thunder rolling in the backdrop as voices were heard calling out their anger all over the country, punctuated the sound sharp cries of their distress. Without that rain and the thunder, the scene wouldn’t have had as much impact.

It wouldn’t have had as much impact without that rainy weather. In Alanis Morisette’s song, “Ironic” she mentioned rain on your wedding, which for some brides would be an absolute disaster. Others, may be tempted to kick off their heels and dance in the storm.

You’ve definitely seen the weather impact life events in your life as well. On a winter’s night when you’re curled on the couch with a cup of cocoa, the snow falling outside makes it all feel that much more cozy.

Let’s write a poem about weather impacting an occasion and making the moment that much stronger. Whether it’s more intimate, more secure, just more. Remember, we’re potentially looking at these poems submitted for the anthology. What is this, you ask? Learn more about it here. Be sure to backlink your posts or share your link in the comments below.

Smothered – Poetry Prompt

May 9, 2016May 9, 2016Tamara Woods 5 Comments

In the United States, yesterday was Mother’s Day. A day where we celebrate the women who have raised us through gifts, hugs, and a promise to not have to cook together.

As the dayprogressed and I read through my Facebook feed (like you do), I noticed there were soooooo many people who have truly complicated relationships with the mother figure in their lives. Whether she is toxic, overbearing, not around, not alive, not enough, these relations are overwrought with potential angst. A hotbed of poetry fodder.

Write about a maternal relationship of sorts. Be creative and dig deep. Remember, we’re potentially looking at these poems submitted for the anthology. What is this, you ask? Learn more about it here. Be sure to backlink your posts or share your link in the comments below.

I hope you’re inspired and happy writing!

Some songs for a bit of inspiration:

Insomniac Song | Poetry Prompt

May 2, 2016May 2, 2016Tamara Woods 6 Comments

I’ve noticed that creatives, writers especially often have trouble sleeping aren’t able to sleep. Are our brains hardwired to ignore biological functions like sleep when writing wants to happen (or when writing refuses us)? Insomnia is such a persistent and unwanted bed buddy. It just won’t take no for an answer. Even though sometimes sleep is the time when those creative thoughts are more active.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Write a poem that somehow defeats insomnia. It could be something soothing that would lull the unaware to sleep, like he song below by the Dandy Warhols. It could be a duel where you are fighting Insomnia to reclaim your sleeping rights.Be creative and have fun with this. If you join in this week, let us know by backlinking to this post, or posting your link the comments.

Have you submitted to our second anthology? How about our Write for Us spotlight? You should, because we’re waiting for your words. Happy writing!

Let’s Talk About…A Q&A with Laura A. Lord

April 15, 2016April 15, 2016Tamara Woods 2 Comments

Every month I interview an indie author for my PenPaperPad Talks Books segment on my YouTube channel. This week, I interviewed Laura A. Lord, one of our esteemed editors. We discuss her poetry, self-esteem, and The Reverie Journal and our submissions.

One thing we didn’t mention in this interview that we’ve been talking about recently is the possibility of accepting spoken word pieces for our “Write for Us” and our Anthology submissions. With each year, we’d like to stretch ourselves. Push ourselves into trying something new. That’s the new addition to our 2016 submission process. We haven’t finalized the exact type of files that will work best for us, but when we do, we’ll update the submission page according.

Here we are in all of our awkward glory. If you have any questions or comments, definitely leave them down in the comments. I’ll meet you there!