On my last trip to the bookstore I picked up an interesting writing guide titled: the portable MFA in creative writing, compiled by The New York Writers Workshop. It's very informative, so far, and has provided me with quite a few helpful hints (and I'm only on pg. 45).
This is one exercise in the book that I found very interesting and thought, "Damn! That would make for a nice contest." So here it is.
This is a four part exercise. I would love to see your steps of this, but if you don't feel comfortable you do not have to post 1 - 3.
1. Poem. Write a paragraph or two based on a line from any poem. You have to reference the line and poem title (preferably author, too). You will use the line as your poem's title.
2. Dream. Write a paragraph or two from your last dream or a disturbing dream you can't get out of your head. (Mine involves polar bears in Kentucky.)
3. Conflict. Once again, write a paragraph or two concerning a minor (or major, if you must) conflict in your life right now. It could be something as minor as someone that irritates or excites you.
4. Conclusion. (this is where the poem part comes into play) Weave 1 - 3 together into a poem. Length is up to you. Also, the poem doesn't have to be about 1 - 3 directly (or even at all).
The only real rules to this game is to reference the poem prompt and use the line as your title. The rest is up to you.
Be Creative!
Any questions?
Mark. Get Set. GO!
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on March 10, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 1000, Silver: 1000, Bronze: 1000, Honorable mention: 3 people
- Final notes: Considering the time and effort this contest called for, I was both surprised and excited to receive the amount of entries that I did. Thank you for plowing through the requirements and entering this contest.
I have received offers to remove pieces from consideration and while I appreciate it (this contest being the hardest to judge) I felt it was only right of me to judge all entries equally, considering the dedication put forth to finish the pieces and enter them in this contest.
Every piece here is worthy of a gold trophy. Seriously. I placed everyone in the finalists because I felt each one of you deserve some recognition for your efforts.
Once again, thank you for entering and thank you for the chance to read.
Contest Winners
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 3947125, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 3972895, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Part One: Paragraph on a Line from an Existing Poem
Let me go to Oldpoetry.com and see if anything tickles my fancy…• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 3968657, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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I SHOULD learn to look at an empty sky... But Hope will not let me and, no matter how persuading Reason is, I can deny Hope nothing...
• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 3952637, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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A beautiful journey has cast its spell on a soul resting with angels in peace,by sunflowerpoet 20 lines, 2 comments, on Feb 12 4:09 AM 2008• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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by lostangel07 34 lines, 4 comments, on Feb 12 3:25 AM 2008. In Contest• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [11]
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Comments
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Lovely contest. I definitely hope to enter
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Coolio.
Hope to see you back.
I think this is an interesting way to come up with an original piece of work. At least, it's helping me a bit.
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bookmarked...PK
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bookmarking!
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Hope you make it back with an entry.
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Bookmarked.. I will enter if I can come up with something
Hugz,
Sunflower. -
I thought we hated MFA's!
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Oh, we will always hate MFAs. Always.
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Nice. I'll have to try it.
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this one will take some thought. Great idea. Have to see if I'm up for this one.
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Excellent idea!!
Like a MFA workshop without the politics to render it moot.
I'll be back... -
I can't wait. I've been having crazy dreams lately (very unusual, I hardly dream at all) and I'm chock full of conflict. Love this.
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I like it alot Be back
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i am working on this
i think
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I hope so. I think tumbleweeds are blowing around in here... all dead calm and so few poems.
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got 1 and 2 done.
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excellent contest idea.. stunning really-
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Can this be extended?...
would it be possible?... -
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Yeah, I was planning on extending it a week or two... maybe I can drag some poems in here.
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kkkkk, a couple people have convinced me to try this I'll be back.
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fantastic contest..... -
An excellent contest idea, I love the evolution of it.
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I have a brainstorm.
I may try this
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If I make it in time I will enter this. If not I'll send you the link when I post it. This could be interesting...
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A great idea ...
for a contest to stimulate one's silent musing to speak out loud ... It's always a pleasure to find contests of this nature and I too shall bookmark and see what time and ponderings will allow. Thanks for sharing points and a contest of interest. joy
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hmmm... I'm trying to figure out what 'MFA' might mean... let me guess... "Manual for Anyone"? ahhhh... of course, "Master of Fine Arts"! Ah, to be a master...
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I had hoped I would have the time to enter this weekend but unfortunately life crept up - I hope you have some goodies here.
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That's too bad... I would have loved to read what this exercise conjured up. Perhaps some other time...
this contest has been a treat, though. I've been pleasingly surprised with the quality of poems it's wrangled in.
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Such an interesting exercise. Thanks for the opportunity and congrats to the winners.
Lisa -
thanks alot for the honor and congrats to all. i really adored the contest idea. it was definitely worth entering
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Oh.
Thank you.
And I congratulate all who attempt this exercise, and Annalise who make all the super reading and comments on everyone's work.
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Thanks, there are now three poets looking down on me, one looking eye to eye, and a handful looking up! What my placement tells me is (other than I haven't written my masterpiece yet) that there was a strain of something missing from my piece, and I'm suspecting all us males are guilty of missing said strain- to the utter frustration of your opposite gender- for I'm suspecting it is probably something to do with 'what really matters in life?' Us guys do tend to get wrapped up in life's trivial destractions, probably a primal 'between the hunt' thing...
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Hey wbiro,
Mmmm. Both Silver and Bronze were awarded to people of your gender.
I just chalked up my loss to the host not liking mine as much as the three that placed which is usually what the judging comes down to ... personal taste.
Lisa
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yes, but what lies beneath personal taste, that is the mystery of life...
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Thank you! Humbled. Congrats all.
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wow ... great contest idea ... fabulous writing submitted and i love the winners poems ... congratulations ! ... >>> Gina
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