Writing Prompts for National Poetry Month

Pictured: “sunny” by Gabrielle Hickmon

You’re likely practicing social distancing at the moment. And you’re probably close to losing your mind if you’re a social introvert like me. April just happens to be National Poetry Month, so to lift your spirits and keep your creativity sharp, we’re providing writing prompts all month.

1. Firsts. Write a poem about a special first. First day of school, first kiss, first trip to a beauty salon, first road trip, etc.

2. Free Verse. What does your favorite color taste like? 

3. What body of water do you feel like today? (ie. stream, ocean, swift brook) 

4. April 4th is Maya Angelou’s birthday! Read “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou. Write a declaration of your own in the same format.

5. Make a list of 5 things that start with the same letter (maybe the letter of your first name) and incorporate those words into a poem. 

6. Haiku. Find a book and read the last sentence. Write a haiku based on that sentence.

7. April 7th is Billie Holiday’s birthday! Press play and write about a time when you wanted to sing the blues. 

8. Personification. What would your city say if it were a person? 

9. Write a haiku from the perspective of your favorite movie character. 

10. Rhymed poetry. Write a Dr. Seuss-style rhyme about your favorite poet. You may want to play around with onomatopoeia for this one!

11. Sonnet. Rewrite a song stuck in your head in the style of a sonnet. See Pop Sonnets for inspiration. 

12. Ode. Write an ode to something you saw once and couldn’t get out of your mind. 

13. Limerick. Write a limerick about your childhood friends. 

14. Lyric. Who is “your person” — whether romantic, platonic, or familial. Write a lyric for that person. 

15. Soliloquy. Write a soliloquy from the perspective of the last animal you saw. 

16. Free Verse. Write about traveling to a new place. Work commute, moving across town or the country, or moving to another country. 

17. Ode. Write an ode about an activity you did often as a child. 

18. Acrostic. Using an acrostic format, write about a musical instrument you enjoy, whether you play or just listen.

19. Think about something that’s broken. How would you fix it? 

20. Write about shelter from a figurative or literal storm. 

21. Alliteration. Write about a sunrise. Try using alliteration.

22. Alliteration. Write about a sunset. Try using alliteration.

23. Free Verse. Write about anticipation, waiting, or longing. It would be waiting in line at a store or anticipating a big announcement. 

24. Haiku. Put your favorite music streaming platform on shuffle. Write a haiku about the first song that plays. 

25. April 25th is Ella Fitzgerald’s birthday! In honor of the queen of scatting, write about a time when you couldn’t quite convey something in words, but still got your point across. 

26. Ode. Write about your favorite word. 

27. Write about a time when you wished you could press pause. Why would you press pause—to enjoy or escape? 

28. Counting sheep. What keeps you up at night? 

29. Free Verse. Write about your doppelganger. What’s their life like? 

30. Free Verse. Write about a time you had to say goodbye.

Just because we have to keep a 6-foot distance between us doesn’t mean we can’t connect on social media. Feel free to tag us on Instagram or Twitter. Happy writing!

---

LySaundra Campbell is a storyteller and editor based in Washington, D.C. She’s stuck at home, social distancing with a piano, journals, and an endless TBR list. Say hello and follow her on Instagram.