[OT] Poetry Corner: Jinx
Welcome to Poetry Corner
Welcome to October!
Halloween is around the corner. The weather is turning.
There is many a hauntings, and I am really excited for yall to embrace this in a few poems for me. <3
FYI: The deadline has changed for this feature. Since there is no campfire, yall have the full month to write your poems. Hope this helps!
Also: Please reach out if there is anything in particular that is keeping you from participating! I am open to communication :)
Poetry is a strange land for many of us.
What makes a poem? Does it have to rhyme? Follow a structure and meter? Does it have to be based in emotion? All these are great questions. Poetry comes in all forms and styles, rhyming and non-rhyming, metered and freeform. Some poems even tell a fictional story, like prose does! Some poems don't use any line breaks at all, and Prose-Poems can be tricky yet effective.
Each month, I provide you with a simple theme and an additional constraint to inspire you. You have 60 - 350 words to write a poem based on that theme.
This Month’s Challenge
Theme: Jinx
- Lean into gothic fiction
Jinx.
A lot of people will be used to this word from childhood—when two people said something at the same time, and you jinxed the other. Did you have to stay quiet for a day? Owe someone a favor? Something else entirely?
It’s not the only meaning of the word, though. It also means bad luck, and thats really what I would love folks to focus on this month.
Need some help with gothic fiction? I got you!
Gothic literature, poetry, and prose is that which deals with themes of death, the supernatural, sorrow, fear, loss, and more. Examples:
Interpret the theme any way you like as long as the connection is clear and you follow all sub and post rules.
Schedule
- Submission deadline: Tuesday, November 19th, at 11:59pm EST
- Feedback & Nomination deadline: Wednesday, November 20th at 11:59 am EST
Check out previous Poetry Corners here!
How To Participate
Submit a 60 - 350 word poem inspired by the theme as a top-level comment below.
Use wordcounter.net to check your word count. The title is not counted in your final word count. Poems under 60 words or over 350 will be disqualified.
Leave actionable feedback on at least one other poem Each critique is worth up to 10 points, up to 50 points. I really encourage trying, even if you are new to poetry!
Nominate your favorite poems from the thread. You can use this form (it will open after the submission deadline) if its open, or just dm me, either on reddit or Alyxbee on the wp discord.
You get points just for voting!
Please be respectful and civil in all feedback and discussion. We welcome writers of all skill levels and experience here, as we’re all here to improve and sharpen our skills. Uncivil or discouraging comments will not be tolerated and may result in further mod actions.
Be creative and have fun! If you have any questions, feel free to ask them on the stickied comment on this thread or via modmail. Top-level comments are reserved for poem submissions.
Point Breakdown
| Task | Points | Misc. |
|---|---|---|
| Use of the Weekly Theme | up to 50 pts | Theme should be present, but the interpretation is up to you! |
| Use of Bonus Constraint | 10 pts | (unless otherwise noted) |
| Actionable Feedback | up to 10 pts each | 1 crit required; you’re welcome to provide more crit, but pts are capped at 50 |
| Nominations your poem receives | 20 pts each | No cap |
| Mod Choice | 20 - 50 pts | First- 50 pts, Second- 40 pts, Third- 30 pts, plus regular noms |
| Voting for others | 10 pts | Don’t forget to vote by the deadline! |
Note:
- Actionable feedback should be constructive, something that the author can use to improve. Feedback can also be positive, like what you enjoyed, how it made you feel, parts that flowed particularly well, images that stood out, etc.
Rankings for Illusion
Winners:
There were not enough poems submitted for me to pick a winner, but shout out to u/AGuyLikethat and u/deepstea for giving me two very lovely poems to read <3
Subreddit News
- Join our Discord to chat with other authors and prompters! We hold several weekly Campfires, monthly World-Building interviews, and several other fun events!
- We are currently looking for moderators! Apply to be a moderator at any time.
- Nominate your favorite WP authors for Spotlight and Hall of Fame!
- Experiment with fun tropes and genres on the new Fun Trope Friday!
- Serialize your story with Serial Sunday or test your micro-fic skills with Micro Monday on r/ShortStories!