We enjoyed a productive GloPoWriMo in April. A bit of a challenge, but engaging.
Perhaps we can create a Poetry Cove Writing Month (PoCoWriMo) challenge.
Let's discuss some rules and regulations.... (and break them)
It doesn't need to be a poem written each day...
How about committing to write enough poems to create your own chapbook in the month?
Which we can share with other poets who participate here.
What do you think?
Here are a few more thoughts...
Poetry Cove Chapbook Writing Month (PoCoChapMo) Overview
**Event Date:**
- September 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024
**Objective:**
- Participants craft poems during the month and create a poetry chapbook. Suggested number of poems: 8-16, but it's up to the poet.
- Chapbooks will be designed to fit the smallest Amazon KDP book format (24 pages, with 16-18 pages for poems and images).
**Age Restriction:**
- Restrict the inaugural event to poets aged [specify age range, e.g., 18 and above or 16-30, etc.].
### Event Structure
**Pre-Event (July - August 2024):**
1. **July: Planning Phase**
- Define challenge details and structure.
- Create comprehensive guidelines and rules.
- Prepare promotional materials (emails, social media posts, website announcements).
- Organize community engagement activities.
2. **August: Promotion Phase**
- Launch promotional campaign across Poetry Cove’s website, social media platforms, and email newsletters.
- Encourage early registration with incentives.
- Feature testimonials from previous similar events like GloPoWriMo.
- Engage potential sponsors or partners.
**Event Kick-off (September 1, 2024):**
1. **Live Video Call:**
- Welcome and assure participants of support.
- Describe a chapbook and its uses.
- Review the challenge structure and rules.
**During the Event (September 2024):**
1. **Daily Prompts:**
- Provide daily writing prompts via social media and email to inspire participants.
2. **Poem of the Day:**
- Feature a 'Poem of the Day' on social media and email (with poet’s permission).
3. **Weekly Video Lessons:**
- Conduct four weekly video lessons on various poetry topics.
4. **Community Engagement:**
- Foster community interaction through forums, discussion groups, and live Q&A sessions.
**Event Wrap-up (End of September 2024):**
1. **Closing Live Session:**
- Assure participants of ongoing support.
- Gather feedback on the event.
- Guide participants on assembling their chapbooks and uploading them to Amazon KDP and Kindle.
2. **'Best of' Chapbook:**
- Assemble a chapbook of 'The Best of PoCoWriMo' as voted on by participants.
### Additional Offerings
**Basic Participation:**
- Free signup with optional donations (acknowledged and appreciated).
- Access to daily prompts, weekly lessons, and community forums.
**Enhanced Participation:**
- Silver level membership or a donation of $25 or more grants access to:
- Two live poetry write-in sessions with feedback.
- ???
**Additional Services (Fee-based):**
- Professional feedback on a set number of poems.
- Chapbook assembly and publishing to book sites.
- Image creation for chapbooks.
- Social media pack of posts.
- Social media planning assistance.
- Book description writing.
- One-on-one coaching sessions.
### Suggested Improvements and Additions
1. **Age-specific Programs:**
- Consider creating age-specific programs or categories to tailor the experience to different age groups.
2. **Mentorship Program:**
- Implement a mentorship program pairing novice poets with more experienced writers for guidance and support.
3. **Incentives and Awards:**
- Offer certificates, badges, or small prizes for milestones achieved during the challenge (e.g., completing the first draft, submitting the chapbook).
4. **Post-Challenge Support:**
- Provide resources and support for poets to continue their writing journey after PoCoChapMo, such as follow-up workshops or long-term writing groups.
5. **Collaborations and Partnerships:**
- Partner with poetry organizations, local bookstores, or literary magazines to increase visibility and offer additional opportunities for participants.
6. **Feedback Collection:**
- Implement a structured feedback system to gather insights from participants and continually improve the event.
### Final Thoughts
By structuring PoCoChapMo with these detailed steps and additional offerings, we can create an engaging, supportive, and productive environment for poets to thrive and achieve their creative goals. Let me know if you need further refinement or additional details on any aspect!