Introductions and Mission Statements

Apologies, I’m not sure if my last post sent through ok…

Name: Rick

Pen name: Riku.Poet

Location: Worcester, UK

Experience: Beginner, possibly Intermediate poet, writing for about five years. (On and off).

Favourite Poets: Keates, Edgar Allen Poe, Sylvia Plath, Propaganda (slam poetry)

Mission Statement: I want to participate in PoCoChapMo ‘24 to push myself into becoming a better writer and poet. Having already produced my first chap book last year, (“Planet me” on Amazon KDP) I want to grow and show progression in my writing. I would really like to be able to tweak and polish my poems for my next chapbook. As some of these were initially penned back in 2019. My goal is to polish or possibly re-write at least two poems a week and to experiment with different poetic forms as I currently am solely a freestyle contemporary poet. I hope to gain confidence in my writing and to be able to connect with other poets who can offer feedback and support.

Name- Natalie Allgyer

Location- Amsterdam, Netherlands

Experience- beginner

Favorite poets- Poe, Frost, Rumi, Dylan, Angealou.

Mission statement- To try new things in an effort to spark inspiration in any and every way possible.

Name: Noël

Location: The Netherlands

Experience: Beginner

Favourite Poets: Rumi and my mother from whom I found a poem written in her notebook the day she passed away 🤍

Mission Statement: I like to express myself through dancing, painting and photography. Somehow, I struggle to transmit my thoughts and feelings in words. I feel ready to break this wall bit by bit.

Your name: Heather (she/her)

Your experience with poetry: well when i was a teenager i fancied myself quite the poet...but what teenage girl doesn't?! I havnt wrote much since.

Your favorite poets or poetry styles: can't say I have one i know I prefer something shorter to something very drawn out. I'm open to suggestions on good ones to follow.

Mission statemwnt: To step out of my comfort zone creatively and find ways to be creative when my health(physical or mental) or the weather keeps me from my tried and true medium.

Name: Genevieve

Location: San Francisco, CA

Experience: Beginner - I've written a handful of poems on my own volition and a handful years ago in English classes in high school.

Favourite Poets: I am abysmal at picking favorites and listing them - so here is an incomplete list of some poets who've caught my eye for their bodies or work or even a single poem over the years in no particular order: Langston Hughes, Leonard Cohen, Mary Oliver, Bukowski, Sadakichi Hartmann, Rumi...

Mission Statement: I am jumping in with both feet into the deep end of trying something new(ish). I am primarily a photographer, but at another point in life I was also a dancer - but rarely would have described myself as a writer. I am currently looking for and exploring new ways to practice my creativity and expression. My goal for this month is to create something (big or small) regularly and hopefully at the end of the month have made something I am proud of, even if the pride just comes from the fact I did it.

Hi Gillian! 😁

• Name: Gallagher Green (They/Them)

  
  

• Location: Burns, Kansas, USA (Actually outside of that town a short way)

  
  

• Experience: I am a novelist with four published novels. I did once receive a scholarship to Joel McKerrow's "A Clearing in the Forest" writing class which was poetry-based. A short story I wrote in the class became my second novel later.

  
  

• Favourite Poets: Joel McKerrow's (because he is pretty much the only one I know)

  
  

• Mission Statement: I am just here to expand my view and to give poetry a better chance than I have in the past. I think it is less that I don't like poetry and more that I have trouble finding one that resonates with me. I have no expectations because they would just get in the way of what could be. So, I will just see where this goes. I am sure I will learn a lot and will have fun, if nothing else. As a side note, I'm not sure how active I will be because I have a lot going on, including a novel I need to finish writing that I have neglected. I also don't know what a Chapbook is, but I am going to watch your YouTube video and figure it out. P.S. Thanks Sara, for posting about this in the PPC FB group. ❤️

Name: Gillian O

Location: Durham. England

Experience: I write nonsense on my instagram captions sometimes

Favourite Poets: Mary Oliver, Rumi, Naomi Shihab Nye, Kathleen Jamie, Karine Polwart, Mary Karr, E.E. Cummings, Leonard Cohen,… lots of songwriters too who I consider poets.

Mission Statement: I’m usually an illustrator but I’d like to get out my comfort zone. I’m trying to break through some fears by doing this; a fear of writing, a fear of some real life change… if I can move the needle a bit by the end of the month and understand what I really feel about certain things by writing some terrible poems and illustrating them, that would be amazing.

VIEW OUR INDUCTION MEETING HERE: https://youtu.be/l_3EOdQXJAE

I missed the Zoom thing, unfortunately.

Whereabouts is the best place to post comments, questions, etc? In this thread, or is there another that will be the "central hub" of communication during the event?

Hello Adam & Everyone:

So sorry I'm late to the party! Just catching up to all the exciting news.

Name: Katherine

Location: Connecticut, USA

Experience: I'd say Beginner... I'm more a Lyricist than a Poet really.

Favourite Poets: Julia Alvares, Maya Angelou, Julia de Burgos, Alfonsina Storni, Emily Dickinson, Gwendolyn Brooks, Sylvia Plath

Mission Statement: My goal in participating in PoCoChapMo '24 is to stretch my writing skills. I hope to be able to pen at least one poem/lyric a week. I would love to try different poetic forms. (I stick to what what I consider a simple rhythmic style)

I had the honor of meeting Adam last week and for the first time "read" my poems/lyrics out loud. He provided a safe and nurturing environment - something I never felt/had before... it gave me confidence I hope I can continue that journey by connecting with other writers/poets and together we can offer each other feedback, support and encourgement. 😊

Thank you for the zoom. Feeling encouraged. Couldn't find how to add a chat response on Zoom but I could see everyone's chat

Hi there,

Nathalie Scotland (original Germany) Have been writing poetry since childhood just published my first chapbook. It's free on KU and have a poetry blog since 2016 so I guess intermediate? Favourite poets: Rainer Maria Rilke, Plath is great, and I am just reading a Scottish poet whose name I forgot shame Looking forward to this! :) I forgot the mission statement: After half a year of being AWOL from here I want to get back into writing regularly. Not sure yet how this looks like.

I am doreen originally from New York State now residing in Connecticut. I need to look at what I've done in the last seven years and see if there's a theme...I'm excited to partner with this group. I just started a creative non-fiction class and mom is in hospice...so...it's a very interesting time indeed. I love learning and growing. I look forward to meeting you. I enjoy all poets but love the humor of Billy Collins. I enjoy ted kooser, e.e.cummings, Jane hirshfield and so many more. Let's learn together.

Hi all! On behalf of @Amber Burton I am posted their introduction and mission statement below: ame: AmberLocation: Bournemouth, UK

Experience: I wrote a poem about a seagull when I was 12. And my teacher said it was rubbish. It's all been in secret since then. Very rusty.

Favourite Poets: Michael Ondaajte, Dylan Thomas, Maya Angelou, Wendy Cope, Rabindranath Tagore

Mission Statement: I’m participating in PoCoChapMo ‘24 because it feels like an adventure that's been waiting to happen.  My goal is to write a poem a week. More will be minor miracles.. A chapbook feels like a mountain to climb, but maybe base camp is possible. I'm so intrigued by the other participants here and feel safe in Adam's company. Here's to welcoming in the words 🔥

Hi everyone, my name is Frost and I'm based in York, UK! I've been writing poetry for about a year and have been looking for more ways to push myself to develop my writing. I usually write poems to capture feelings of melancholy, nostalgia, and the beauty in ordinary things. Some of my favourite poets are Tristram Fane Saunders, Sage, and Frank O'Hara.

I’m participating in PoCoChapMo ‘24 to try and create my first chapbook, around the themes of identity and queer joy. My goal is to write at least four poems a week, and I hope to connect with fellow poets to give and receive feedback.

Really looking forward to going on this adventure with you all!

Frost

Hello poets! HEAR YE, HEAR YE!

We are rapidly approaching our first PoCoChapMo event and we've got so many wonderful poets at the ready! As stated in our "What is PoCoChapMo" thread we are holding an induction zoom meeting that will go into more depth about what it is we hope to achieve over the course of September!

This will be at 7:30pm BST and hosted by the amazing Herb Hagell who conceptualised this entire event, so please do show your gratitude to him! Below is the link for our induction, I can't wait to see you all there!

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83606222196

Hi everyone,

I’m Maria, and I’m thrilled to be joining PoCoChapMo ‘24! I’m originally from a small town where nature is abundant, and it deeply influences my poetry. I consider myself a beginner in the world of poetry, but I’m passionate about learning and growing as a writer. My favorite poets are Mary Oliver and Pablo Neruda, who both have a beautiful way of connecting with nature and the human experience.

Mission Statement: My goal for PoCoChapMo ‘24 is to push myself out of my comfort zone and compile a chapbook that captures the emotions and moments I often explore in my poetry. I’m aiming to write at least three poems a week, with a focus on themes of nature, personal growth, and the delicate balance between them. I hope to experiment with different poetic forms and techniques to deepen my writing.

I decided to participate in PoCoChapMo because I believe it’s the perfect opportunity to challenge myself, stay disciplined, and connect with this wonderful community of poets. I’m excited to share my journey, receive feedback, and offer support to others as we all work towards our creative goals.

Looking forward to this journey with all of you!

Best, MariaL

Some thoughts if you're worried because you can't start your poem:

Start at the end. What emotion or provocative thought do you want to leave your reader with. From that you can start to think of how the poem will arrive there

Sleep on a prompt; let your subconscious start your poem

If your mind keeps straying from a poem your trying to write, maybe it wants to wrote a different.

I have written this primarily for me, when I am halfway through this challenge

Name: Sara

Location: Bassano del Grappa, Italy

Experience: Extreme beginner

Favourite Poets: Warsan Shire, Ocean Vuong, Eugenio Montale, Mary Oliver, Sappho

Mission Statement: I’m a visual artist with a wild love of languages. I'm participating in PoCoChapMo ‘24 because it is completely out of my comfort zone and that's usually where interesting stuff happens. My goal is to end September with a handful of poems that I will be able to turn into visual art. I had to google what a chapbook is and I don't know if it would be too ambitious for me to aim for one, but a girl can dream, maybe? English isn't my first language so I might make up words along the way, please be patient while I figure things out.

Just call me Ghost of a Goddess. I am an Angeleno. I started writing poetry seriously only a little less than three years ago, but I've taken it very seriously and think I've progressed very quickly. My favorite poets are Longfellow (content-wise), cummings (mechanics-wise), and Plath (effect-wise).

I have had a hard time writing this summer and want to get back into it, so I'm hoping this project might help. I have written a chapbook for a school assignment once before. School will be starting for me at the beginning of the month and, like I said, I haven't been writing much lately, so I don't really know how much I will end up doing. Maybe I'll try to write four drafts a week and revise two per week. I might adjust my goals later.

C.L.A.S

Toronto/Canada

Novice poet, writing for over 25 years.

Rumi, Charles Bukowski, Khalil Gibran, Sylvia Plath.

I’m participating in PoCoChapMo’24 to inspire the beginning of my first chapbook, and to have fun in a friendly environment with fellow artists. Depending on the prompts given, possibly a fictional character lead may make her debut. Realistically, I would like to do eight great poems during this month. Yet, if the energy and creative sparks are flowing, I may end up with 20+ poems. To take that leap over the edge, beyond bashful peering, reasoning.

Alex,

I like your goals and feel similar to you in regards to wanting to write along with other poets as a push to keep my goals strong.

Name: Michael Cunliffe

Location: Queensland, Australia

Experience: Have been writing poetry for 30 years.

Favourite Poets: W.B.Yeats, Charles Bukowski, Sylvia Plath, T.S.Eliot, William Blake.

Mission Statement: I’ve found it quite difficult in 2023 & 2024 to focus on writing as much as I'd like to. I'd like to find new ways to refocus on making writing a bigger priority in my day to day life, and I'm hoping PoCoChapMo ‘24 will help.

Hi there, Am I too late to sign up for participation?

Best,

MariaL

Katherine

-The Canadian Prairies

-I was an artist in residence at the Grunewald Guild this year and have written thousands of poems but I tend to argue for my inexperience or worthlessness. Maybe a young coward who believes in what they are doing is accurate.

-Robert Service, Amanda Goreman, Kay Gillen, Mahmoud Darwish, and Mervyn Peake

-My very big project (Day by Day: 365 snapshots of living) is hard to give people a taste of because it is so large and narrative is not often used for poetry in this way. The story is in between the poems, for the central conceit is that of an unnamed protagonist keeping a daily journal and reflecting their me-making/life events upon its pages.

Hopefully readable 2 ways: pick and choose enjoyment as well as a cover to cover experience.

I want to make 4 small chapbooks, one for every season, to facilitate interest in the project and convey bite sized story beats that a reader can later contextualize into the larger story. My goal is to write 2 new poems for each one and to carefully compile the already written poems so that each chapbook is different but unified by how they reflect the spirit of their parent project.

Name: Yvonne Calder

Location: Guildford, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Experience: Amatuer writing since 2007

Favourite poets: Robert Burns, Lewis Carrol, S T Coleridge, Bruce Dawe, Emily Dickinson,

Mission Statement: To create a chapbook. I aim for at least 8 completed poems connected into a thread or journey. I participated in GLO WRI PO MO24 and developed skills through the process; although most were beginnings of poems some have subsequently been developed into completed poems. Learning to control my muse more to create poems on a theme. I believe form has to fit the message of the poem rather than be a poet's style. I play with form; don't really understand scansion but really enjoy poems which apparently don't scan well. I look for the emotion in a poem not any particular device. Looking forward to developing my skills.

Name: Lori Carlson

Location: Oklahoma USA

Experience: Seasoned Poet (been writing poetry since age 12, BA in English, Masters in Poetry and Creative Arts)

Favorite Poets: Edgar Allen Poe, Langston Hughes, Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, Shakespeare, Lord Byron, Keats, Margaret Gibson

Mission Statement:  I’m participating in PoCoChapMo ‘24 to get back into the flow of writing poetry daily and complete a chapbook. My goal is to write 5 poems per week, gain confidence, and interact with other poets.

Name: Tanya

Location: Alaska, USA

Experience: Intermediate poet, writing for many years, off & on since the 90s.

Favourite Poets: Edgar Allen Poe, Lewis Carroll, Robert Frost, Shakespeare, T S. Elliot, many others.

Mission Statement: I’m participating in PoCoChapMo ‘24 to push myself to write more consistently. My goal is to write at least 5 poems a week and to experiment with staying in different poetic forms. I hope to gain confidence in my poetry writing while connecting with other poets who will offer feedback.

My PoCoChapMo Intro

Name: Herb

Published Under: Herbert Hagell

Location: Rural Ontario, Canada

Experience: Amateur to mid. While I may have written many poems, I continue to think of myself as just getting started.

Favourite Poets: Robert Service, Robert Frost, Robert Burns, Rudyard Lipling, Emily Dickinson, Leonard Cohen,  and recently enjoying Mary Oliver.

Mission Statement: To work with like-minded poets to craft and assemble a poetry chapbook collection.

I have not nailed down my general theme for PoCoChapMo but I might make this very personal. That might be a challenge in itself... I don't open up much. Hmmm. That will take some of Robby Burns whiskey.

On the other hand, I might craft a fantasy story of poems. (I really need to get to Mythical Meter)

My goal is 15-20 poems I can put into a chapbook

I also commit to assembling a chapbook from existing inventory.

Name: Mark

Published Under: Stevenson M.D.

Location: Wellington, NZ

Experience: Amature to mid

Favourite Poets: Ezra Pound, Pam Ayers, Robert Frost, Leonard Cohen, and recently discovered Leonard E. Nathan.

Mission Statement: While working on my collection, about 80% done at this stage, I keep writing poems that don't fit with it so I plan to start the chapbook game for the stragglers in life. I have also been playing with certain changes to my word usage so September will be about exploring that in more depth and evolving my poetic voice. Chapbooks will also serve a nice medium for exploring my other art interests of flash micro fiction, and collage images. All art forms bending and supporting each other.

I may never finish my novel before the end of my days. At least with these I will have left a legacy for my daughter to better know me and be inspired herself.