A Poem-a-Day for April: My After-Action Review

I’ve silently participated in Writer’s Digest’s poem-a-day challenges since November 2022. The magazine's online version holds these challenges twice a year, in April and November. Depending on life circumstances, I have approached these challenges either with diligence to write every day or hit or miss, doing my best.

But this April, I decided to participate publicly for the first time. Each day, I posted my prompted poem in the comments on Writer’s Digest’s website and on my Facebook page. I quickly discovered that doing this dramatically changed the experience.

First and most obviously, I found myself interacting with people. Other participants made comments and suggestions about my work; they cheered me on. I did the same for them, though I did more “liking” than commenting. Overall, the environment among participants was encouraging and celebratory. It was fun.

Second, I found myself challenged to produce final drafts. In silent seasons, I could challenge myself to try difficult forms and give myself a few days to do so if needed. I could also take a day off if other tasks were calling for my attention. I would still finish the challenge, but at a more flexible pace. Participating publicly, I didn’t have this luxury. Instead of attempting complicated forms, I’d stick to short and simple or free verse. Though I did make time for a sestina on April 17^th.

Third, I found myself censoring my work. Knowing people would read it that day, I steered away from subjects and stories I might regret sharing too quickly. I do write personal, emotional, and intense poetry, but I always give myself time to step away from it and reconsider it with fresh eyes before publishing. Writing poetry can be therapeutic, but sometimes, the results of such therapy must remain private.

Finally, I found myself able to stick to one project daily for a month. I did work on other projects during that time, but the poems were my focus for April. Discovering how this worked may have been the greatest benefit of completing this challenge for me. I am juggling several writing projects and have feared dropping one or more by choosing one to focus on. Seeing something reach completion in such a short time shows me I can favor one without losing contact with the others. Starting today, I am focusing on a uniquely formed devotional based on the book of Jonah. When I finish writing that, I’ll turn my attention to another project already in the works.

Progress is important, but so is finishing the work. A month of intense focus can give a project a huge boost.

* * *

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood at Pexels.com.