Gavin Bennett's Blog: 2016 April PAD Challenge: Day 30

For the final day of this challenge, I’m happy to be able to share five of my poems published in the Australian online publication Otoliths (click here to read them). Quick read: All five put together combine for fewer than 30 lines.

Yesterday, the blog seemed to take the haphazard prompt a little too seriously–as some people were able to access the blog while others were not. Our tech team was working on the very unorganized problem and hopefully have a solution, or else the final prompt of the month will live up to its name as well.

For today’s prompt, write a dead end poem. Of course, I was thinking in terms of the challenge, but a dead end can literally mean the end of a person’s life, a dead end road, a dead end job, dead end mortgage, and so on. Take the phrase “dead end” and apply it to a noun, and the possibilities are nearly endless (except, well, there’s the whole “dead end” finality to it, I suppose). I hope it’s fun and that the blog is alive and well today.

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Poet’s Market 2016

Publish Your Poetry!

The 2016 Poet’s Market, edited by Robert Lee Brewer, includes hundreds of poetry markets, including listings for poetry publications, publishers, contests, and more! With names, contact information, and submission tips, poets can find the right markets for their poetry and achieve more publication success than ever before.

In addition to the listings, there are articles on the craft, business, and promotion of poetry–so that poets can learn the ins and outs of writing poetry and seeking publication. Plus, it includes a one-year subscription to the poetry-related information on WritersMarket.com. All in all, it’s the best resource for poets looking to secure publication.

Click to continue.

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Here’s my attempt at a Dead End Poem:

“i don’t want to know”

how or when
i will eventually
meet my end

because i know
the day will come
whether i’m smart

or awkwardly dumb
so let it find me
completely aloof

for i’m fine
solving problems
without any proofs

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Robert Lee Brewer thanks everyone who came out and poemed along this month. It’s hard for him to believe that this is the ninth year of prompting and writing poems every day in April. It’s a cliche, but time really does fly when you’re having fun, and Robert has had so much fun. Look for a next steps post either Sunday or Monday.

Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community, which means he gets to do a million things to help writers find more success with their writing (including this blog). He’s also the author of Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53).

Connect with him on Twitter @RobertLeeBrewer.

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