There are a great number of wonderful poetry related happenings this month in honor of National Poetry Month . . . time to get yourself motivated.  Get your rear in gear!

Write, read, share, inspire . . . here are some things to do.

1.) Gottabook!  At Gregory K’s blog, the first annual 30 Poets/30 Days, a celebration of children’s poetry taking place at GottaBook during National Poetry Month. Every day in April, Gregory will be posting a previously unpublished poem by a different children’s poet. Lots of great poets with fresh poems. Soak it up!

2.) A Poem a Day!

Poetic Asides blogger Robert Lee Brewer is calling all poets (and even non poets) to take part in his annual Poem-A-Day Challenge! Participants who complete the poem-a-day challenge will receive a certificate, an online badge (for display on your blog or website) and will be considered for publication in a free eBook designed by Writer’s Digest’s own wonderful designers. Participation is free. All you have to do is show up to the Poetic Asides blog on April 1, write a poem a day, and have a great time.

poets-corner-color3.)  At the Miss Rumphius Effect. At The Miss Rumphius Effect a Poetry Makers series will feature at least one interview (sometimes two!) with a poet every day during the month.

4.)  At Poetry For Children, Sylvia Vardell will be reviewing a new children’s poetry book every day.

5.)  At the Pencil Talk blog, Anastasia Suen will be collecting school poems written by children throughout April… and posting one each day.

6.) If you work in a school . . . take a poetry break!  Back in the 70s when guerilla poetry was big, it was fun to get a principal, custodian, bus driver or other school person to walk into a classroom with a “Poetry Break!” sign and then read a short poem to the class. This happened impromptu and the responsibility rotated amongst the staff during the month of April. It kept the kids on their toes, and showed them that poetry could be fun.

Celebrate!

Shutta