Poem Writing Game

I learned this game from my friend Darcy. Basically, you write out a set of 10 constraints and give yourself 2 min to respond to each – write them out, toss them in a pile, draw one at random, start the timer, write, repeat.

Just like the songwriting game, the goal is to get yourself out of your head. You can use this as a warm-up, or, if you like what you come up with, shape it up into a proper poem.

I’ve loaded this up to generate a set of constraints from the ones I’ve used over the past few months. Every time you refresh the page you should see a different combination. Feel free to use these or create your own!

Prompts:

  1. describe the texture of a color
  2. use a #, an animal, and an -ing verb
  3. describe a vehicle you see
  4. describe waiting using smells
  5. describe something in your childhood bedroom
  6. use a random word from your scrap paper
  7. describe an animal
  8. use 3 random words from the Bible and rhyme 2 lines
  9. describe something in your childhood bedroom
  10. write 2 lines in iambic pentameter

I’d love to hear what you come up with – either ideas for constraints or what you create. Drop me a line or comment here to share!