Fida Islaih's Blog, page 12
April 14, 2017
Poetry Challenge: Love
Hello Poetteers,
Today's poetry challenge is the letter L. You can find all the challenges in the April Poetry Bundle.
Word Prompt
Love and Lost
Questions
What was love to you when you were a child?What is love to you today?Did you lose something recently, how and why?
Poetry FormA limerick is a poetry form in five lines with a strict rhyme scheme of AABBA, which is sometimes meant to be humorous.
Share the poems on Instagram using #dailypoetrygram and tagging me @poetfida. These questions are here to guide you in writing your poem. You don’t have to answer all the questions or use all your responses in the poem. Pick your favorite responses to be in the poem and rearrange them until you’re satisfied. These word prompts are up to your creativity and interpretation.
Stay inspired,Fida
Find all the challenges in the April Poetry Bundle.
Today's poetry challenge is the letter L. You can find all the challenges in the April Poetry Bundle.
Word Prompt
Love and Lost
Questions
What was love to you when you were a child?What is love to you today?Did you lose something recently, how and why?
Poetry FormA limerick is a poetry form in five lines with a strict rhyme scheme of AABBA, which is sometimes meant to be humorous.
Share the poems on Instagram using #dailypoetrygram and tagging me @poetfida. These questions are here to guide you in writing your poem. You don’t have to answer all the questions or use all your responses in the poem. Pick your favorite responses to be in the poem and rearrange them until you’re satisfied. These word prompts are up to your creativity and interpretation.
Stay inspired,Fida
Find all the challenges in the April Poetry Bundle.
April 7, 2017
Poetry Challenge: Gratitude
Hello Poetteers,
Today's poetry challenge is the letter G. You can find the whole challenge in the April Poetry Bundle.
Word Prompt
Give
Questions
How do you give yourself to the world? How are you given your friends?What do your friends give you?How do you show gratitude? Poetry Form
Gogyohka was a form developed by Enta Kusakabe in Japan and translates literally to “five-line poem.” An off-shoot of the tanka form, the gogyohka has very simple rules: The poem is comprised of five lines with one phrase per line. (source).
Share the poems on Instagram using #dailypoetrygram and tagging me @poetfida. These questions are here to guide you in writing your poem. You don’t have to answer all the questions or use all your responses in the poem. Pick your favorite responses to be in the poem and rearrange them until you’re satisfied. These word prompts are up to your creativity and interpretation.
Example
I show my heartto the worldshowing gratitudefriends see meeverything in my heart.
Stay inspired,Fida
Find the whole challenge in the April Poetry Bundle.
Today's poetry challenge is the letter G. You can find the whole challenge in the April Poetry Bundle.
Word Prompt
Give
Questions
How do you give yourself to the world? How are you given your friends?What do your friends give you?How do you show gratitude? Poetry Form
Gogyohka was a form developed by Enta Kusakabe in Japan and translates literally to “five-line poem.” An off-shoot of the tanka form, the gogyohka has very simple rules: The poem is comprised of five lines with one phrase per line. (source).
Share the poems on Instagram using #dailypoetrygram and tagging me @poetfida. These questions are here to guide you in writing your poem. You don’t have to answer all the questions or use all your responses in the poem. Pick your favorite responses to be in the poem and rearrange them until you’re satisfied. These word prompts are up to your creativity and interpretation.
Example
I show my heartto the worldshowing gratitudefriends see meeverything in my heart.
Stay inspired,Fida
Find the whole challenge in the April Poetry Bundle.
April 3, 2017
Poetry Challenge: Burning Fiercely
Hello Poetteers,
Welcome to the first day of the A to Z Poetry challenge. I won't be blogging every day. You can find all the challenges in the April Poetry Bundle. Today's challenge is the letter A.
Word Prompt
Ablaze
Questions
What sparked a fire in you?How are you fierce?What strong emotions are you feeling?What bright colors describe those emotions?Poetry Form
Acrostic
Share the poems on Instagram using #dailypoetrygram and tagging me @poetfida. This is all optional. These questions are here to guide you in writing your poem. You don’t have to answer all the questions or use all your responses in the poem. Pick your favorite responses to be in the poem and rearrange them until you’re satisfied. These word prompts are up to your creativity and interpretation.
Example
Burning Fiercely
I'm always asked about my faith and cultureof why I fast and wear the headscarfblue with frustration and red with anger instead of letting them burn me down with exhaustion I turned to writing, expressing my faithpurple with devotionyet wondering if it's enoughI hear about my work and knowit's educating and inspiring other people.
Stay inspired, Fida
For the A to Z Poetry Challenge, get the April Poetry Bundle.
Welcome to the first day of the A to Z Poetry challenge. I won't be blogging every day. You can find all the challenges in the April Poetry Bundle. Today's challenge is the letter A.
Word Prompt
Ablaze
Questions
What sparked a fire in you?How are you fierce?What strong emotions are you feeling?What bright colors describe those emotions?Poetry Form
Acrostic
Share the poems on Instagram using #dailypoetrygram and tagging me @poetfida. This is all optional. These questions are here to guide you in writing your poem. You don’t have to answer all the questions or use all your responses in the poem. Pick your favorite responses to be in the poem and rearrange them until you’re satisfied. These word prompts are up to your creativity and interpretation.
Example
Burning Fiercely
I'm always asked about my faith and cultureof why I fast and wear the headscarfblue with frustration and red with anger instead of letting them burn me down with exhaustion I turned to writing, expressing my faithpurple with devotionyet wondering if it's enoughI hear about my work and knowit's educating and inspiring other people.
Stay inspired, Fida
For the A to Z Poetry Challenge, get the April Poetry Bundle.
March 30, 2017
Reveal of April Poetry Challenge
Hello Poetteers,
As you know the A to Z blog challenge is coming up. April is also national poetry month. Of course, I found a way to combine the two events. Three years ago I wrote original poetry. This year I will be writing poetry prompts. Along with this, I'll be participating in the 100-day project. My project will be sketching my poetry. Follow along in #100daysofsketchedpoems.
List of word prompts. For in-depth prompts, check out the April Poetry Bundle.
I won't be blogging every day like the challenge calls for. I will be keeping to my regular schedule of blogging once a week. That won't take away from the content or value of the challenge. You will be able to find all the poetry prompts in the April Poetry Bundle.
Talking about the April prompts, this time last year I started #dailypoetrygram. I'm changing it up. I asked you if you wanted daily or weekly prompts and the chosen one was weekly prompts. Stay tuned next month for the change.
Thank you,
Fida
As you know the A to Z blog challenge is coming up. April is also national poetry month. Of course, I found a way to combine the two events. Three years ago I wrote original poetry. This year I will be writing poetry prompts. Along with this, I'll be participating in the 100-day project. My project will be sketching my poetry. Follow along in #100daysofsketchedpoems.
List of word prompts. For in-depth prompts, check out the April Poetry Bundle. I won't be blogging every day like the challenge calls for. I will be keeping to my regular schedule of blogging once a week. That won't take away from the content or value of the challenge. You will be able to find all the poetry prompts in the April Poetry Bundle.
Talking about the April prompts, this time last year I started #dailypoetrygram. I'm changing it up. I asked you if you wanted daily or weekly prompts and the chosen one was weekly prompts. Stay tuned next month for the change.
Thank you,
Fida
March 29, 2017
Poetry Collab: Bread
Hello Poetteers,
After a #PoetteerChat about food and poetry, I had the pleasure to collaborate on a poem with Charlotte Hamrick.
The Well Worked Globe
Bread is a part of every meal
and Monday mornings
were for bread-making.
My five-year-old self
would sit at the big, worn
kitchen table and watch
Grandma's hands
as they expertly kneaded
and rolled the dough, grabbing
the edge, folding it to the center,
then pushing it down
with the heels of her palms,
gradually turning the pale round
disc until all edges met
in the middle, over and over,
her fingers flexing, arms relentlessly
churning like waves on a shore.
I'd watch as she chatted
and sometimes sang,
a merry-go-round of domesticity,
a goddess of the kitchen,
until time to rest the well-worked
globe in a bowl in the corner.
Later, the whole house
was filled with the smell of freshly baked bread
we sat around the dining room table
I tore off a piece of pita to dip in hummus
as we waited for the main course
on the flip-side
I tore off a piece of flatbread
to scoop up some curry
Bread owns no culture,
yet belongs to every culture.
A staple of life,
bread is universal.
by Fida & Charlotte
Thank you for reading!
After a #PoetteerChat about food and poetry, I had the pleasure to collaborate on a poem with Charlotte Hamrick.
The Well Worked Globe
Bread is a part of every meal
and Monday mornings
were for bread-making.
My five-year-old self
would sit at the big, worn
kitchen table and watch
Grandma's hands
as they expertly kneaded
and rolled the dough, grabbing
the edge, folding it to the center,
then pushing it down
with the heels of her palms,
gradually turning the pale round
disc until all edges met
in the middle, over and over,
her fingers flexing, arms relentlessly
churning like waves on a shore.
I'd watch as she chatted
and sometimes sang,
a merry-go-round of domesticity,
a goddess of the kitchen,
until time to rest the well-worked
globe in a bowl in the corner.
Later, the whole house
was filled with the smell of freshly baked bread
we sat around the dining room table
I tore off a piece of pita to dip in hummus
as we waited for the main course
on the flip-side
I tore off a piece of flatbread
to scoop up some curry
Bread owns no culture,
yet belongs to every culture.
A staple of life,
bread is universal.
by Fida & Charlotte
Thank you for reading!
March 28, 2017
How To Come Up With Prompts
Hello Poetteers,
This blog is for me but it is also for you. Usually, I am the one to give you word and poetry prompts. Sometimes the prompts aren’t up your alley or you want your own set of words instead of a general set of word prompts. I am open to receiving suggestions. You always create your own set of word prompts. There are several ways to get started and places to pull words from.
Open a thesaurus or dictionary and look for works that stand out.Narrow in on an event and pick words that come from it.Example: After the inauguration and women’s march all these words popped up in my mind. That’s how I came up with the March poetry prompts. Pick a theme and the words that go with it. Most poetry prompts last for a month. Sometimes that can be too much. You could do one that goes one prompt per week or 7 prompts in one week and gauge if that week is one of writing or not. Another option is to simply cut it in half and have 15 prompts for the whole month. Like I always say, the prompts are up to your interpretation and creativity. For reference, you can download a PDF of this, Create Prompts Guide.
Stay inspired,
Fida
This blog is for me but it is also for you. Usually, I am the one to give you word and poetry prompts. Sometimes the prompts aren’t up your alley or you want your own set of words instead of a general set of word prompts. I am open to receiving suggestions. You always create your own set of word prompts. There are several ways to get started and places to pull words from.
Open a thesaurus or dictionary and look for works that stand out.Narrow in on an event and pick words that come from it.Example: After the inauguration and women’s march all these words popped up in my mind. That’s how I came up with the March poetry prompts. Pick a theme and the words that go with it. Most poetry prompts last for a month. Sometimes that can be too much. You could do one that goes one prompt per week or 7 prompts in one week and gauge if that week is one of writing or not. Another option is to simply cut it in half and have 15 prompts for the whole month. Like I always say, the prompts are up to your interpretation and creativity. For reference, you can download a PDF of this, Create Prompts Guide.
Stay inspired,
Fida
March 21, 2017
Response Poetry
Hello Poetteers,
As I read poetry, I like to note when I’m inspired. if it’s an ebook I use the notes feature to add notes and it can be as long as you want it to be. With a physical book, you are limited with the margins, so I have a notebook with me. My notes include how the poem made me feel, the thoughts or memories the poem brought me.
The inspiration unfolds in different ways. Once I read the poem I may write my own version of that poem or write like I’m talking to the author. I would add a continuation to the piece. The continuation could be similar thoughts or thoughts opposite of it. I will share my experience of what the author talked about in the poem.
Have you written a response poem?
stay inspired,
Fida
As I read poetry, I like to note when I’m inspired. if it’s an ebook I use the notes feature to add notes and it can be as long as you want it to be. With a physical book, you are limited with the margins, so I have a notebook with me. My notes include how the poem made me feel, the thoughts or memories the poem brought me.
The inspiration unfolds in different ways. Once I read the poem I may write my own version of that poem or write like I’m talking to the author. I would add a continuation to the piece. The continuation could be similar thoughts or thoughts opposite of it. I will share my experience of what the author talked about in the poem.
Have you written a response poem?
stay inspired,
Fida
March 14, 2017
Annual Look At My Bucket List
Hello Poetteers,
I've written and published poetry collections. I've written a novel in verse before. My next step is to write one that is publishable.
On my blog, I've shared my poetry bucket list. Initially, I was able to cross two things off my list:
Publish a poetry collection (I self-published two books, A TO Z POETRY and HER OLIVES)Lead a poetry workshop (I co-lead one at a camp)A couple years later I was able to cross off half my list:
I've done live performances at the camps I've been to. I'm also doing some recorded pieces on SoundCloud.I made my first poetry short film this week and will be sharing it in the coming days.If you have seen my tweets I am working on being a poetry editor.Today I can cross two more things off my list:
I've met several poets virtuallyI have an ebook poetry collection. That's 8 out 11 things. I say that's pretty awesome! I'm also working to cross of a 9th item: I'm slowly working my way to write a poem in every format.
The last two things still left untouched are making a spoken word album and doing my own poetry book signing. Today I want to add the 3 more items to my bucket list:
Write a play in verse.Get published in hardcoverGet translated into ArabicI hope to change that by the end of this year. What do you have on your bookish bucket list? What have you crossed off? What should I add to mine?
Thank you,
Fida
Get a poetry bucket list when you join the Poetteer Newsletter.
I've written and published poetry collections. I've written a novel in verse before. My next step is to write one that is publishable.
On my blog, I've shared my poetry bucket list. Initially, I was able to cross two things off my list:
Publish a poetry collection (I self-published two books, A TO Z POETRY and HER OLIVES)Lead a poetry workshop (I co-lead one at a camp)A couple years later I was able to cross off half my list:
I've done live performances at the camps I've been to. I'm also doing some recorded pieces on SoundCloud.I made my first poetry short film this week and will be sharing it in the coming days.If you have seen my tweets I am working on being a poetry editor.Today I can cross two more things off my list:
I've met several poets virtuallyI have an ebook poetry collection. That's 8 out 11 things. I say that's pretty awesome! I'm also working to cross of a 9th item: I'm slowly working my way to write a poem in every format.
The last two things still left untouched are making a spoken word album and doing my own poetry book signing. Today I want to add the 3 more items to my bucket list:
Write a play in verse.Get published in hardcoverGet translated into ArabicI hope to change that by the end of this year. What do you have on your bookish bucket list? What have you crossed off? What should I add to mine?
Thank you,
Fida
Get a poetry bucket list when you join the Poetteer Newsletter.
March 7, 2017
Review: Eccolo Planner
Hello Poetteers,
As you know I enjoy journaling. Somewhat recently I realized I’ve stuck with the same style. That brand is Eccolo Ltd. After using their journals for a while I finally picked up one of their planners. In the past, I always picked planners with the horizontal format.
This planner had just that. I split each day in half between personal and work. I don’t have to worry about doing that again in this planner. On one page they have the whole week in the horizontal format. One the second page is a weekly to do’s list and notes section. I use the weekly checklist for my personal tasks. It’s helpful to see everything in one spread. I don’t have to transfer unfinished tasks day by day. I can check it off as I get it done. The work is more deadline centered, unlike my personal to-dos. If the personal or work task is important I have the notes section to add information.
The lines and spacing are big. You get a mini month at a glance of the current and next month. I do notice a light ghosting. I use the Pilot G-2 pen. The ghosting doesn’t bother me. The planner comes with an attached ribbon bookmark. You get several note-pages at the end of the planner. In the beginning of the planner, you get a two-page month at a glance of all the months. You have plenty of space to write along with a column for notes.
The pages feel thin but think enough to not easily rip. The whole planner is thin. The size is 8 x 10”. I don’t like chunky planners. I also don’t like coiled planners. They do have coiled planners but this one isn’t. It’s a soft cover. I like the faux gold in the end pages and the gold foil on the cover. It’s not too much, just enough for the title. This is really simple and I like it.
Thank you, Fida
As you know I enjoy journaling. Somewhat recently I realized I’ve stuck with the same style. That brand is Eccolo Ltd. After using their journals for a while I finally picked up one of their planners. In the past, I always picked planners with the horizontal format.
This planner had just that. I split each day in half between personal and work. I don’t have to worry about doing that again in this planner. On one page they have the whole week in the horizontal format. One the second page is a weekly to do’s list and notes section. I use the weekly checklist for my personal tasks. It’s helpful to see everything in one spread. I don’t have to transfer unfinished tasks day by day. I can check it off as I get it done. The work is more deadline centered, unlike my personal to-dos. If the personal or work task is important I have the notes section to add information.
The lines and spacing are big. You get a mini month at a glance of the current and next month. I do notice a light ghosting. I use the Pilot G-2 pen. The ghosting doesn’t bother me. The planner comes with an attached ribbon bookmark. You get several note-pages at the end of the planner. In the beginning of the planner, you get a two-page month at a glance of all the months. You have plenty of space to write along with a column for notes.
The pages feel thin but think enough to not easily rip. The whole planner is thin. The size is 8 x 10”. I don’t like chunky planners. I also don’t like coiled planners. They do have coiled planners but this one isn’t. It’s a soft cover. I like the faux gold in the end pages and the gold foil on the cover. It’s not too much, just enough for the title. This is really simple and I like it.
Thank you, Fida
March 2, 2017
March Poetry Prompts: Activism
Hello Poetteers,
I'm bringing in the new month with a new set of poetry prompts! These prompts are different. You got a taste of it in past prompts about culture and faith. The others have been fun, random and lighthearted. These are a bit more important, serious and mature. For in-depth questions to help with these word prompts you can purchase the poetry bundle.
I'll be participating along side you. The prompts are up to your interpretation and creativity. You can repost my challenge graphic on your Instagram profile for reference. Be sure to tag your poems on Instagram with #dailypoetrygram so we can all see it.Tag me (@poetfida) so I can leave some love.
Stay inspired,Fida
I'm bringing in the new month with a new set of poetry prompts! These prompts are different. You got a taste of it in past prompts about culture and faith. The others have been fun, random and lighthearted. These are a bit more important, serious and mature. For in-depth questions to help with these word prompts you can purchase the poetry bundle.
I'll be participating along side you. The prompts are up to your interpretation and creativity. You can repost my challenge graphic on your Instagram profile for reference. Be sure to tag your poems on Instagram with #dailypoetrygram so we can all see it.Tag me (@poetfida) so I can leave some love.
Stay inspired,Fida
