I’ve been on Substack for almost 9 months now
and sometimes it’s been easy to get downhearted about the reach of posts and notes. It’s such a busy place and so chock full of wonders that it’s quite overwhelming at times- how to choose? I honestly find it impossible to commit to a paid subscription - because, well who would I choose out of all this bounty?
There is just too much, and for that reason I will probably never offer a paid subscription to my work here. I feel that allows me the freedom to share spontaneously, that my writing never needs to be perfect, and that any feedback I get is really a bonus and something I can welcome as a gift.
Having said that, I have found that daily challenges, poetry competitions and exchanges, such as
's wonderful Blackout Poetry exchange have really inspired and focused my writing. You can see some of the entries here:..and here is mine, if you don’t have time to scroll through!
I had immense fun doing this, a first effort which was altogether too try-hard, and then finally found this page in one of my Great-Aunt’s Household Guide books ( a sort of women’s magazine collection ) from 1909.
And yes, I know it’s not truly blackout poetry, but I had a little accident with glue and paint….
The sense of community and the care and effort everyone has put into creating and sending their work is a huge antidote to those downhearted days.
I’ve also found competitions to be a great way to connect
run regular groups and competitions like this one–
Here’s my entry, inspired by
’s intriguing quilt artCailleach* in Summer
( *the Cailleach is a Scottish Gaelic winter witch- goddess)
Happed in her cocoon quilt of dreams,
Cailleach spins: her incantations meld
peacock feathers, five stars of summer.
A net, set to trap the sun,
enmesh the moon;
blow cobwebs across noctilucent skies
turn leaves ombre, orange, then die:
but not yet. Drowsy with hibernation
she drops tinctures in her mortar of midnight-
three jewels: mugwort, yarrow, rue;
add lavender for dream insight.
A shot rings out: she calls it:
patched feathers fly, as cold, Autumn approaches.
Cailleach stirs, murmuring, in rough dreamt pleasure.
And of course, I couldn't fail to mention
who runs regular #tinypoem challenges, seasonal writing sanctuaries and journalling challenges. I’d love to commit to her paid version, but I fear that’s all I would ever do ! Please do take a look-Here’s a Haiku I was inspired to write by Beth’s challenges, part of a longer Haibun piece I may share one day
Hearing silence as
fresh sycamore leaves unfurl
each Autumn, they Fall
If you have any recommendations for challenges, competitions or connections please do comment below-
If you enjoyed reading this, please do restack in Notes and subscribe or follow!
Keep writing and sharing your work Ruth. It can sometimes feel like we are shouting into the void but this is a wonderful place for community and sharing our love for the arts.
I love your blackout poem - really lovely to look at and read. The layout with all the additional colours draws me in. I don't think it has to follow a standard form.