[Viv]

We have just posted the First Monthly OSA Poetry Challenge! New poetry challenges will appear on the first day of each month and will have 6-month deadlines (which should allow for epic tales as well as shorter verse). Please feel free to suggest poetry challenge topics (should be poetry-related, if possible), right here on the thread.

Even if you've never written poetry before, please feel free to try your hand.

Here's the first challenge:

Write a poem using an extended metaphor for something in Tolkien's world. For instance, Tolkien himself used the cycle of the day to and beauteous female elves to describe the overall presence of elves in Middle-earth: Galadriel as morning and Arwen as twilight, etc. A hobbit might compare most anything to preparing a multi-course meal. A dwarf might think of something in terms of smithing. A Rider of the Mark would likely use equestrian terms to describe things.

No line limit, no meter or rhyme restraints.

[Viv]

So far, here's what's comin' up...

OSA Poetry Challenge #1: Metaphors -- Write a poem using an extended metaphor for something in Tolkien's world. For instance, Tolkien himself used the cycle of the day to and beauteous female elves to describe the overall presence of elves in Middle-earth: Galadriel as morning and Arwen as twilight, etc. A hobbit might compare most anything to preparing a multi-course meal. A dwarf might think of something in terms of smithing. A Rider of the Mark would likely use equestrian terms to describe things.

OSA Poetry Challenge #2: List of Images -- Make a list of five visuals from the LoTR book or movies, or other of Tolkien's works. Write a poem that contains all five images on your list.

OSA Poetry Challenge #3: List of Items -- Make a list of five items from the LoTR book or movies, or other of Tolkien's works. Write a poem that contains all five images on your list.

OSA Poetry Challenge #4: Anaphora -- Write an Anaphora poem. An Anaphora is "the repetition of a word or expression several times within a clause or within a paragraph". In poetry the repetition of the phrase can be just at the beginning of each line, setting the tone as a meditation or a mantra, or it can be utilized more subtlety within the poem. The poem can be free verse or prose style.

OSA Poetry Challenge #5: Cento -- Write a Cento. "From the Latin word for 'patchwork,' the cento is a poetic form made up of lines from poems (or songs) by other poets. (You'll want to give credit to all source material for direct quotes, so keep a list of where you're getting the lines from.)

OSA Poetry Challenge #6: Elegy -- Write an Elegy. "The traditional elegy mirrors three stages of loss. First, there is a lament, then praise for the idealized dead, and finally consolation and solace."

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These should keep us busy through this year. Please feel free to add to this list by describing a challenge here on this thread. Challenges will be issued in the order in which they're listed on this thread. I came up with those first six to give us a boost. If they're too boring (and they do seem a little dry), please feel free to let me know, and we can skip one or open up the next one early.

[Viv]

A new OSA Poetry Challenge opens 1 March!

Here's the skinny:

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OSA Poetry Challenge #2: Images
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Make a list of five visuals from the LoTR book or movies, or other of Tolkien's works. Write a poem that contains all five images on your list.

No line limit, no meter or rhyme restraints.

New OSA Poetry Challenges will appear on the first day of each month and will have 6-month deadlines (which should allow for epic tales as well as shorter verse). Please feel free to suggest Poetry Challenge topics on the OSA Poetry Challenges thread in the Forum.

[Viv]

A new OSA Poetry Challenge opens 1 April!

To wit:

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OSA Poetry Challenge #3: Items
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Make a list of five items. Write a poem that contains all five items on your list.

If you’re writing for the Tolkien Archive, items should be from Tolkien’s works or the movie adaptations. If you’re writing for the TV/Movies Archive, items should be from the TV show or movie of your choice. Make sure you sign up for the challenge in the right archive.

No line limit, no meter or rhyme restraints.

New OSA Poetry Challenges will appear on the first day of each month and will have 6-month deadlines (which should allow for epic tales as well as shorter verse). Please feel free to suggest Poetry Challenge topics on the OSA Poetry Challenges thread in the Forum.

[dolarabee]

Me stepping in while Viv relaxes under a coconut tree...

A new OSA Poetry Challenge opens 1st of May!

Here it goes:

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OSA Poetry Challenge #4: Anaphora
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Write an Anaphora poem. An Anaphora is "the repetition of a word or expression several times within a clause or within a paragraph".

In poetry the repetition of the phrase can be just at the beginning of each line, setting the tone as a meditation or a mantra, or it can be utilized more subtlety within the poem.

The poem can be free verse or prose style.

New OSA Poetry Challenges will appear on the first day of each month and will have 6-month deadlines (which should allow for epic tales as well as shorter verse). Please feel free to suggest Poetry Challenge topics on the OSA Poetry Challenges thread in the Forum.

[Viv]

New poetry challenge up:

Elegy.

Write an Elegy. "The traditional elegy mirrors three stages of loss. First, there is a lament, then praise for the idealized dead, and finally consolation and solace."

No line limit, no meter or rhyme restraints.

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Notice
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This is the last poetry challenge I had preplanned, and no one else has had any suggestions. We'll let these first six stew for a little while and see how the interest level is. So, currently I'm not planning to open up another poetry challenge in August. Okay?