Welcome to PoCoChapMo ‘24!
We’re excited to have you join us for Poetry Cove Chapbook Month 2024. This thread is dedicated to introductions and mission statements. We believe that sharing our goals and motivations will help us build a supportive and inspiring community.
Introduce Yourself
Let’s get to know each other! Please take a moment to introduce yourself. You can include:
Your name or preferred nickname
Where you’re from
Your experience with poetry (beginner, seasoned poet, etc.)
Your favorite poets or poetry styles
Mission Statement
In addition to introducing yourself, we encourage you to share your mission statement. This is a personal declaration of what you hope to achieve during PoCoChapMo ‘24 and why you’re participating. Here are a few prompts to help you craft your mission statement:
What are your specific goals for this month?
Why did you decide to participate in PoCoChapMo?
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
How do you plan to challenge yourself during this month?
Example Post
Name: Alex
Location: London, UK
Experience: Intermediate poet, writing for about five years.
Favourite Poets: Sylvia Plath, Langston Hughes, Rupi Kaur.
Mission Statement: I’m participating in PoCoChapMo ‘24 to push myself to write more consistently and to compile my first chapbook. My goal is to write at least four poems a week and to experiment with different poetic forms. I hope to gain confidence in my writing and connect with other poets who can offer feedback and support.
We can’t wait to read your introductions and mission statements. Let’s make PoCoChapMo ‘24 an inspiring and productive month for all!
Apologies, I’m not sure if my last post sent through ok…
Name: Rick
Pen name: Riku.Poet
Location: Worcester, UK
Experience: Beginner, possibly Intermediate poet, writing for about five years. (On and off).
Favourite Poets: Keates, Edgar Allen Poe, Sylvia Plath, Propaganda (slam poetry)
Mission Statement: I want to participate in PoCoChapMo ‘24 to push myself into becoming a better writer and poet. Having already produced my first chap book last year, (“Planet me” on Amazon KDP) I want to grow and show progression in my writing. I would really like to be able to tweak and polish my poems for my next chapbook. As some of these were initially penned back in 2019. My goal is to polish or possibly re-write at least two poems a week and to experiment with different poetic forms as I currently am solely a freestyle contemporary poet. I hope to gain confidence in my writing and to be able to connect with other poets who can offer feedback and support.
Name- Natalie Allgyer
Location- Amsterdam, Netherlands
Experience- beginner
Favorite poets- Poe, Frost, Rumi, Dylan, Angealou.
Mission statement- To try new things in an effort to spark inspiration in any and every way possible.
Name: Noël
Location: The Netherlands
Experience: Beginner
Favourite Poets: Rumi and my mother from whom I found a poem written in her notebook the day she passed away 🤍
Mission Statement: I like to express myself through dancing, painting and photography. Somehow, I struggle to transmit my thoughts and feelings in words. I feel ready to break this wall bit by bit.
Your name: Heather (she/her)
Your experience with poetry: well when i was a teenager i fancied myself quite the poet...but what teenage girl doesn't?! I havnt wrote much since.
Your favorite poets or poetry styles: can't say I have one i know I prefer something shorter to something very drawn out. I'm open to suggestions on good ones to follow.
Mission statemwnt: To step out of my comfort zone creatively and find ways to be creative when my health(physical or mental) or the weather keeps me from my tried and true medium.
Name: Genevieve
Location: San Francisco, CA
Experience: Beginner - I've written a handful of poems on my own volition and a handful years ago in English classes in high school.
Favourite Poets: I am abysmal at picking favorites and listing them - so here is an incomplete list of some poets who've caught my eye for their bodies or work or even a single poem over the years in no particular order: Langston Hughes, Leonard Cohen, Mary Oliver, Bukowski, Sadakichi Hartmann, Rumi...
Mission Statement: I am jumping in with both feet into the deep end of trying something new(ish). I am primarily a photographer, but at another point in life I was also a dancer - but rarely would have described myself as a writer. I am currently looking for and exploring new ways to practice my creativity and expression. My goal for this month is to create something (big or small) regularly and hopefully at the end of the month have made something I am proud of, even if the pride just comes from the fact I did it.
Hi Gillian! 😁
Name: Gallagher Green (They/Them)
Location: Burns, Kansas, USA (Actually outside of that town a short way)
Experience: I am a novelist with four published novels. I did once receive a scholarship to Joel McKerrow's "A Clearing in the Forest" writing class which was poetry-based. A short story I wrote in the class became my second novel later.
Favourite Poets: Joel McKerrow's (because he is pretty much the only one I know)
Mission Statement: I am just here to expand my view and to give poetry a better chance than I have in the past. I think it is less that I don't like poetry and more that I have trouble finding one that resonates with me. I have no expectations because they would just get in the way of what could be. So, I will just see where this goes. I am sure I will learn a lot and will have fun, if nothing else. As a side note, I'm not sure how active I will be because I have a lot going on, including a novel I need to finish writing that I have neglected. I also don't know what a Chapbook is, but I am going to watch your YouTube video and figure it out. P.S. Thanks Sara, for posting about this in the PPC FB group. ❤️
Name: Gillian O
Location: Durham. England
Experience: I write nonsense on my instagram captions sometimes
Favourite Poets: Mary Oliver, Rumi, Naomi Shihab Nye, Kathleen Jamie, Karine Polwart, Mary Karr, E.E. Cummings, Leonard Cohen,… lots of songwriters too who I consider poets.
Mission Statement: I’m usually an illustrator but I’d like to get out my comfort zone. I’m trying to break through some fears by doing this; a fear of writing, a fear of some real life change… if I can move the needle a bit by the end of the month and understand what I really feel about certain things by writing some terrible poems and illustrating them, that would be amazing.
VIEW OUR INDUCTION MEETING HERE: https://youtu.be/l_3EOdQXJAE
I missed the Zoom thing, unfortunately.
Whereabouts is the best place to post comments, questions, etc? In this thread, or is there another that will be the "central hub" of communication during the event?
Hello Adam & Everyone:
So sorry I'm late to the party! Just catching up to all the exciting news.
Name: Katherine
Location: Connecticut, USA
Experience: I'd say Beginner... I'm more a Lyricist than a Poet really.
Favourite Poets: Julia Alvares, Maya Angelou, Julia de Burgos, Alfonsina Storni, Emily Dickinson, Gwendolyn Brooks, Sylvia Plath
Mission Statement: My goal in participating in PoCoChapMo '24 is to stretch my writing skills. I hope to be able to pen at least one poem/lyric a week. I would love to try different poetic forms. (I stick to what what I consider a simple rhythmic style)
I had the honor of meeting Adam last week and for the first time "read" my poems/lyrics out loud. He provided a safe and nurturing environment - something I never felt/had before... it gave me confidence I hope I can continue that journey by connecting with other writers/poets and together we can offer each other feedback, support and encourgement. 😊
Thank you for the zoom. Feeling encouraged. Couldn't find how to add a chat response on Zoom but I could see everyone's chat
Hi there,
Nathalie Scotland (original Germany) Have been writing poetry since childhood just published my first chapbook. It's free on KU and have a poetry blog since 2016 so I guess intermediate? Favourite poets: Rainer Maria Rilke, Plath is great, and I am just reading a Scottish poet whose name I forgot shame Looking forward to this! :) I forgot the mission statement: After half a year of being AWOL from here I want to get back into writing regularly. Not sure yet how this looks like.
I am doreen originally from New York State now residing in Connecticut. I need to look at what I've done in the last seven years and see if there's a theme...I'm excited to partner with this group. I just started a creative non-fiction class and mom is in hospice...so...it's a very interesting time indeed. I love learning and growing. I look forward to meeting you. I enjoy all poets but love the humor of Billy Collins. I enjoy ted kooser, e.e.cummings, Jane hirshfield and so many more. Let's learn together.
Hi all! On behalf of @Amber Burton I am posted their introduction and mission statement below: ame: AmberLocation: Bournemouth, UK
Experience: I wrote a poem about a seagull when I was 12. And my teacher said it was rubbish. It's all been in secret since then. Very rusty.
Favourite Poets: Michael Ondaajte, Dylan Thomas, Maya Angelou, Wendy Cope, Rabindranath Tagore
Mission Statement: I’m participating in PoCoChapMo ‘24 because it feels like an adventure that's been waiting to happen. My goal is to write a poem a week. More will be minor miracles.. A chapbook feels like a mountain to climb, but maybe base camp is possible. I'm so intrigued by the other participants here and feel safe in Adam's company. Here's to welcoming in the words 🔥
Hi everyone, my name is Frost and I'm based in York, UK! I've been writing poetry for about a year and have been looking for more ways to push myself to develop my writing. I usually write poems to capture feelings of melancholy, nostalgia, and the beauty in ordinary things. Some of my favourite poets are Tristram Fane Saunders, Sage, and Frank O'Hara.
I’m participating in PoCoChapMo ‘24 to try and create my first chapbook, around the themes of identity and queer joy. My goal is to write at least four poems a week, and I hope to connect with fellow poets to give and receive feedback.
Really looking forward to going on this adventure with you all!
Frost
Hello poets! HEAR YE, HEAR YE!
We are rapidly approaching our first PoCoChapMo event and we've got so many wonderful poets at the ready! As stated in our "What is PoCoChapMo" thread we are holding an induction zoom meeting that will go into more depth about what it is we hope to achieve over the course of September!
This will be at 7:30pm BST and hosted by the amazing Herb Hagell who conceptualised this entire event, so please do show your gratitude to him! Below is the link for our induction, I can't wait to see you all there!
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83606222196
Hi everyone,
I’m Maria, and I’m thrilled to be joining PoCoChapMo ‘24! I’m originally from a small town where nature is abundant, and it deeply influences my poetry. I consider myself a beginner in the world of poetry, but I’m passionate about learning and growing as a writer. My favorite poets are Mary Oliver and Pablo Neruda, who both have a beautiful way of connecting with nature and the human experience.
Mission Statement: My goal for PoCoChapMo ‘24 is to push myself out of my comfort zone and compile a chapbook that captures the emotions and moments I often explore in my poetry. I’m aiming to write at least three poems a week, with a focus on themes of nature, personal growth, and the delicate balance between them. I hope to experiment with different poetic forms and techniques to deepen my writing.
I decided to participate in PoCoChapMo because I believe it’s the perfect opportunity to challenge myself, stay disciplined, and connect with this wonderful community of poets. I’m excited to share my journey, receive feedback, and offer support to others as we all work towards our creative goals.
Looking forward to this journey with all of you!
Best, MariaL