What: Prose poems of 150 – 250 words (details below, read some poem walks here and here)

When: October 8th – October 21st

Theme: Horror/Suspense or Uncanny Nature

How to join: Send a tweet to @bullishink or @dustyjournal with the hashtag #poemwalk2012 and the link to your poem OR use the linky below

Prizes: 1st Place = $25 gift certificate / 2nd Place = $15 / Sign Up Incentive = If we get 10 or more participants, the Dusty Journal will gift a journal to her favorite entry!

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A poem walk is a simple thing. All you need is yourself, a location that you’ve been before, and a bit of time. Perambulate through your favorite neighborhood, or give your entryway a stroll. The place can be huge (a park, a stadium, a yawning lake) or tiny (a garden path, a stop sign, a hallway). Move through it, casually, like you own the place. Use all of your senses. What do you see? Does the place have a smell? Many smells? Can you hear anything? Take a few breaths. What do you hear that you couldn’t before? Is there anything to touch or taste? Run your hand over an object you don’t normally touch. What does it feel like? Is it important?

Don’t use a journal or pen.

Let the impressions form. The most important ones will settle into your mind.

Good!

Now, try to capture a sense of that place as you are moving through it. Write sentences. Fragments. Words.

The poem walk is about the place, about you, and about the impression that you get as you walk.

For Poem Walk 2012, we want your huddled masses. Horror, suspense. That prickling on the back of your neck when you walk through a natural place where it feels like you may not belong.

Bullish Ink has an excellent introduction on writing poem walks on her contest post, and a wonderful new addition.

To sign up, Use twitter hashtag #poemwalk2012 @dustyjournal and @bullishink with a link to your poem walk. Or use this handy-dandy linky below. The choice is yours!