I was shocked and saddened to read this morning that Read Write Poem will be closing down at the end of April. See the announcement at: http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2010/03/31/read-write-poem-announcement-2/. There was a part of me that, for a minute, hoped that this is an early April Fool’s joke. But I don’t think that it is.

I, for one, have to thank RWP. As of this May, I will have been part of the RWP community for two years. I have enjoyed the information and resources that RWP presented, as well as the weekly prompts, which challenged me to write more and write better. I have constantly mentioned this community when I read live at open mics, because I really do feel it has been a wonderful thing that has happened in mine and others’ poetry lives. And I am sad to see it go.

I know that there is a large contingent of readers of Raven’s Wing Poetry who come from RWP. I think that we’ve been reading each other’s work, commenting on it, offering constructive criticism when needed, and enjoying the virtual community in that exchange and reading. While I don’t know about our capability to continue the vast, expansive mission of Read Write Poem, I hope that in some capacity, we can continue the community aspect that RWP offered with each other. I don’t know if that would happen in the form of another place that offers weekly writing prompts that try to challenge us at least somewhat close to how the RWP prompts did, or if it would be more, or if it would simply be community to come together, share, and maybe collaborate.

Please, I want your thoughts and reactions. I’ve been on a wonderful adventure with poetry in the blogosphere for the last two years, and I want this to continue. I’m sure you do too. Please leave your thoughts either through comments on this post or backchannel through my “About The Poet” page.

Saludos,

Nicole Nicholson
Founder, Raven’s Wing Poetry

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