National Poetry Writing Month

Unlike National Poetry Month, National Poetry Writing Month ("NaPoWriMo") is not a celebration officially recognized by any state or US governmental office. Instead, it's a challenge to those who want to write poetry: finish 30 poems in 30 days.

NaPoWriMo was unofficially "started" by poet Maureen Thorson, of Washington, DC, back in 2003. She wrote 30 poems over the 30 days of April, and posted them on her blog. When other people wrote poems, she'd link to them. After a few years, the community grew so large that Thorson decided to create a website just for NaPoWriMo. You can go there and click on the Participants' sites link to read poems by people participating this year, or submit your site if you want to accept the challenge and publish your poems for others to see.

NaPoWriMo is not affiliated with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) or National Script Writing Month, but it is still a non-profit endeavor.

The above photo was taken by Steve McLauglin and found here, through Flickr. The photo is protected by a Creative Commons copyright.

Thornton Wilder Writing Competition

It's time once again for the annual Thornton Wilder Writing Competition. Students from all Connecticut public, private, and parochial high schools students are invited to submit their one-act plays, short stories, essays, poetry, or selections from longer works for the chance to win a cash prize.

Learn more about the Competition>

Download Application

Script Frenzy

“All the world’s a stage,/ And all the men and women merely players” wrote poet and playwright William Shakespeare. How appropriate, then, that as well as being National Poetry Month, April is also Script Frenzy.

Script Frenzy, like its better-known counterpart NaNoWriMo, is run by the Office of Letters and Light, a 501©(3) nonprofit charity. It’s free to join and free to participate, and anyone who completes one hundred pages between now and midnight April 30 is a winner!

If you’re looking for resources on playwriting, cinema, or teleplays, need inspiration, or just want a quiet place to write, you can find them at the Hamden Public Library.

Thornton Wilder Award Winners

Congratulations to all the winners of the Thornton Wilder Writing Competition. Take a look at the Winners and read their prize winning works. Learn more>