Category: challenges

It’s that time again! Like many other masochists across the globe, Jon and I are diligently offering ourselves up to Lord April for the annual creative carbolic soaping that is NaPoWriMo.

In celebration of this year’s scribblefest, why not check out found poetry extravaganza The Pulitzer Remix? Eighty-five poets from seven countries will create found poetry from the 85 Pulitzer Prize-winning works of fiction. Each poet will post one poem per day on the project’s website (www.pulitzerremix.com) during the month of April, resulting in the creation of more than 2,500 poems by the project’s conclusion.

The project is sponsored by the Found Poetry Review, the only literary journal in print dedicated to publishing found poetry.

“We recognize that there are many prestigious awards recognizing the work of writers from around the world,” explains Jenni B. Baker, project creator and editor-in-chief at the Found Poetry Review. “Understanding that all lists have their shortcomings, we chose the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction list for both its length and its potential to spur new works of found poetry by our poets.”

Pulitzer Remix poets are challenged to create new works of poetry that vary in topic and theme from the original text, rather than merely regurgitating the novels in poetic form. Posted texts will take the form of blackouts, whiteouts, collages and more, and will range from structured to more experimental forms.

This is the second year the Found Poetry Review has lead a project for National Poetry Month, Last year, on the heels of a successful Kickstarter campaign, the journal enlisted volunteers to distribute 500 found poetry kits in public spaces in communities across the US and abroad.

After the conclusion of Pulitzer Remix, Baker intends to seek a publisher for an edited collection of poems from the project.

“Compared to traditional poetry, very few works of found poetry ever see publication. We look forward to putting together a manuscript of the best pieces from the project in hopes that these poems will live on beyond National Poetry Month,”she concludes.

You can follow the project at pulitzerremix.com or on Twitter at the hashtag #pulitzerremix. Project updates can also be found on the Found Poetry Review’s Facebook page and Twitter profile.