My writing career began at fourteen. As with most desires at that age, I dreamed of being a member of a rock band with my two best friends. I ignored how I never learned how to read music, and my passable singing ability came from the weekly practice in a church pew.

I took up the challenge of writing the songs. I can’t claim they were any good; they didn’t have musical accompaniment, but they became an outlet for all the feelings and thoughts I couldn’t express in any other way.

When I gave my life to Jesus two years later, the dream of the rock band died. The desire to write songs evolved into poems — my personal praise and worship to God.

Whether they were well-written or not, they saved my sanity during the rest of my tumultuous teenage years. I also dabbled in writing short stories, church skits, and journal writing. I still have most of it, including my silly little songs.

I wrote my last poem in 2005 as part of an assignment for the Apprentice writing course through the Christian Writers Guild.

I gave up poetry largely because I don’t have the time. Fiction is my passion these days. I also don’t read poetry, and for anyone who doesn’t like to read a genre or method can’t write it — at least not very well.

At the same time, it’s good to try new things, or in my case, revisit old ways.

Yesterday I received an email from Writer’s Digest. April is National Poetry Month and Robert Lee Brewer is holding his annual Poem-a-Day Challenge. Participants are to write a poem based on the daily prompt in his blog, and add it as a comment. You can read more about it HERE. 

I’m going to give it a shot out of curiosity and to give my brain a break from research and editing.

Wanna join me?