National Poetry Month

MSU Libraries' guide built with the research, writing, and professional needs of creative writers in mind.

Robert Lee Brewer offers fun and inspirational prompts every week—and every day in April!—to get you started writing a poem, whether you’re an experienced poet looking for new ideas, or trying poetry for the first time.

Get ready for Mother’s Day by making a card featuring a line of poetry.

There are many ways to start or participate in ongoing poetry reading groups. First, check with your local bookstore or library to see if there is one currently running that you can join. If not, solicit participants and create your own poetry reading group.

Exquisite Corpse is a collaborative poetry game that traces its roots to the Parisian Surrealist Movement. Exquisite Corpse is played by several people, each of whom writes a word on a sheet of paper, folds the paper to conceal it, and passes it on to the next player for his or her contribution.