By Ashley Lister
Inspiration is a lot like oxygen,
love and internet connectivity: it’s only a problem when it’s not there.
Inspire a writer with an idea and that’s usually enough. Once a writer
is armed with an idea, the quest for inspiration gets put aside as the labours
of writing, crafting and editing take place. Inspiration is only ever an issue
between projects.
Personally and professionally, I understand the difficulties that come
from a lack of inspiration. When I’m teaching poetic forms some learners get so
caught up in mastering the rules of a specific poem they can’t think of a
subject that fires their imagination.
Papers have been written on this problem. Some theorists argue that,
because the rational part of the brain is hyperactive in understanding the
rules of form, the creative part of the brain is being suppressed or underutilised.
I don’t claim to know if this is exactly what is happening.
But I do know a way round it.
Here are the instructions for how to write a monotetra
The monotetra contains four lines in monorhyme. Each line is in
tetrameter (four metrical feet) for a total of eight syllables. The last line
contains two metrical feet, repeated. The monotetra can have one stanza or many
stanzas.
Line 1: 8 syllables
Line 2: 8 syllables
Line 3: 8 syllables
Line 4: 8 syllables with repetition
Here’s an example:
It keeps the working world at bay
A word I whisper when I pray
And thankfully today’s the day
It’s Saturday. It’s Saturday.
At this point, in the classroom I would tell learners to experiment
with the form. And I know there would be learners struggling to be inspired.
That’s where the random word generator comes in so useful.
To the right of this page is a random word generator. The random word generator
should be generating a new word each time someone visits this page. If you don’t
like that word, if it doesn’t inspire you, click on the link labelled NEXT WORD.
If that doesn’t inspire you, clink on NEXT WORD a second time.
Inspired monotetras in the box below, please. I look forward to reading
them.