Experimental Poetry 16: Random Interactions

One of the most random, experimental methods of poetry writing you can engage in involves conversations or interactions with other people. Everyone is different, has different views, interests and unique personalities so you are just about guaranteed unexpected outcomes. How you interact with people and the extent this happens will determine the outcome. 

Method 29: Encounters and conversations. Yes, if you're bold enough, you can walk up to someone at a party, in a coffee shop or even out on the street and ask them to give you a few phrases or words that come into their head. Or you can prompt them with a question. Whatever they say next will be the first line of your poem.

Method 30: Random responses. Try asking someone to give you the title for your next poem. It can be a topic or a theme. Where you go with that title once you have it is completely up to you...

Method 31: Three random words. Ask someone to give you three random words, and then write a poem incorporating them. The more random the better. If you really want to make it challenging, write just three lines!

Method 32: Favourite things. Ask someone what their favourite pop song is, and write a poem about it. Ask who is their favourite movie star or their favourite movie. The variations are endless. Be creative with your questions. 

If you want a really tough challenge write the poem there and then, in just a few minutes and read them the results. It's interesting what a little bit of pressure can do for creativity.

Go for it if you're brave enough!

Steve Wheeler

Previous posts in this series

Experimental Poetry 1: Found Poetry
Experimental Poetry 2: Stream of Consciousness
Experimental Poetry 3: Fake Translations
Experimental Poetry 4: Overlapping Voices
Experimental Poetry 5: Random Prompts
Experimental Poetry 6: The Movie Method
Experimental Poetry 7: Unexpected End Rhymes
Experimental Poetry 8: Calligrams
Experimental Poetry 9: Anarchic Poetry
Experimental Poetry 10: Timed Writing
Experimental Poetry 11: Paraphrasing
Experimental Poetry 12: Deliberate Malapropism
Experimental Poetry 13: Breaking Structure
Experimental Poetry 14: Speak out Loud
Experimental Poetry 15: Quantum Elements

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