Hampshire Poet blog - April 2026
- Damian Kelly-Basher
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
During his continued tenure, your Hampshire Poet - Damian Kelly-Basher - will be writing a series of blog posts for us sharing what he has been up to, telling us his poetic plans for the future, and inviting you to get involved in poetry in Hampshire. Read on to find out what's happening in Damian's world!
For April, Damian Kelly-Basher's Hampshire Poet blog is about National Poetry Writing Month
"Hey Poets check this out!
NAPoWriMo is a brilliant, free, open-access event that was set up by a U.S poet Maureen
Thorson. It’s now a global online event that happens each year during April.
NaPoWriMo is an independent, grass-roots project which is part online festival, part
educational resource. Anyone who wants to, can write poems using the daily prompts on
the website: www.napowrimo.net/about/
It’s a fun, friendly and easy way for you to have a go at writing poetry or to try out new
techniques.
I do it each year. It’s always a laugh and a lovely creative challenge.
Because it’s a structured way of writing (30 poems in 30 days), it also suits my wayward
brain. But you can also just dip in and out and have fun with the prompts.
... Sounds good. How do I do it?
Just write a poem a day for the month of April.
You can post them on the internet.
You can hide them in a notebook.
You can make up a special book just for yourself out of them.
Really, all you need to do is write a poem a day for the month of April.
Enjoy your writing. Writing is about having fun with words."
Damian Kelly-Basher is Hampshire Poet Laureate 2024-26. The appointment of the Hampshire Poet takes place every two years and is jointly led by Winchester Poetry Festival and Hampshire Cultural Trust. The position of Hampshire Poet provides the opportunity for a Hampshire-based poet to undertake commissions, lead workshops and give readings and talks throughout the county, as well as acting as an advocate for poetry and poets. Damian's tenure has been extended until 31st March 2027.
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