Poetic Prompt Reading Challenge 2026
- CoraLynn
- Jan 27
- 5 min read
Welcome, all readers, to my first-ever Poetic Prompt Reading Challenge!
A challenge designed to broaden, diversify, and inspire your reading goals for 2026. But mostly, it is just meant to have some fun while tackling your endless TBR and perhaps discover some hidden gems between them. And yes, there is a creative extra for those who enjoy writing poetry as well.
What is the Poetic Prompt Reading Challenge?
Well, the name might have already given it away. This challenge consists of 12 Poetry prompts. These prompts are open to interpretation and should spark ideas for a genre, title, cover, or theme. Then it is as simple as matching one book to one of these creative prompts. I have added some ideas of how you can play around with the prompts in case nothing comes to mind.
I like to think that this reading challenge helps to cultivate some creative playfulness in following our intuition and creative ideas. Invite yourself to browse through your books and see which one calls out to you for the prompt, and reflect on why you chose that one particular book.
Writing for the Poetic Prompt Reading Challenge
As I mentioned earlier, I do have a fun extra for anyone who enjoys writing poetry. Yes, you can write for these prompts as well!
I invite you to write a poem after reading your book using the prompt. This poem can be inspired by the theme of the book, or how this story made you feel, reflect on your thoughts, and turn them into a poem. Or write about where the prompt and the book come together. (I do have to mention that you can’t just start copying out of the books that you are reading.)
This is all about deepening the reading experience and doing something more with the story instead of simply returning it to the shelf as another book read.
Let this be an open invitation for everyone. You don’t have to be a poet or a writer. Just writing down your thoughts and emotions about the book is an equally fun way to deepen the reading experience.
How to join the challenge
Join me on Substack, my blog (A Gentle Quill), social media, or my new account on The Storygraph. You can find the links to my platforms below.
Use the list of prompts and match a book to it. The prompts offer plenty of freedom for you to choose. You can even pick whichever prompt speaks to you the most at the moment.
Read your book at your own pace. There are no set deadlines.
If you want, write a poem or a reflection on your reading experience using the prompt as your thread.
Join the reading updates every two months, where we gather and talk about the books we have read and the poems we have written. (Don’t worry if you did not write anything, this is an extra, not a must for this challenge) I will add the dates to this post later this week.
Easily track your reading challenge through The Storygraph.
Photo source: Unsplash
Some questions about the Poetic prompt reading challenge?
Is there poetry involved in this challenge? Yes and no. The prompts for this challenge are all alliterations, metaphors, or just fun wordplay. All the things we see and use in writing poetry as well. This is why I named the challenge, The Poetic Prompt Reading Challenge. You can also write a poem with the prompts, if that is something you enjoy doing, but it is not a must.
Do you have to read poetry for this challenge? Well, that is completely up to you. These prompts are open for interpretation across all genres. And yes, this can include poetry collections as well.
I don’t have any ideas for one of the prompts, what now? If you are unable to find a match for one of the prompts, reach out, and maybe we can find you some recommendations together.
Where and why do I have to share my poem? Writing for the prompts is not a must. Just an extra, creative exercise for those who enjoy writing a poem about their reading experience. You’ll be able to join the check-in across my different platforms. They will be posted on Substack, Instagram, Threads, and my blog (A Gentle Quill)
The prompts
I have added some quick ideas for each prompt in case you need some guidance in finding a match.
Lost in all shades of blue.
Ideas: Title includes “Blue” or “Lost”. The color blue on the cover. Or a book with a theme of grief.
Our floral hearts.
Ideas: Title includes “Hearts” or a “flower” (Daisy, roses,...). Flowers or hearts on the cover. Or a romance book.
Lemons and limes
Ideas: Title includes “Lemons” or “Limes”. Lemons, limes, or citrus fruit on the cover. Or a palette of yellow and
green on the cover.
Last guardians of the forest
Ideas: Title includes “Last”, “Guardians”, or “Forest”. A Tree or guardians on the cover. Or a book with a nature theme.
We are the wild ones.
Ideas: Title includes “Wild” or “Ones”. A wilderness on the cover. Or a book with a nature theme or generational theme.
Flightless birds
Ideas: Title includes “Flightless” or a “bird”(sparrow, crow,...) . A bird or wings on the cover. Or a book with a traveling theme.
Cloud sailing
Ideas: Title includes “Cloud” or “Sailing”. Clouds or a sailboat on the cover. Or a book set inside a dream.
Sleepless underneath the stars
Ideas: Title includes “Sleepless”, “Underneath”, or “Stars”. Stars on the cover. Or a romance book inspired by “Sleepless in Seattle.”
As the night shows its teeth
Ideas: Title includes “Night” or “Teeth”. Teeth or a night setting on the cover. Or a horror or thriller genre.
Weeds and wildflowers
Ideas: Title includes “Weeds” or “Wildflowers”. A nature-inspired theme. Or flowers or weeds on the cover.
Dressed for a funeral
Ideas: Title includes “Dressed” or “Funeral”. A silhouette on the cover. A graveyard or a gravestone on the cover. A book set during a funeral.
Waltzing of the leaves
Ideas: Title includes”Waltz” or Leaf/leaves”. Fall foliage on the cover. A story set during autumn.
As you can see, these prompts offer freedom in title, cover, theme, and genre. Searching for the right match is part of the fun. Who knows which books you will stumble upon during your search? Maybe you can even include some poetry books by poets you follow online. The choice is all yours.
I am looking forward to a great year of reading and creative joy. I hope you will join me on this new reading journey and drop by during the gatherings.
All my love,
CoraLynn
A Gentle Quill
Here are the links to all my platforms, including The Storygraph, and a prompt summary which you can also find on my Pinterest.
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