100 Substack Poets Collaboration.

PROJECT DETAILS

What is this about?

The idea germinated when I was contributing to one of the chain poems on Substack that operates on the principle of “My Last Line is Your First.” I thought about how nice it would be to see the poem in its entirety, not just the part I contribute, and the poets before and after me. From there came the idea to create 10 chain poems (on 10 different themes), each by a team of 10 poets and to compile and publish them as an anthology. And hence the name: 100 Substack Poets Collaboration.

The very idea of chain poems is actually not very new. I came across it while reading Matsuo Basho, The Master Haiku Poet. He created and led many renkus. A renku is a poem written by multiple authors. It normally consists of 36, 50, or 100 verses contributed by a team of poets. We are trying to do something similar but in a more free-flowing manner.

How to participate in the 100 Substack Poets Collaboration?

Very simple: send a DM to Soham (that’s me), Apurva, Aishwarya Kannan, Shubham Upman or one of the other theme owners whose names will be updated in the post at a later stage. And we will add you to the list.

How will this project run?

We are looking for 10 volunteers, each to lead a theme. If we have more than 10 themes proposed, we can choose via a poll. Within their chosen theme, the theme leaders will begin the poem with opening lines and establish any rules they wish. For example, they may decide that each contribution must be at least three lines and no more than five.

Each theme leader will then ensure that the chain poem is completed with 10 contributions. Once complete, they will submit the poem to me, and I will compile all 10 poems into a book and make it available as a paperback for purchase on Amazon. All net proceeds from the book sales will be donated to a charity chosen by the contributing poets via a poll.

POST TEMPLATE (all theme owners, please use this template).

100 Substack Poets Collaboration.

You are invited to contribute to the 100 Substack Poets Collaboration, a fun and creative charity project in which we will create 10 chain poems across 10 different themes, each written by a team of 10 poets. These poems will then be compiled and published as an anthology.

Full details of the project can be found at the link below:

100 Substack Poets Collaboration.

Before participating, please read this post carefully and familiarise yourself with the project rules and participation terms. Due to the chain nature of the poems, once you have contributed, we will not be able to accommodate requests to withdraw or alter your contribution.

1. Theme of this chain poem:

2. Theme owner:

3. Theme rules:

   1. Common rules for all poems

      To contribute, please use my last line as your first.

      No generative AI usage.

      No language that is demeaning to any person or community.

   2. Rules specific to this theme

      Add here.

4. Poet number: 1

   (Very important: please increase this number by 1 with each contribution so we can close the loop at 10)

5. Your lines:

6. The next person you would like to invite:

   (Please invite only one person to avoid creating a fork in the poem. If the tagged person does not wish to contribute, you may change the name to someone else. The 10th poet must close the poem and tag the theme owner so that the theme owner knows that the poem is complete.)

7. Include the participation invitation link you received in your post to keep the chain going.

8. Participation Terms (Please Read Carefully)

   1. I confirm that I am the author of the lines I have submitted.

   2. I grant permission for my contribution to be included in the non-profit 100 Substack Poets Collaboration poetry project and any related publications, including print, ebook, audiobook, promotional, and digital formats.

   3. This permission is worldwide, perpetual, and non-exclusive.

   4. I understand that I retain copyright of my contribution and may use it elsewhere in the future.

   5. I understand that this is a charitable project and that I will not receive royalties, fees, or any other compensation for my contribution. Any net proceeds generated by the project will be donated to one charity selected by the contributing poets.

   6. I confirm that my contribution does not knowingly infringe upon the copyright or other rights of any third party.

   7. By participating in the project, I agree to the above terms.