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Blackout Poetry -- Everyone's a Poet

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Blackout Poetry -- Everyone's a Poet
Swap Coordinator:mandaanne (contact)
Swap categories: Letters & Writing  Newbie  Paper Crafts 
Number of people in swap:8
Location:Regional - USA
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Rating requirement:4.80 (unrated swappers allowed)
Last day to signup/drop:April 2, 2015
Date items must be sent by:April 13, 2015
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

This is the FIRST swap I've ever created, so please let me know if there's anything I need to add or change!!

I love the idea of Blackout Poetry because everyone can do it, and you can make it as simple or as elaborate as you want!

To create your Blackout Poem, choose a page from a book or newspaper (or photocopy of one) and find a poem in it by "blacking out" all the words that aren't part of your poem until only the poem remains. Still not sure what it should look like or how to do it? Check out these links:
Basics: How To Write Blackout Poetry
Blog post from the creator of this technique: Austin Kleon
Get inspired: Google Image Search for Blackout Poetry

For this swap, you may make a classic Blackout Poem using just a black permanent marker, or you may do a more 'altered book' style and go crazy with colors, paint, washi tape, or other collage elements! You will have some time after partners are assigned because this should be a poem that is somehow inspired by your partner's profile; try to make it something they will enjoy receiving, that will brighten their day!

To participate in this swap, you need to have a rating of 4.8 or better, or be a newbie with a well-filled-out profile. I'm a newbie myself, and I've struggled to get enough Type 3 swaps to be allowed to join a lot of swaps, so I will not be requiring a minimum number of Type 3 swaps to participate. However, I will require that anyone with recent 1 or 3 ratings contact me by PM and convince me that you will not flake!

April is National Poetry Month, so sign up by April 2 and send your items by April 13 so we can enjoy our poems in the month of April!

Note: Please be patient if your items take longer than usual to get to you in the mail, since this is tax season!

Discussion

user2637 03/27/2015 #

Swap description looks great for your first hosting! I suggest that all hosts read this post on the public forum, written by the wonderful @TC .

The only thing I would change is the rating requirement. Having a 4.8 rating means a person can have one 3 out of 10 swaps. So 10% of their swaps can be sent late or not correctly. A good minimum is 4.9 or 4.95.

Good luck on hosting your first swap! I see you are in Newbie Helpers, so if you need help, you know where to go. ;)

user2637 03/27/2015 #

Oh, one more thing... if the page is large, should it be mailed flat? Or folded?

Watching for now. :)

ann60 03/27/2015 #

How great this sounds :)

Merrycheeza 03/27/2015 #

Would you be willing to host an international version? I love this idea!

tiffanyjoy 04/ 2/2015 #

I love this idea! I hope you host one like this again in the future (when I'm not a newbie). :)

mandaanne 04/ 3/2015 #

@user2637 thanks for the great comments. I will look at making the minimum rating higher next time. For large pages, I think it is OK to mail folded if you as the artist are OK with it. I don't want people to have to pay extra postage for a large envelope. @Merrycheeza two people have contacted me about doing international versions so keep an eye out, it's coming! @tiffanyjoy if this goes well I'll do it again. Newbies are welcome with a well filled out profile so hopefully you'll join us next time.

mandaanne 04/14/2015 #

If you enjoyed this and want to play again, I've created a new one. It's international this time. I'm thinking of alternating 1 USA, 1 international. www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/198413 @tiffanyjoy jump on in!

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