Ekphrastic Writing Challenge: Edward Hopper

Nighthawks, by Edward Hopper (USA) 1942.

Did you know? Edward Hopper's art is probably the most written about by poets. There are multiple anthologies and whole manuscripts by single authors, such as Mark Strand. The Ekphrastic Review consistently receives multiple submissions inspired by the American artist.

When choosing prompts for the ekphrastic poetry challenges, we love to mix favourite paintings or artists with unexpected selections. We strive to introduce you to art you might not be familiar with, as well as surprise you with new stories from art you already knew.

We thought it is only fitting to include a Hopper painting eventually in the challenge prompts, and when that time came, decided to go with the most famous and beloved painting instead of a less predictable choice. How many ways can we approach this painting again? What can we find in it that is new?  The challenge this time is come up with a story that hasn't been told. See if you can find a way in this time that does not include the words or themes of "loneliness." 

-The Ekphrastic Review

Ekphrastic Writing Challenge: Edward Hopper

Join us for biweekly ekphrastic writing challenges. See why so many writers are hooked on ekphrastic! We feature some of the most accomplished influential poets writing today, and we also welcome emerging or first time writers and those who simply want to experience art in a deeper way or try something creative. 

The prompt this time is Nighthawks, by Edward Hopper. Deadline is September 20, 2019.
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The Rules

1. Use this visual art prompt as a springboard for your writing. It can be a poem or short prose (fiction or nonfiction.) You can research the artwork or artist and use your discoveries to fuel your writing, or you can let the image alone provoke your imagination.

2. Write as many poems and stories as you like. Send only your best works or final draft, not everything. Please copy and paste your submission into the body of the email, even if you include an attachment such as Word or PDF.

3. Have fun.

4. USE THIS EMAIL ONLY.

Send your work to [email protected]. Challenge submissions sent to the other inboxes will most likely be lost as those are read in chronological order of receipt, weeks or longer behind, and are not seen at all by guest editors. They will be discarded. Sorry.

5.Include HOPPER WRITING CHALLENGE in the subject line in all caps please. 

6. Include your name and a brief bio. If you do not include your bio, it will not be included with your work, if accepted. Even if you have already written for The Ekphrastic Review or submitted other works and your bio is "on file" you must include it in your challenge submission. Do not send it after acceptance or later; it will not be added to your poem. Guest editors may not be familiar with your bio or have access to archives. We are sorry about these technicalities, but have found that following up, requesting, adding, and changing later takes too much time and is very confusing. 

7. Late submissions will be discarded. Sorry. 

8. Deadline is midnight, September 20, 2019.

9. Please do not send revisions, corrections, or changes to your poetry or your biography after the fact. If it's not ready yet, hang on to it until it is.

10. Selected submissions will be published together, with the prompt, one week after the deadline.

​11. Rinse and repeat with upcoming ekphrastic writing challenges!