Sign Up Today for the Third Annual Ekphrastic Marathon!

Here we go again...our third annual ekphrastic marathon!!!

Join us in July for an unforgettable experience. 

It's going to be intense. And liberating. And fun. Imagine a gruelling day, grinding out draft after draft, looking at different art and not having any idea what will happen on that page.

The goal of the marathon is to complete the process, nothing more. If you participate, just to see what happens and what ideas you generate, and get something down on paper (or Word etc) then you can count the marathon a big success.

If you surprise yourself with a few gems, you can polish those up and submit them. Maybe you'll have fourteen redeemable drafts that turn into published poems or stories in a variety of journals. Maybe one of your pieces will be our winner!

Who knows what will happen.

For sure, you will discover some fascinating artworks. For sure, you break through some chains and blocks. For sure, you will come up with some story idea or lines of poetry you weren't expecting to write. For sure you will participate and connect with others, independently from wherever you are, tuning in with other ekphrastic writers to the great muse.

The editors of The Ekphrastic Review will be cheerleading you throughout the day and participants can connect inside the Facebook group. 

If this is your first one, just dive in and go for the experience. 

Our first year it was an experiment. It was so exhilarating that it is now an annual event.

Spread the word and invite everyone you know who loves to write or just wants to get creative in a new way.

Take the plunge and see what happens!

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Join us on Sunday, July 14, 2024 for our third annual ekphrastic marathon.

This is an all -day creative writing event that we do independently, together.

Write to fourteen different prompts, poetry or flash fiction, in thirty minute drafts. There will be a wide variety of visual art prompts posted at the start of the marathon. You will choose a new one every 30 minutes and try writing a draft, just to see what you can create when pushed outside of your comfort zone.
 
We will gather in a specially created Facebook page for prompts, to chat with each other, and support each other. 
 
Time zone or date conflicts? No problem. Page will stay open afterwards. Participate when you can, before the deadline for submission. The honour system is in effect- thirty minute drafts per prompt, fourteen prompts. Participants can do the eight hour marathon in one or two sessions at another time and date within the deadline for submissions (July 31, 2024). 
 
Polish and edit your best pieces later, then submit five for possible publication on the Ekphrastic site.
 
One poem and one flash will win $100 CAD each.
 
Last year this event was a smashing success with hundreds of poems and stories written. Let's smash last year out of the park and do it even better this year!
 
Marathon: Sunday July 14, from 10 am to 6 pm EST (including breaks)
(For those who can’t make it during those times, any hours that work for you are fine. For those who can’t join us on July 14, catch up at a better time for you in one or two sessions only, as outlined above.)
 
Story and poetry deadline: July 31, 2024
Up to five works of poetry or flash fiction or a mix, works started during marathon and polished later. 500 words max, per piece. Please include a brief bio, 75 words or less
 
Participation is $20 CAD (approx. 15 USD). Thank you very much for your support of the operations, maintenance, and promotion of The Ekphrastic Review, and the prizes to winning authors.

If you are in hardship and cannot afford the entry, but you want to participate, please drop us a line at [email protected] and we'll sign you up. 
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Selections for showcase and winning entries announced sometime in September.

​Sign up below!

Nine Lives: the Third Annual Ekphrastic Marathon

CA$20.00

An all day ekphrastic marathon on Sunday July 14, 2024, celebrating nine years of The Ekphrastic Review.

Eight hours, fourteen drafts. Polish drafts later and submit your five favourites! Poetry, flash fiction, micro fiction, CNF, anything goes.

Marathon will be held in a private Facebook group with multiple prompts to choose from. Your objective is to create a rough draft in thirty minutes and then move on to the next. You can take time out for breaks and lunch, of course.  

If date or time zone don't work for you, we will have alternative participation options!

More information will be made public closer to the event.

The first two marathons were epic experiences. Try it! The goal is to complete the marathon, nothing else. Any awesome drafts and story ideas will be a bonus. And you WILL have several!

Thank you for supporting The Ekphrastic Review.

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