Writers know that music can inspire poetry. Great song lyrics move us, make us wonder, and teach us important things about the craft of writing. This April, we’re leaning into that music-inspired knowledge with a series of 30 writing prompts inspired by Taylor Swift. (The 150 / Swiftly prompts are designed for poets, but many of them can be used by fiction and non-fiction writers as well.) We’ll celebrate each day of National Poetry Month with a new song-inspired poem prompt, which will go live at midnight. And we’ll take over the English Department Colloquium on April 17 th at 3:15 to do an in-person writing workshop complete with music, snacks, some Swift-inspired poems written by famous poets, and a friendship bracelet making afterparty in the Guilford Parlor. Please join us!

About the Name: “Back in 1996, when I was a senior in college, the Notorious B.I.G. rapped, ‘escargot / my car go / 150 / swiftly,’ and I fell in love with the rhyme strand. In 2025, a Case Western senior—Tychicus McClendon—curated a Taylor Swift ‘song of the week’ playlist to introduce me to one of his favorite musicians. Swift+Swiftly: I heard the rhyme in my head, and this poetry write-along was born.” –Chi Elliott, Professor of English, CWRU.