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Welcome to The Stafford Challenge
The 2026 cohort started on January 17, 2026.
Please note that registration for the 2026 cohort is closed.
Click the button to join a list to be notified about upcoming opportunities
What Is The Stafford Challenge?
Short Answer:
The Stafford Challenge is a commitment to writing a poem every day for a year, starting January 17, 2026, inspired by the legendary poet William Stafford, who made it a practice to craft a daily poem.
Longer Answer:
The Stafford Challenge began in Jan 2024 and has welcomed over 2000 participants from 25 countries and all 50 states. Starting its third year in 2026, this is more than just a commitment and stretch to craft a poem a day for an entire year. It's also a community of creatives who are all embarking on this poetic journey together. Within this collective, we not only explore the realm of creativity but also open the door to the potential of self-discovery through the art of poetry.
As part of this endeavor, we offer monthly Guest Poet Zoom events featuring accomplished poets who'll impart their wisdom, share their work, offer inspiration, and celebrate the magic of poetry. Our 2026 roster includes distinguished poets such as Kim Stafford, Lauren Camp, Jacqueline Allen Trimble, and many more.
In addition, you'll receive bi-weekly emails, access to a moderated Facebook group for connecting and sharing with each other, and (depending on volunteer support to help with the logistics) the opportunity to join small writing groups if you wish.
Why Should I Sign Up?
Everyone will have a different purpose and reason. The hope is that this practice offers an opportunity to pause daily, to observe your inner or outer world - a chance to make art in words to help give a voice to what you experience.
Certainly, you can embark on this challenge solo, but signing up signifies your commitment to join a worldwide collective of fellow poets. It provides a layer of accountability to bolster you in your poetic journey.
By becoming a part of The Stafford Challenge, you'll also gain access to all the stated benefits.
What benefits do I receive?
Besides knowing that you are a part of a rich community of poets embarking on the same stretch, by signing up you will also gain access to:
- Monthly Guest Poet Zoom events featuring accomplished poets
- Bi-weekly inspirational emails.
- A moderated Facebook group for connecting and sharing.
- The opportunity to join small writing groups if you wish. This depends on if there is volunteer support to help with the logistics.
Join us in this beautiful journey of words and self-discovery, starting January 17, 2026 (the birthday of William Stafford)
Pay-What-You-Want
Please know, there is no cost to participate. The Stafford Challenge is a deeply personal endeavor envisioned, created, and led by me - poet and storyteller Brian Rohr. All the work, time, and resources poured into developing this website, managing our mailing list, maintaining a Zoom subscription, organizing webinars, and more have been through my own contributions.
To help offset these expenses and support this project, I invite you to participate in a pay-what-you-want initiative. While there is no cost to participate, you are invited to contribute any sum that feels right for you.
Ready to join a community of poets and make your stretch?
Let's do this together.