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Baggage Van
pack your bagsload the van
and head for your
next adventure
Are you ready for an adventure? Then pack your bags and let’s get going because the Circus of Similes is on the move!
But how will you know where to go? Don’t worry, the Circus has you sorted. Pop into the Baggage Van and you’ll find On Your Bike and Time to Travel which contain a map with compass directions and poetry prompts to help you on your way.
Remember to pack a notebook so you can scribble down your ideas and poems as you go. You’ll find one that you can use in each of the downloaded files that are linked below.
Note: for this attraction at The Circus of Similes, you will need a compass (if you have a mobile phone it should have a compass app otherwise you can pick them up fairly cheaply at camping or adventure stores) and a coin. Plus a pen or pencil to write with if you’re going old school.
Print & Play Instructions
Each of the downloads, On Your Bike and Time to Travel, contain a one page map, a one page notebook and a guide on how to use a compass.
Download your map of choice (or choose both of them) and its accompanying notebook.
Print all the pages.
The map is ready to go (just remember to grab a compass and a coin).
To make the notebook, fold your piece of paper in half longways along the centre line with the writing.
Next fold your piece of paper in half again.
And that’s it, one mini notebook to take with you on your adventures and record your poems and notes.
If you haven’t used a compass for a long time, there’s also a quick guide to using a basic compass included in the downloaded file.
If you wish, you can share your poetry adventure on socials using the hashtags, #circusofsimiles and #printandplaypoetry.
Come back soon, the Circus is always here!
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The Vault
locked deep inside
you will find
all the answers
to your questions
Welcome to the Vault.
As you journey through The Circus of Similes you may find that you have lost your way. Don’t worry, help is at hand!
Here you will find answers to your most pressing questions about the print and play games you have dowloaded from the Circus, including Find A Journal and Pick a Publisher from the Ghost Train. This document will be updated as new attractions are added to the circus.
Download the solutions and put your mind at ease!
Thanks for visiting the Circus. We hope you enjoyed the attractions!
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Hall of Mirrors
bend lightdefy time
and reflect
– see yourself
Writing a book takes lots of time and effort.
Luckily for you, The Circus of Similes has created four illustrated mini books for you to download and customise. All you have to do is add your words!
Choose between the Time Flies, Flip Side, Travelling Light, or Final Frontier, (or download them all) and get ready to write your first book!
Print & Play Instructions
Once you’ve dowloaded your concertina mini books, it’s time to print them out and make them.
First, fold your piece of paper in half longways along the centre line with the writing.
Next fold your piece of paper in half again. Then unfold it.
Fold the bottom edge into the crease you just made in the middle of the paper.
Now fold the top edge into the middle crease in the paper.
Flip your piece of paper over.
Fold your paper in half again.
Let go of your paper and it will bring into life as a zig-zag, concertina book that you can customise with your own lines of poetry.
If you wish, you can share the mini books you write on socials using the hashtags, #circusofsimiles and #printandplaypoetry.
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Ghost Train
pay your fare
and ride the tracks
but beware the ghost!
Once you’ve visited the Fortune Teller’s Booth or the Hall of Mirrors and written some poetry you’ll be wondering what to do next.
You can always visit one of the many other attractions here at The Circus of Similes or you can hop aboard the Ghost Train and search for new opportunities!
Pick a Publisher or Find a Journal (or download both!) and get ready to have your poetry published!
Once you’ve dowloaded your word search, it’s time to seek out those journals and publishers eager to read your work. They can be tricky to find so if you’re having trouble, head on over to The Vault for the answers to the puzzles.
Share your journey on socials using #printandplaypoetry.
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Escapologist’s Trunk
watch the clock ticking
unpick the locks
unravel the chains
and break free!
Escape the everyday with playing cards designed to challenge, inspire and amuse.
You can use the cards as writing prompts or to play games with friends or own your own.
Choose between the Alchemist’s Retort poetry game or Poet Up poetry prompts (or download both) and get ready to write!
Print & Play Instructions
Once you’ve dowloaded your playing cards, it’s time to print them on 250 GSM cardboard and then cut them out. We’re going old-fashioned here with the safety scissors and all.
When you’ve made your cards, shuffle them into a deck and play! Alone or with friends, you choose.
Alchemist’s Retort Instructions
See the instruction card in the downloaded deck for information on how to play the Alchemist’s Retort.
Poet Up Instructions
If playing with friends, choose a card at random from the deck and then take it in turns to answer the question on the card.
If you’re playing on your own, use your card as a writing prompt. Record your observations and see how they, and you, change over time.
Share the poems you write on socials using the hashtags, #circusofsimiles and #printandplaypoetry.
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About
roll up, roll up, roll up
for mystifying metaphors
and sensational similes!
The Circus of Similes is the brain child of Australian poet, maker and sometimes juggler, Indrani Perera.
Long fascinated with circus acts, sideshow alleys and the smell of popcorn, she wanted to bring the carnival to you, wherever you are!
The Circus is a mashup of word games, children’s toys, paper craft, book binding and poetry. You can download and create all sorts of paper ephemera and instant books to brighten your day, inspire your writing and create new poems.
It’s a place where you can forget the daily, for a little while and you are welcome to wander through its rooms for as long as you like.
New attractions will be added over the coming months so come again soon!
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Fortune Teller’s Booth
part the velvet curtains
cross my palm with silver
look at the flickering flame
what do you see?
Do you remember playing with fortune tellers (or chatterboxes are they are sometimes known) when you were young?
Now you can make your own fortune teller and bring back the magic of those happy, golden days.
Choose between the PoematickTM or the StorychineTM (or download both) and get ready to be inspired!
Once you’ve dowloaded your fortune tellers, it’s time to print them out and make them. You can play alone or with friends. Just follow the instructions in the dowloaded file.
Share the poems or stories you write on socials using #printandplaypoetry.