Are you thinking of writing poetry? Perhaps you’ve already dabbled with it but want to experiment more. Poetry is an enjoyable form of creative expression that can bring you – and others – a lot of joy and comfort. However, if you are new to writing poetry there are a few guidelines you need to know in order to set yourself up for success. Read on for 4 tips for writing great poetry.
Read Poetry
The best way to learn how to write good poetry is to read good poetry, and remember ‘good’ is subjective and personal to you. Take a closer look at the wording of the poetry that you love and listen to the rhythm of the lines. It’s not necessary for you to analyse these poems at first, just take a moment to look at how the language is being used and what the phrases do to your imagination and thoughts. By taking the time to do this you will have a better grasp of how you want to proceed with writing your own.
Make sure that you read various styles of poetry. You might choose to read an acrostic poem one day and a haiku poem the next. By diversifying the poems you read you will be able to get a feel for which style(s) resonates most and which type of poetry you would prefer to write yourself.
Start Small
You don’t have to write like famous poets, such as Emily Dickinson or even Pam Ayres, when you begin writing your own poetry. Start small and try to create a poem that rhymes and has a few short verses.
This is an easy way to start without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated. Remember that when it comes to poetry, quantity is not necessarily needed for your work to be good quality.
Think about what you enjoy reading too. After all, if you don’t enjoy your own poetry how can you expect somebody else to?
Find Your Style
Once you have taken the time to look at other people’s poetry and practiced how to write a few simple lines, you will be ready to make a decision about your own personal style. What you like and don’t like should begin taking shape in your mind. Finding your voice and your style is important because it will separate you from other poets.
Decide on your primary style of writing – it may be free verse, rhymed poetry, blank verse, Haiku, limerick or sonnet, just to name a few. It might be best to focus on one style at a time; you don’t want to be all over the place with your style in the beginning. Once you have confidently expressed yourself in a certain form then you can experiment with another.
Get Creative
Mastering poetry is not difficult once you have taken the time to read a variety of poems and then started writing your own. Be as creative with your style as you want – the spelling, grammar and punctuation rule book can be carelessly cast aside when it comes to poetry so have fun! Great examples of creative poets include E. E. Cummings, Lewis Carroll and Dr Seuss.
Over time, you will become comfortable with expressing your thoughts and ideas through your poems. Remember that it is okay to write in various styles of poetry but try to focus on and master one at a time. There will be plenty of time to explore different styles as you begin writing poetry more frequently.
Check out these other posts related to ‘Tips for Writing Great Poetry’:
How To Stay Motivated When Writing
One thought on “4 Tips for Writing Great Poetry”