Writing good poetry is hard. Writing poetry that other people will want to read is harder. Finding an interesting subject to write about is just as important in poetry as it is in fiction. People who take the time to read a poem want to be entertained, not bored by it. Unfortunally, much modern American poetry is still influenced by the confessional poetry movement of the sixties and seventies. Personal poetry is fine, but if a writer wants to have other people read and enjoy their work, they need to write about something other than the crush they have on their best friend. People have a hard time understanding or caring about a poem that feels too much like a diary entry. There is no need to poetry to be boring, there are plenty of interesting and creative ways to spice up your poetry.

1. Carefully chose your topic. Write about something that a stranger would find interesting. Writing about yourself can be great if you have something truly interesting to say, but most people simply don’t care about how you feel about getting dumped by your ex. If your topic is an old one, such as love, give readers a new look on it. If you can’t add anything to an old topic, pick a different one. I would rather read a poem about the life cycle of a sea turtle than one about bland love.
2. Give your poem details, they help convince your reader that you know what you’re talking about. Details such as smells, and sounds can add to your description of something. If you are writing about wild mustangs, say something interesting about them. What do their coats look like when they all gallop together as a herd through the desert? What sounds do they make when they are startled? Give the reader a rich experience, suggest the tangible with an intangible art form.
3. Don’t write in generalities. Avoid using clichés and bland sentiments, they place a large “amateur” sign on your writing. Love and roses has been done before, so has tears in the moonlight, don’t beat a dead horse.
4. Experiment with form. If you have only written free verse, try your hand at metrical poetry. Meter and form can force you to push yourself as a poet. It’s hard to write a good sonnet, but it is also rewarding. Some poems are better in specific types of forms. If you’re writing a comedic parody, heroic couplets and an exaggerated rhyme scheme can add to the hilarity of your poem. This format would probably work less well with a more somber poem. If you are writing serious poetry, be careful with your choice of words and rhymes. Use contemporary speech, “thee,” “tis,” and “shalt,” had their turn - they are rarely ever appropriate in contemporary poetry.

Writing interesting poetry isn’t impossible; it’s just harder than writing any old poem. Different readers are going to enjoy different types of poetry, but bad poetry doesn’t interest anyone. A poem should make readers want to read more poetry, not make them embarrassed for the poet.