How To Write a Poem
Posted on March 26th, 2009 in How To by Holly Eliza
Obviously I cannot give you a step-by-step guide to being an artist. It requires some input and inspiration. However, if poetry is just starting to become your thing, give this a try – it might just help.
- Be inspired. DO NOT write anything unless you feel strongly about your topic. Everybody feels strongly about something, so find that thing and let the passion flow into your words. It makes the world of difference.
- Get EVERYTHING onto paper surrounding your poem. Forget structure, definitely forget rhyme, forget metaphors and imagery and whatever else – let them come to you in your subconsciousness. It is important to get all your feelings out where you can see them and organize them: “word vomit” as my friend calls it.
- Think about your theme. Does it fit a neat, rhyming structure or is there chaos rumbling under the surface? Would it be better to use free verse, and give your meaning at its raw value? Sometimes this gives more power, sometimes not. You can even mix the two, perhaps with free verse containing a lot of feminine-rhyme and alliteration, followed by a rhyming couplet to conclude.
- Try to visualize what you are trying to say. Bring the emotions to life, give them character and a consciousness, and let the imagery roll forward!
- Don’t just think about the inside. Use all the senses where appropriate, and think of the ‘bigger picture’ rather than enclosing your poem in specific circumstances.
- Use your instinct, not your thesaurus. Precociousness will get you nowhere in poetry. Use the words that come to you first, unless a second really conveys your meaning more accurately; it may be the case that a more complex word carries less significance.
- Once you have the basis of your poem, leave it for about a week WITHOUT peeking. Let it mature, like a good wine or cheese. If you read it too often too soon, you will be unable to improve it because the original will imprint on your mind. I usually find that my ideas improve when I haven’t been thinking about a particular poem for a few days; I just let my subconsciousness do all the work.
- On the other hand, sometimes poems are perfect from the moment they are first finished, without a single alteration. You will know when this is the case, because the satisfaction of sitting back and reading through is delicious.
- Read other poems: it will give you inspiration for techniques and a goal to head for. Not just modern, either; I have been reading Hardy and Keats for exams, and they really are inspirational.
- Relax. Good things come to those who wait.
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March 26th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Good advice! Especially the part about letting it flow from your subconscious. I wholeheartedly agree
March 27th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Works well as an explaination. Could have been much better with with the use of concrete images as examples. “And Let The imagery roll forward.” Yes! Let The Snowman sip sunshine and sale gumbo soup! As artist, exactly where does prose end and poetry appear? I imagine once the craft is somewhat mastered, the mixed is creative to be perplexing and not too easily to discern.
March 28th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
You have offered some very sound advice. Thank you.
March 30th, 2009 at 7:04 am
some good tips, particularly like the one about leaving it a week before going oer it again. Also good that you pointed out its not all about ryme and being clever with structure.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I don’t know what to say except it’s everything I would like to say to somebody who asks me how I write or how they could learn how to write poetry.
I love it .
April 9th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I think those are good tips
I do fallow some of the ones you’ve mentioned, like writing everything on paper first without thinking about structure then fixing it later.
April 13th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
reat Advice
April 13th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Good advice all around, and very close to the way that I work.
April 15th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
i like number one…no matter what inspiration is important
April 16th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I appreciate Your article. Thanks.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:52 am
In my case I can’t write about anything I don’t strongly feel about.
July 7th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I loved to write poems but I can only compose if I am upset.The usual days no matter how hard I try to think what to write Its very difficult for me to begin with.
Thanks for these pieces of advice!It helps me a lot.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:24 am
This is some wonderful simple advice. I have the hardest time with letting anything sit and come back to it. I always want to complete and move on to something new. You have a great understanding of the inner workings of your craft.