5 Easy Steps to Writing Poetry

By Nicolas Parker on September 20, 2018

So, you’re writing poetry. Maybe it’s for English class, maybe you decided to pick up creative writing as a new hobby, or maybe you’re a seasoned poet just looking for new tips and tricks. Regardless of your circumstances, composing a poem can be a long and stressful process. It can be difficult to decide what to write about and more importantly, how to write it. Are some topics better than others? Do certain words sound more poetic? Should you use a rhyme scheme? While the quality of your poem lays in the eyes of the reader, these five steps to writing poetry will help you maximize your talents and guide you in creating a piece that will reach your audience the way you intend.

Read poetry

Reading poetry is one of the most crucial efforts you can make if you want to become a successful poet. Not only will the works of Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe leave you with ideas on what to write about, but they will help you to familiarize yourself with the various forms of poetry that exist. Some forms of poetry, such as the limerick or sonnet, stick to a rhyme scheme. However, if you choose to write free verse poetry, you can avoid forced rhymes and crammed stanzas.

Determine your goal

Writing poetry can seem daunting and pointless if you don’t have a specific goal in mind. What message do you want to get across to your readers? Do you want to tell a story? If so, is it fictional or more of a memoir? Maybe you just want to discuss how you feel about a certain topic. Whatever your goal is, write it down so you can read it when you feel stuck. It’s a lot easier to brainstorm when you already know what you want to say.

Get inspired

Start jotting down anything that comes to mind when thinking of your goal. This can be words, phrases, entire sentences, or even doodles. If it helps you set the theme for your poem, put it on paper. When you run out of ideas, look up images related to your topic or read poetry by other poets who discuss the same topic. Inspiration can be found anywhere, even in nature or in everyday conversations you may overhear on the street.

Create a rough draft

It’s time to start writing. Create a rough outline of your poem, focusing on getting your thoughts down first. Don’t worry too much about word choice your first time around—you can always revise. Be sure to avoid clichés and include imagery so the reader understands your idea. If your poem seems forced into the rhyme scheme you chose, consider choosing a different form.

Ask for feedback

The most important thing you can do during the revision process is asking for feedback. After spending hours (or minutes, or days) staring at your own work, it becomes harder to spot errors and inconsistencies that your readers will catch immediately. Ask as many people as you can for their opinions on your writing and take their responses into consideration when revising your poetry.

If you followed all these steps, you should at least have a solid outline that you can continue to revise until you like it. If you plan to continue writing poetry, consider keeping a journal and writing down any notes or inspiration you come across throughout your day. This way, you won’t forget any good ideas you had while you were on the bus or in class.

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