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How to Write a Poem

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  • Whether you would like to try your hand at poetry because it's always fascinated you, or you've received the dreaded poetry assignment at school, have no fear. The following page will guide you, step-by-step, through writing a poem.

  • Introduction

    • Poetry has been used for centuries to express everything from love and friendship to sorrow and political discontent. Many great poets have left their mark on the literary world, inspiring millions of amateur poets to reach for the stars with their words.
    • If you've never written a poem before, it can be overwhelming when you take into consideration the different forms of poetry there are to choose from. Sonnets, villanelles, haiku, limericks, free verse... the list goes on and on, but once you've spent some time reading, listening to and writing poetry you'll want to try your hand at all of them.
    • Writing poetry is a challenge, especially if you decide to write in a strict format, but the completion of a strong poem is a worthwhile reward.

  • Reading and Listening to Poetry

    • Writing instructors all over the world constantly stress the importance of reading to their students. When it comes to poetry, reading the work of other poets is still important, but you will also want to go one step further and listen to poetry. That's right, listen. There is something magical in spoken poetry, as feeling and rhythm work through the words and move us in ways we never imagined words could do.
    • Writer Robert Bruce put it best in his poem: "How to Write a Poem"
    • Read every poem / and novel / and newspaper / you can get your hands on
    • Courtesy of Knife Gun Pen Robert Bruce: American Writer
    • Reading and listening to poetry familiarizes you with style, rhythm, and beat, so when you're ready to start writing your own poetry you'll have a leg up.

  • Step 1: Theme

    • The theme, or subject matter, of your poem is one of the most important parts because it is the central point, the critical note you want to share with your readers. Over the centuries people have written poetry about everything you can possibly imagine, from love and hate to war and peace, cats and dogs to lice and fleas. If you can think it, there has probably been a poem written about it.
    • While deciding on your theme there are a few things to keep in mind:

    1. Start with something easy at first, and work your way up poem by poem to more difficult or obscure subjects.
    2. Don't be afraid to take risks. The more curious and open you are to subjects others might not so willingly explore, the more unique and outstanding your poetry will be.
    3. Choose subjects that mean something to you. The more emotionally charged the subject makes you feel, the more likely you will be to flesh that expression out in words.
    4. Feelings are an important part of poetry. You can write about something as mundane as an ant, but if there is feeling in the poem, the mundane becomes magical.
    5. Think about the mood you want to evoke in your poem. Establishing mood is a good way to get in touch with the feelings you want to explore.
    6. Your imagination is your best friend. Too often reality clouds our creativity, so while developing your theme, let your imagination run wild!
    7. Brainstorming around an idea can really help strengthen it. If you have a vague idea of what you'd like to write about, try brainstorming to see what you can come up with.
    8. Consider your audience as you're writing, to align your theme with their perspective.

  • Step 2: Style and Form

    • There are many different styles of poetry to choose from, and you can use the style you choose to help you express your theme. Much of today's modern poetry is written in free verse, but there are many poets who enjoy exploring classic formats and updating them as well.

  • Classic Forms

    1. The Sonnet is a fourteen line poem. The popular Shakespearean sonnet is written in iambic pentameter and consists of three quatrains and a couplet. The quatrains follow the rhyme pattern abab cdcd efef while the couplet rhyme is gg.
    2. A Villanelle has no established meter, and each stanza is three lines long. It follows a strict repetitive rhyme and line pattern that creates a sense of haunted familiarity.
    3. Haiku is a Japanese style of poetry that is comprised of three lines that follow a 5,7,5 beat pattern.
    4. Limericks are those fun poems that often start with There once was a man who turned blue... They are meant to be fun, but they follow a very strict rhyme pattern. They are made up of a couplet and a triplet and follow an aabba rhyme pattern.
    5. Sestinas are poems with a long and difficult planning process. Containing six stanzas, each one is made up of six lines, and the poem is completed by a tercet. The same six words end each line in a structured pattern, and then combine in the tercet to wrap up the subject.

  • Experiment with Classic Forms

    • Here are some exercises to help you develop your own style using classic form.
    1. Try writing the same poem in different forms to find the proper voice.
    2. Take a favorite poem and analyze it. Once you feel you have a handle on it, rewrite it in your own style and words.
    3. Listen to your poem. Though it may sound silly, if you listen to the ideas already manifesting, you might be surprised at how easily they take form. Remember, poetry is an aural experience as much as it is written.
    4. Think of the structure and form of classic poetry like sculpting. Sculpt the words to your vision. This also applies to free verse, which is quite a bit like abstract art.
    • There is nothing wrong with sticking to free verse poetry, but do remember that the words in your poem need to come alive and mimic the very actions you want them to represent.

  • Step 3: The Writing Process

    • Once you've chosen a subject and the style you want to write in, it's time to start writing. Keep in mind while writing that every single line in your poem should have a purpose. Like a story, a poem should progress line by line. There are a few techniques poets employ that you might find useful as you sculpt your words into poetry. Poetry comes from the heart. The process will help your heart shine.

  • Poetic Devices

    • There are a number of poetic devices, or tools, to help you really shape your words into visual imagery, but don't overdo it. Here is a list of some of the most popular poetic devices:
    1. Rhyme is when you use words that sound the same. Many rhyming poems have a recognizable rhyme pattern at the end of the line, while others rhyme internally.
    2. Meter is the rhythm of the line. It is created by the length and stress of the syllables in a line. Meter can be influenced by feet, caesura and metric variations.
    3. Alliteration repeats consonant sounds throughout the poem. Carl's cat craves crunchy crumpets is an extreme example of alliteration.
    4. Assonance is a repetition of the vowel sounds throughout the poem. New blue shoes is an extreme example of assonance.
    5. Simile compares two objects, connecting them with a signal word such as like, than, or as. For example: "The wind was as fierce as a lion."
      • A simile is a great way to attribute abstract qualities that the subject wouldn't necessarily have on its own. His love was like a razor inspires the reader to think of love the way he might look at something sharp or dangerous.
    6. Metaphor is the direct transference of the quality of one object to another. For example" "The wind was a lion."
      • Metaphors are another fantastic way to bring abstract concepts to life. His love was a razor makes the comparison more concrete than a simile.
    7. A rhetorical device is when you repeat certain words, images or ideas to draw emphasis and attention.

  • Imagery

    • "Show don't tell" is probably one of the most important rules when it comes to writing, whether it's a short story, a book report, a novel or a poem. Writing is all about painting a picture with words, and poetry is no different.

    1. The subject matter that often inspires poetry is made up of abstract concepts; for example love, hate and happiness.
    2. Instead you want to take those concepts and bring them to life.
    3. Charles Ghigna said it best in his article on "How to Write Poetry": Imagination is a powerful device, and you can use it to help turn abstract concepts into art.
    4. Think of it like looking into the clouds and finding the imagery in them. The more you look at the world through your imagination, the easier it becomes to relate that imaginative imagery to your writing.


    • Some important things to remember when crafting your imagery:
    1. Avoid tired metaphors like "the world is your oyster".
    2. Don't go overboard on the imagery. Too much of a good thing is never good!
    3. Don't be afraid to write a bad poem. You can learn a lot from your own mistakes.
    4. If you're having trouble finding the right word, use a dictionary, or better yet, a thesaurus.

  • Writing Tips and Tricks

    • When it comes down to it, the actual writing of the poem is often the part many people have trouble with. Below are a few tools of the trade that will help you get started writing, even when it feels like your gears are stuck.
    1. Be prepared to write anywhere and everywhere! Some of the best ideas have gotten lost because a poet was inspired while at the grocery store. Carrying around a small notebook and pen, or a micro-cassette recorder, to save ideas before they slip away.
    2. Keep a journal or diary regularly so you are always writing.
    3. Poets write poetry because they love words. Keeping a dictionary and thesaurus on hand is a great way to learn new words and spark inspiration.
    4. Establish time alone to daydream. Jot down any ideas you have during this time and tuck them away for later. Come back to them when you're feeling at a loss for words.
    5. Draw attention to the unique details of your subject matter. You can use the poetic devices mentioned above to really make them stand out.
    6. Writing poetry has become a symbol of freedom for a lot of writers, so try not to over-think things and just let the words flow.
    7. Almost all writers have come up against the dreaded block. Below are some great ways you can push through the block and finish your poems.
      1. Keep in mind that your poem isn't going to write itself, so avoid waiting around for the right words or lines to show up.
      2. Make yourself write for timed periods, scribbling down whatever comes to mind.
      3. Analyzing someone else's poetry is a great way to flex your creative muscles. You can think about what they did and how you might have written it yourself.
      4. If you're stuck, try shifting point-of-view. Sometimes all it takes to get things rolling again is a fresh perspective.

  • Step 4: Revising and Sharing Your Poetry

    • Once you've experimented with writing your poem and you're ready to edit it, you'll want to read it out loud to yourself to see how it sounds. Don't whisper; stand in front of the mirror and really read it out loud the way you heard it in your head while writing it.

    1. Listen to the rhythm and the beat.
    2. Ask yourself if the rhyme sounds natural.
    3. Do any of the words sound forced or out of place?
    • If you've been listening to a lot of poetry during the process of writing your own poem, chances are you won't have much trouble hearing any strange quirks in your own poem. If the quirks don't work, rework the poem.

  • Reading

    • Poetry circles and writer's groups are a great place to get feedback and critique on your work. While you may not always like what your peers have to say, always listen to their criticism with an open mind. There is always room for improvement, no matter how hard it is to see your own flaws. And remember that poetry, no matter how personal, is a form that begs to be read aloud and shared.
    1. If you're writing a poem as an assignment, don't be afraid to volunteer to read your work in front of the class.
    2. Poets outside the classroom, consider getting involved in your local poetry circuit. Attend readings, support your fellow poets, but most importantly work up the courage to stand up and read your work too.
    • While this certainly isn't required, it is definitely a part of the liberation that comes with writing poetry.

  • Conclusion

    • Poetry is the voice of the past, present and the future. It cries out to all who dare to listen the woes and fears, joys and triumphs, achievements and failures of humankind and the world we live in. Let your poetic voice rise to the occasion. Stand up and be heard, and leave your mark on the world for tomorrow's poets, readers and dreamers.

  • Resources for How To Write a Poem


 


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