The ART of Writing Poems

Writing a poem is about observing the world around you and then describing it to the readers enabling them to see your perspective and the emotions. You can describe the beauty, the intensity, the desire, the pain and everything you feel through your poems in a beautiful way because remember –

“Poems are paintings which are made up of words.”

TIPS FOR POETRY WRITING FOR BEGINNERS

START READING A LOT OF POEMS

If you want to write poetry then start by reading them. You don’t necessarily have to understand the deep underlying meaning behind everything, but try to understand the picture that the poet is trying to show you. Find your own interpretation of the poem and them compare how it differs from the original interpretation. It helps you to understand the very essence of poems and poetry writing.

You can also find your favourite poet, or you can go for the classical ones like Robert Frost, Mark Twain, William Wordsworth etc. Or, you can go for the greatest of all times William Shakespeare.

INCREASE YOUR VOCABULARY

As basic as it could get, but this is one of the most important part which helps you to write and put your imagination and express your thoughts accurately on paper is the correct usage of vocabulary and grammar. You need to avoid cliche in your poems, as it takes the power away because if the phrase is common then so is the emotion you are trying to express.

For example, you may notice you have used the cliche, “she was as busy as a bee” to describe a person in your poem. You may replace this cliche with a more unique phrase, such as “her hands were always occupied” or “she moved through the kitchen at a frantic pace.”

START SMALL

The first step is the most significant but the most difficult step to take. Therefore, you need to start small to give yourself a feeling of accomplishment which gives a boost to your morale and keeps you motivated. A simple rhyming poem can be a non-intimidating entry way to poetry writing. 

Don’t mistake quantity for quality; a pristine seven-line free verse poem is more impressive than a sloppy, rambling epic of blank verse, which took far less time to compose. So keep calm and keep steady.

BE A KEEN OBSERVER

One of the key skill of writing authentic poems is observing your environment and being sensitive to situations. This enables you to express ordinary situation from an extraordinary view point. As with all forms of English language writing, communication is the name of the game in poetry, so if you want to tell short stories in your poems, embrace that instinct.

CONNECT WITH OTHER ASPIRING POETS

Find people who share your interest in poetry or in literature in general. Having your own community of people goes a long way in any field including poetry. Poets connect with one another via poetry readings and perhaps poetry writing classes. Good poetry can take many forms, and through a community, you may encounter different forms that vary from the type of poem you typically write—but are just as artistically inspiring. Seek out a poetry group where you can hear different types of poetry, discuss the art form, jot down new ideas, and learn from the work of your peers.

A supportive community can help you brainstorm ideas, influence your state of mind as an artist, and share poetry exercises that may have helped other members of the group produce great poetry.

CONCLUSION

Humans can express their thoughts in so many ways, writing poems is just one of the written forms but it is the most beautiful forms that one can choose to express their emotions and messages for their readers. So start with a new poem today that is yours for the world to read and understand.

SOURCES

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-poetry#11-rules-for-writing-good-poetry

https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Poem