How to Write Poetry?
After all, what is the correct way or standard template of writing poetry?
That's the thing about poetry: if something is working for one poem, it does not mean at all that it will work for another one.
It also gives a tough time to a professional essay writer to figure out the most appropriate way of writing poetry.
Remember! There are numerous types of poetry; there is so much that you can do with the content, language, and look of poetry than any other writing.
If you ever find yourself confused thinking about how to write a good poem, then you should start by reading good poetry. Poetry is a short story that is written in an interesting manner.
Read the work of famous poets like William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, William Wordsworth, John Keats, and Walt Whitman.
This will help you figure out the style that you enjoy and the type of poem you can relate to. Of course, the best way to write a poem is to develop a habit of reading.
Let us look at the essential step-by-step guide on how to write poetry for beginners in detail.
1. What Are You Trying to Say?
Similar to any other project, when writing poetry you need to be aware of what type of poem you want to write.
Similar to any other project, when writing poetry, you need to be aware of what type of poem you want to write.
Whether you want to write love poetry, describe a personal experience, write about social injustice, or craft a rhymed poem, one thing remains constant.
While writing a poem, always remember that you need to clear your "point of view" so that the reader easily gets what you are trying to say.
Remember! The message of your poem is an essential part.
There are no specifications; it can be as simple as your love for puddings, or something more complex like bonding and relationships, etc.
To sum up, everything, whatever your message is, it needs to be clear without patronizing the reader or uttering the obvious.
You can add visual language in writing your poem to describe to the readers whatever is happening instead of making it obvious blindingly.
2. Maintain a Structure
Remember you need to think carefully!
How do you want your poem to look like when it's on the page?
Is it going to be a concrete poem?
Will the shape or length of the stanza in the poem improve it?
Is it going to be visual like a piece of art?
If you are not sure how you are going to layout your poem, you need to do different writing exercises, experimenting with different poetic forms and styles.
For instance, if you write a poem that follows a strict structure, it sure will look tidy. But if you are writing it about the things that are falling apart, you might not be choosing the best layout.
Some poets prefer to write in particular structures, but many prefer not to write this way.
There are several forms of poetry. You can write your poem in the form and style that you think is best.
And yes, in doing that, you may need to write several drafts to find which one is the best fit for your poem but trust me, it's worth it.
Here’s how to set up a poem in detail:
Sonnet
A sonnet is a short poem of 14 rhyme lines. Remember, a line break is essential in poetry.
- Stanza
A group of lines or a paragraph.
- Haiku
A three-line poem with the first line is five syllables, and the second is seven, and the third and last is five.
- Couplet
A poem with two lines that rhyme and have the same meter.
- Epic
This poem is written to celebrate heroes and their accomplishments. It is a long narrative poem.
- Limerick
A humorous and witty five-line poem, which follows an AABBA format. The first, second, and last lines rhyme, and the third and fourth have different rhymes.
- Acrostic
The first letter of each line is combined to spell out a word, message, or a deeper meaning.
- Free Verse
Free of any rules or format, this style allows the author to show their creativity.
3. The Perspective of Your Poem
Your readers need to be aware of whose perspective you are writing from. You need to make it clear that you are either writing in the first, second, or third person.
Remember! The perspective you are writing from has the power to change what your poem sounds like and its impact and meaning on the reader dramatically.
Just like essay writing, poetry also demands the poet to spend significant time setting the idea behind a particular topic.
Your Tone Matters
Yes, your tone does matter!
You can write something in a funny way, old-fashioned, serious, sarcastic, or colloquial way. In short, in any way you like.
The most significant thing is the tone that you have chosen as a fit for your poem and the message that you want to convey.
Remember! Never casually write anything if you are trying to be serious. Similarly, if you are trying to be funny, do not add seriousness to your tone.
5. Punctuation
You must be mindful of the punctuation when you start writing poetry, though the punctuation may differ from that of a book.
- Grammatical
A grammatical structure will follow punctuation according to the grammatical rules. Removing stanzas from the poem will still qualify as a grammatically correct piece of writing.
- Statistical
Here you use punctuation to mimic the way how a poem should be read. For instance, you can use a comma where you want the reader to take a short pause and for a long pause, use a period. Similarly, to connect different thoughts, use a dash.
With an absence of punctuation, your writing will seem rushed.
- Combination
You can also use a combination of the rules as mentioned above.
6. Imagery
It is one of the literary devices that appeals to one of a person’s 5 senses when reading a poem. It helps the reader connect with the poem: visual imagery, olfactory imagery, auditory imagery, tactile imagery, gustatory imagery.
The imagery provides details that give the reader a feeling of being in the moment that you have written about.
For instance,
The ice-cold winds pierced her body.
The night was dark as the color black, and the shining silver stars led the way.
7. Rhythm
Just how imagery is important for the mind, sound or a rhyme scheme is essential for the ears.
Sometimes it does happen that your poem suits or naturally fits into a specific rhythm.
But, keep that in mind that rhymes are not necessary for writing great poems. It is not a "rule," and free verse gives you more chances to do whatever you want and like with your poem.
For some people, it is terrifying, but some find it exhilarating too.In short, you know nothing unless you try.
Even if you go for a free-verse, it needs to have some sort of rhythm to it. A poem must have a kind of musicality to it. Otherwise, it is just a simple paragraph.
However, if you want to write a rhyming poem, don’t put words just for the sake of rhyme. Always give preference to meaning over rhymes, as nothing is more off-putting than a misplaced word.
When you are done with writing your poem, never forget to revise!
Checking It again for grammatical and rhymes is very important. For this purpose, you can read a poem out loud. Many renowned writers use this technique.
Poetry is the golden opportunity to polish your creativity and writing skills. You can get the ultimate freedom to express your thoughts, imaginations, and perspectives through different angles, yet most writers are afraid of writing it.
Just use the ingredients mentioned above in the blog and blow everyone’s mind away with your breathtaking poetry.
Why not give it a shot today?
If you are still stuck, there’s always a writing class to help you get started. Or you can reach out to one of the brilliant essay writer online at 5StarEssays.com, and we can help you out!
