Whether you’re an experienced poet or just beginning your studies, how to write poetry can feel like a foreign language to you. It’s not that you don’t understand the basics – you know how a poem starts and how it should end – but the mechanics of putting those concepts into practice feel different when applied to your own work. That’s because no matter how many times you practice, it’s different every time you sit down to write a poem. It’s an odd feeling, to be sure.
If you’re looking for tips on how to improve your poetry writing, or need some inspiration for your own work, take a look at this resource for students and teachers of creative writing.
Define Your Subject
When you start any writing project, be it a story, novel, or poem, you need to know what it is you’re writing about. It’s easy to get swept away in the creative process and lose track of what you’re actually trying to accomplish, but keeping a clear idea of your purpose will help you to find your voice and give your work direction. Start by defining your subject. What is it you want to talk about?
For example, if you’re writing a poem about love, your subject would be love. You might want to write about your love for a specific person or about the feeling of unconditional love. Your definition of your subject should match the theme and content of your work. When you write about something, you connect with the same part of your brain that would be used to process information about that subject, making it easier for you to connect with your writing.
Find Your Audience
As you establish your subject and define your purpose, you’ll also want to consider who your target audience is. Just because you write doesn’t mean that your work will automatically resonate with the people you aim it at. Instead, establish a connection with your audience by considering what they want and need. Your writing should serve a function for your target audience. Whether you’re solving a problem they have or providing them with information they’re looking for, your work should have a definite purpose. Finding your audience is not a difficult task. All you need is the internet, which, in today’s world, is virtually everyone.
Develop Your Voice
When we talk about developing our voice, we mean getting to know what writing style works best for you and using that style consistently throughout your work. Some people prefer to write in the first person, while others focus on the third. Some prefer a conversational tone, while others like their work to be more formal. You might want to try out a few different styles and see which one you prefer. Once you find your voice, you can become confident enough to express yourself fully through writing.
Start Small
One of the best things you can do for your poem or story is to start small. Even if you’ve got a lot accomplished already, it might be hard to find the right words to express all you have. Trying to write a novel from start to finish can feel like a daunting task, and it’s easy to get discouraged when you can’t seem to make the manuscript work. Instead, write a short story or poem and see how that goes. If you feel like you accomplished something with it, then you can expand on that and try your hand at a longer piece. Remember, whatever you do, you’re never supposed to be perfect. Writing is a journey, not a destination, and you should always be willing to learn and grow with it.
Show Your Work
Whatever your chosen form, your writing should always be accessible to the reader. If they can’t understand what you’re writing about simply by reading the work, you haven’t done your job. In other words, show your work. Once you’ve established yourself as an author and feel like you have a good handle on the basics of writing, it’s time to enter the literary world and show off your work. The internet is a great place to promote your work, and you can take advantage of online directories, social media, and newsletters to attract potential readers.
Practice, Practice, Practice
If you want to be a good writer, you need to practice. A lot. There are plenty of outlets where you can practice your writing, whether through a practice script (for those who prefer to write on their own voice) or through the use of an online editor. The former will help you build your vocabulary and connect the letters of the alphabet to words and phrases you’re familiar with, while the latter will help you fix spelling mistakes and punctuation errors. Don’t stop practicing once you’ve gotten to the point where you feel like you’re making progress. Keep going until you hit a wall or find yourself frustrated by poor spelling and grammar. Then, it’s time to take a break and come back with a fresh set of ears.
As you work on developing your craft, keep in mind that this is a process. There will always be room for improvement, and that’s a good thing. If you want to be a good writer, write bad poems and stories first before you polish them up for others to read. In this way, you’ll constantly be learning and trying new things, which will make you a better writer in the end.