12 Poetry Writing Tips

I have been writing poetry for over the last twelve years and while at times the muse has been a pain and I've learned a lot the hard way. Below are some the best tips I have been given or discovered on my own that will surely make your journey poetry in motion.

» Feel free to write something that's horrible. The point is to allow yourself to release what's inside. Perfection will come with time, and who knows, that horrible poem might later be revised once you have grown and become a work of art.

» Keep some sort of paper (a little notebook) or audio recorder with you at all times. I have had some of my best lines come to me when I was away from the desk, and you don't want to loose those little gems.

» Do leave some to the imagination. You don't have to explain everything in poetic detail to get the point across.

» Don't force yourself to write in form (sonnet, limerick, haiku, etc). If it comes out that way, that's great, but don't get in your head that every poem you write has to be a certain way. You lose the enjoyment that way.

» Read numerous other poets. They can be inspiration within themselves. Also, pay attention to a poem you dislike. To get psychological for a moment, our dislikes normally mirror something we dislike in our own work. Same goes for poems you like, discover why they speak to you.

» Study the craft. If you are serious about what you are writing, you should know the difference in the forms of poetry as well as sequences like iambic pentameter, even if you'll never use them.

» Delve into the poetry community if possible. Check your town for readings, subscribe to journals or join a networking site. This is a fun way to hear others work and to discuss or perhaps get yours critiqued.

» Set your poems free. There are numerous places where you can publish them for free (http://www.fictionpress.com or http://www.writerscafe.org are two of them) or you can search around and find publications that will pay for them, but be ready for rejection because it does happen, no matter how good a poet you are. But don't let it discourage you; some of the best writers have gotten turned away (i.e. Stephen King).

» Be honest. Write whatever in the universe that comes to you. Have a naughty little ditty or a demon to unleash? Do it on paper. Get comfortable with yourself. Try out absurdity, satire, horror and melodrama; they can be fun.

» Don't force the work out. Some may disagree with me on this but I feel sitting there forcing yourself to come up with something does more damage than good. I say, give it a try and if nothing happens get up. Change the scenery, read a book, watch some TV. Let things flow naturally.

» Feel free to change lines around. I've had many a poems where I write the end before the beginning and etcetera. There is no right way or wrong way.

» Don't put filler in a poem. Every line within a poem should mean something.

Have fun using these tips and remember no poem is written the wrong way. Have fun and play around.