Writing Tips for New Poets

You want to start writing poetry, but aren't sure where to begin; or maybe you've been writing it for years and hiding it in your drawer. Here are some tips for improving it.

Realize the definition of poetry is not "lines of text that rhyme." People who have no appreciation for poetry, and occasionally people new to writing it, often think if they throw a few lines together that rhyme, that makes a poem. It is true poetry can rhyme, and some of the best poems do; but this does not mean everything that rhymes makes a good poem. (Some of the worst poetry rhymes as well.)

Read poetry. What would you think of someone who wanted to play classical music, but couldn't name even one classical composer or symphony? Those unfamiliar with poetry but who try to write it are like that. I can't tell how many times I've come across people boasting of their poetry who rarely read poetry. They just want to share their ramblings, and their writing is generally awful.

Read all kinds of poetry. New poets can make the mistake of reading only modern poetry or old classic verse. It is good to be familiar with as much poetry as you can, from free verse to the structured classic forms as well as more exotic types of poetry.

Get over yourself. Many are under the impression poetry is just a cheap form of self therapy. Yes, poetry can be therapeutic. If writing it makes you feel better, by all means do it. Poetry is an art form though, and to do it well you should treat it like any other serious craft. If you take a brush and begin to paint a canvas, that does not make you an artist. It may make you feel better expressing yourself, but to be a good painter requires talent, practice, and learning to produce a quality creation.

Show, don't tell. Use tangible imagery. Feelings and other unseen concepts do not usually make for good poetry. It is better to get an idea across by showing the reader rather than telling them. Rather than saying "He made her feel skeptical" say something like "she lifted her eyebrow at him."

Study up on poetic terms. It can help improve your poetry. No, you don't have to remember all of the technical poetic terms you find in a glossary of poetry, just as one doesn't need to be fluent at reading music to play in a rock band. Some basic knowledge is helpful though. Studying poetic terms can help with ideas for poems and inspire you to write in styles you've never tried. Even if your poetry turns out awful, you're still getting practice.

If you prefer to write rhyming poetry, remember you live in the 21st century. You know those old poems that say stuff like "thou art lovely, my fair rose"? Those were written back when people actually used words like thee, thou, and thy. People no longer speak that way, so avoid these outdated words like the plague.

Just because your coffee shop buddies cheer when you read your poem doesn't make it good. My father could tell a joke well. Even if a joke wasn't all that funny, people would crack up after he told it. Why? It was all in the delivery. When you're at a coffee shop and you put on a good performance people will applaud. Some may applaud even if you don't put on a good performance because they are there to have fun, and are being polite to you. How does your poem measure up when it is not being read aloud? Would the editor of a magazine be willing to publish it? Maybe you don't care about being published, and that's ok. Putting on a show at the coffee shop can be a nice form of art too. If, however, you want your poem published, don't base whether it is good or not on the reactions you get from friends at a coffee shop.

Online poetry forums are not always helpful. There may be some groups that are actually helpful to poets, but many are not. Depending on why you want to write poetry you should see who makes up the poetry group you're thinking of joining. Are they people who take the craft of poetry seriously, or are they just there to "share their soul" with everyone. Are there published poets in the group, or is the group a praise fest where people say "that was wonderful" to every poem posted? If you really want to join one of these forums, go for it. Just find one that shares your goals.

Critics are not always helpful. Worse than those who always praise your poetry, critics can be just as bad because taste is subjective. If you want to have your work published in a particular magazine, and the editor from that magazine rejects your work and offers comments, it is wise to listen if you want them to publish you. Aside from that, you should mostly be your own critic. If you're in a poetry forum and twenty people offer suggestions on how to improve your work, chances are they will say twenty different things. If you implemented everything they said you'd have very little of your unique poem or voice left, so choose the advice you take wisely.

If you intend to submit a poem to a real publication (be it a magazine, reputable ezine, or other paying market) I do not advise posting it on internet forums or personal sites. Giving poems away cheapens them, and many editors view the work as being "published" and will not want it. If I see someone posting their poem in a public forum, I think the writer must not be serious about their craft. I know there are those who do poetry for the love of it, but I am talking to those who take their poetry more seriously and believe they should be paid for it.

Whether you write poetry just "for the love of it" or you take it a bit more serious for publication, it doesn't hurt to improve your craft so that you and your readers will get the most out of it.