![]() However, if we were to say “love is like a battlefield,” we would be dealing with a simile, which compares two objects using words like “like” or “as.”īoth are handy tools that can help your poems draw comparisons and make suggestions for added depth. The expression “love is a battlefield” is an example of a metaphor. Metaphors can be quite poetic themselves, as they directly compare two unlike objects. Metaphors and similes are two ways to create imagery in your writing without simply listing adjectives. You can study some of the most common symbols in literature to choose images that will bring added depth to your poem. Don’t go straight for the big picture or general feeling that you want to convey-describe how something feels, smells, sounds, or tastes to help you get there.Īlso keep in mind that with each word comes an opportunity to add meaning. Use vivid descriptors to appeal to readers’ senses. Make them feel as if they’ve just entered the scene with you and can see everything themselves. Rather than telling your readers about a moment or experience, show them by using detailed imagery. You’ve probably heard about the importance of showing, rather than telling, in literature. Having a clear goal will also help you determine which images and literary devices might best suit your poem. Keep your goal in mind as you compose each verse-every line you write should serve the poem’s main purpose. Is it to capture a special moment forever? To describe the beauty of nature, or the essence of a person? Do you want to make readers laugh, cry, think, or feel inspired?ĭetermine a clear purpose before you start your first draft. Know Your GoalĪsk yourself why you’re writing a poem. Find something universal-something that anyone can relate to or understand-and put a creative spin on it. The important thing is that your topic is accessible to the reader. You can write about your backyard, a day at the beach, a memory of your mom-your options are endless, and there are no “wrong” subjects. If you want to try your hand at poetry but aren’t quite sure what to write about, don’t fret.Īs with any kind of creative writing, you don’t have to look much farther than the places, things, and people in your everyday life to find inspiration. While there’s no perfect formula for a great poem, these nine steps can help you get off to a great start. Unless you’re writing a nursery rhyme or children’s song, you probably don’t want a sing-song poem that sounds more juvenile than thought-provoking. If you do choose to rhyme, never force it. This is also the style used in most contemporary poetry. ![]() With free verse, poets are free to decide the rhyme scheme (if they want one at all), rhythm, meter, and length. That’s why it is often recommended that beginners start with free verse, which doesn’t have any rules at all. ![]() While these rules provide structure, they can also make things more complicated for writers who still haven’t learned to master meter or rhyme. Some forms-such as sonnets, villanelles, and haikus-have very specific formats and rhyme schemes. There are many different types of poems, each with their own unique rules and features. It probably won’t be easy at first, and you might not even like much of what you write-but even at the very worst, you’ll have an excellent base from which to build your skills. We let those little everyday moments of inspiration float away, never giving them a chance to become words that live forever.īut once you learn a few poetry basics, you’ll find that with practice anyone can be a poet. Unfortunately, just the thought of sitting down and writing a poem can be extremely intimidating, which is why so few of us actually try it. Poetry can be a wonderful outlet for expressing your feelings and putting those experiences into words. You see or feel something that you’d love to put into words, but when you reach for a pen, you’re suddenly at a loss. Do you ever find yourself suddenly struck by a bolt of inspiration while sipping your morning coffee, taking the subway to work, or watching your children play in the backyard?
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