Writing poetry can be both a beautiful and trying process. It is beautiful because poetry is a totally unique way to convey your feelings. In many ways it is like writing a song where the rhyme and the right selection of words can pull the heartstrings of your readers.
But it can also be difficult because writing poetry is quite different to writing a story. It can be more complex and there are a few rules that you should take to heart before you even think of writing a poem.
Here are 6 rules of poetry every newbie poet should know:
- Actively look for sources of inspiration
Inspiration is an integral part of being a poet. This is because inspiration is the spark that compels poets to create great works. Inspiration is the fuel for every poet’s passion to write.
Inspiration is what separates the great poets from mediocre ones. So if you are truly set on becoming a poet, it is important that you actively look for sources of inspiration. The more inspired you are, the more enjoyable the writing process will be.
- Read, Read and Read some more
Before you even think of starting your poetry writing journey, you should really take the time to read as much poetry as possible. This is because the more poems you read, the more works of poetry you will be exposed to. This exposure will not only improve your ability to write great poetry, it will also give you insights on how the great poets of the past were able to create such works.
So before you even think of writing poetry, you should really read the works of the greats like, Wilde, Neruda, Shakespeare, Dickinson, Wordsworth, Yeats and Plath to name just a few. All in all, the more you read, the better your poetry will be.
- Practice makes perfect
When you first try your hand at poetry writing. You will first struggle. It is a given. The poetry writing process is a hard one and it takes a lot of time and effort to get it down pat.
So it is imperative that you practice as much as you can. Of course, this does not mean that you dedicate all of your time to the process. It just means that you should make practice a priority.
It means that you should set aside a portion of your time every day to practice your craft. Because the more you practice, the easier the poetry writing process will be in the long run.
- Reach out to fellow poets
Aside from practicing your craft religiously, it is important that you reach out to fellow poets for advice and emotional support. Few people know the insecurities and uncertainties that many poets face. Only fellow poets can relate to this fear.
Only fellow poets can know the crippling disappointment of getting a negative review. So if you are truly serious about being a poet, then you should make a concerted effort to reach out to fellow poets. Luckily there are a myriad of great online communities made up of passionate and supportive poets.
You can also start your own group made up of local poets, and you can have weekly meetings to help each other grow as poets. All in all, if you want to reach your full potential as a poet, you will need the advice and support of your fellow poets.
- Stay away from clichés
If there is one thing that you should avoid as a poet, it is clichés. This is because clichés are concepts that have been used so much that they have lost all sense of originality. And because of this, most readers look upon clichés with a great degree of hate and they would usually consider any poet who uses clichés as both lazy and unoriginal.
So if you don’t want to annoy your potential readers, you should avoid using poetry clichés altogether.
- Just enjoy the process
If there’s one thing that you should remember throughout the writing process, it is that you should enjoy every minute of it. Poetry is a wonderful way to share your feelings and perceptions with the world. It is a way to show your artistry and emotions without any fear of being ridiculed or criticized.
So take your time with the process. Don’t put any pressure on yourself to create groundbreaking work on your first try. Just have fun with it, you have all the time in the world.
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