How to write a poem

How To Write An Effortless Poem

(3 mins to read)

Everyone can write poetry.
Poems are such great, creative 'things' because they have no real set rules - except perhaps for a Haiku or a Sonnet - but right now (luckily) we're looking at the more free and ad-lib creations. So let's begin.

Think of the subject you want to write about, or perhaps a feeling or even a person. Grab a piece of paper and a pen and jot down any words that come to mind when you think about your chosen subject. 
For example, if you were to write about someone you admire, you could list the following; generous smile, curly auburn hair, soft voice, gentle wrinkles, kind eyes, clunky shoes. 

The next step is to let yourself feel completely free of inhibition and in a space you feel relaxed and open. You might find stepping into the outside will help, or wrapped up in a blanket in the middle of your bed. Once your mind is ready to be expressive, start writing sentences using the keywords you jotted down earlier. For example 'gentle wrinkles' and 'clunky shoes' could turn into this sentence: 'her gentle wrinkles juxtaposed her clunky shoes, and at the same time they complimented each other so well.' Let the sentences flow from you, no matter how irrelevant or far fetched they may seem. Some may even make you cringe, but you'll soon get over that. As William Wordsworth once said 'Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility', so we say embrace it.

Now it's time to take a read of what you have written. Interestingly you'll see that each sentence falls naturally into the next, and some may seem unexpected and interrupt the rhythm, but that's all part of poetry. After you've read it through, feel free to edit and amend what you've written, the best way to do this is to rewrite it and see which bits don't quite 'fit' with the way you want it to be. Read it out loud once you feel confident it's at a good stage - it sounds different out loud, right? It really brings it to life. Rid of anything that doesn't roll off the tongue and add anything you feel is missing. And that's it! It really is that simple.

Psst, we write all poems for just £90.
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