How to Write a Poem?

Writing a poem differs unlike writing a short story, an essay, an email, or any other sort of writing. While each of these various types of writing necessitates a distinct method, they all share one thing in common: they are prose.

As previously said, poetry is not the same as prose. That’s why it feels like the wild card of creative writing.

Going through the regular writing process can be a drain on creativity when it comes to poetry. That doesn’t mean you should sit down, scribble out a poem, and call it quits. On the contrary, if you’re composing poetry, you may discover that missing one or more phases of the standard writing process allows you to be more creative.

Of course, you may discover that following the writing process allows you to explore and organise your ideas before beginning to write. The value of beginning with brainstorming, then moving on to outlining, and then writing only after you’ve completed an outline differs from poet to poet and even poem to poem. Sometimes inspiration hits and the words just pour out of your head and onto the page.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get started and create your next poetry.

Decide what you want to write about

Unless you’ve been asked to compose a poem on a certain topic, the first step in creating a poem is deciding what to write about. Seek inspiration from nature, your community, current events, or the people in your life. Take notes on how various things make you feel and what they inspire you to think about.

When you’re looking for a great theme for a poem, freewriting can be a useful activity. You can use a writing prompt as a starting point for your freewriting, or simply jot down a word (or a few) and let your mind guide your pen in a stream-of-consciousness approach.

Once you’ve decided on a topic and a theme, the following step is to figure out what type of poem will best convey it.

Determine the best format for your topic

Your poetry does not have to follow a set format, but deciding on one and sticking to it may be the best option. By choosing a certain structure, such as a sonnet or a limerick, you limit your writing and drive yourself to find a way to artistically represent your theme while adhering to the format’s limits.

Explore words, rhymes, and rhythm

If you’ve decided to compose your poem in a certain format, read previous poems in that structure to offer yourself a template to work from. A precise rhythm or rhyme system can bring out topics and smart wordplay in your poetry. For example, you might decide that a limerick is the best approach to make your readers laugh at your satirical poem because the style appears to have a built-in punchline.