How to Write Poetry for Beginners
By rhiannon richardson
editor, published author, and writing teacher.
If you’re wondering how to write poetry for beginners, look no further. Writing poetry can be both intensely creative and daunting. But don’t let that stop you! The beauty of poetry is that it allows us to express our thoughts and feelings in new and creative ways. Whether you’re looking to write a sonnet or a free-form poem, or you’re curious about doing freewriting and breaking writing rules, this article is the how to write poetry for beginners guide. Read on to learn the basic ingredients of poetry, different types of poetry, how to come up with ideas for your writing, and techniques for crafting your poem.
How to Write Poetry for Beginners: Getting Ready to Write
Choose a Theme: What do you want your poem to be about? You could choose something from your own experience or research something new to write about. Whatever you choose should have an element of universal truth. Pick one topic or theme and try to focus on it throughout the poem.
Brainstorm: Once you have an idea of what you want to write about, start brainstorming ideas related to it, including literary imagery that relates to your theme or topic. This could involve freewriting or making a list of word associations for the topic at hand.
Research: Do some research on your subject matter, if needed. This may help you get more ideas flowing, as well as adding more depth to your poem. You might want to include angles you haven’t yet considered.
Plan Your Poem: Before diving into the actual writing process of how to write poetry for beginners, make sure you have an idea of what type of poem it will be (sonnet, haiku, etc.), how many lines it will contain, and what kind of rhyme scheme or meter you plan on using, if any at all. Also consider how the structure should go in order for your poem to flow naturally from one line/stanza/idea to another.
How to Write Poetry for Beginners: Write and Revise
Write Your First Draft: This is when all of your preparation work comes together—and it’s also when many people who wonder how to write poetry for beginners begin to feel paralyzed. Just start. Now is when we turn our ideas into words on paper (or computer). Don’t worry too much about spelling mistakes or grammar issues during this step. You can catch all of those during your revision phase.
Revision: Now take the time necessary to go through your draft multiple times, adjusting anything that does not sound quite right yet or needs further clarification for the sake of reader understanding. Make sure to read your work aloud as you compose and rewrite, it’s important to hear your work aloud and give it voice.
How to Write Poetry for Beginners: Types Of Poetry
It’s tough for people to approach writing poetry for the first time because there are a lot of types of poetry to choose from. This might plunge some beginning poetry writers into analysis paralysis. There are many different types of poetry out there, but some common examples include:
sonnets (14 lines)
haikus (3 lines)
limericks (5 lines)
odes (longer lyrical pieces)
free verse poems (no set rules)
Each type has its own unique structure and purpose, so feel free to explore all of your options until you find one that resonates best for your piece and what you want it to say.
If you’re looking for a more in-depth exploration of poetry, check out Rules for the Dance by Mary Oliver.
How to Write Poetry for Beginners: Techniques and Ideas
When you’re coming up with ideas for what you want your poems to say, there are several tools and techniques available, such as imagery (descriptive language to create meaning) and metaphor and simile (comparisons between two objects/ideas not normally associated with one another).
Additionally poets can also draw inspiration from their own lives and experiences by reflecting on significant moments that have resonated with them, whether recently or over the years. Other sources of writing inspiration include nature scenes, experiences that generate a lot of emotion, and ideas that have stuck with you since childhood.
How to Write Poetry for Beginners and Hoping to Publish
Now that you have written your first poem, you might find yourself asking, “What now?” There are many options available, including sharing your work online through social media platforms or submitting your poetry to web or print literary magazines, which might potentially publish your work. You can research venues that publish poetry in the current edition of Poet’s Market.
Even if your poetry doesn’t achieve publication, you can still rejoice in what you’ve created. After all, if you’re wondering how to write poetry for beginners, you don’t necessarily need to jump to dreaming of publication yet. (It’s important to note that you don’t need a literary agent to submit your poetry—so there are fewer barriers to entry for getting yourself out there.)
Writing poetry can seem intimidating at first but once you understand the basics ingredients and different forms available, suddenly it becomes approachable. Inspiration can come from anywhere. There are also plenty of options for doing something with your poetic creative work. But it’s totally fine to play around and engage with poetry without worrying about publishing it yet, so what are you waiting for?
This post contains affiliate links.
craft your best story
Do you want to tell a compelling story that resonates with readers? Let author and editor Rhiannon Richardson help you take your writing to the next level. With her expertise in middle grade, young adult, picture book, and memoir, she can guide you to your best story.
