How To Start Writing Poetry (For Beginners)
Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV
If you’re like me, writing poetry can often feel like the least accessible form of writing. Poetry has a certain connotation for most people that sets it off in Shakespeare-only territory, or even less appealingly, in the Dr. Seuss-for-five-year-olds space. Either way you see it, it’s not something that feels applicable to your everyday life or like something you actually can or would want to do.
I’m writing this because I now love writing poetry, but I was once someone who wanted to avoid it at all costs. However, it was a required course for my degree, and I am ever so happy that I stumbled into it.
So if you’re someone that’s interested in poetry or already writes and wants to learn more, this is for you. If you’re skeptical about writing poetry, yet deep down want to give it a try, this is for you, too. I just want to encourage more people to give it a shot because it has quite literally changed my life.
Here are my top three tips to get you started!
01 | Let go of judgment.
One of the hardest parts about starting to write poetry is getting past the feelings of inadequacy that flood in. However, in order to enjoy and fully engage in the process of writing poetry, you have to get out of your head and relax into your own space as a writer. Let go of comparison. Allow the words to flow without questioning every little thing.
A few tips that helped me feel loose and free with my writing may also help you. If a line comes to you in the middle of the day, put it in a note on your phone to come back to later. It might be something you love or hate, either way, it’s worth keeping at least for now. Write in pen and ink instead of typing on the computer. This takes some pressure off, I think, and there’s no erasing or backspacing to “fix” things right away.
A great exercise is to give yourself a “trigger” word or line (basically just a prompt) and then write whatever comes to mind for 5-10 minutes, stream of consciousness, no editing. Not only will that help you push past your inhibitions, but what you’re writing will also be genuine. It will be something that needs to be written, not just what you felt like you should be writing.
02 | Discover what ignites your creativity.
There are so many blogs, videos, podcasts, articles, and even whole classes with the aim of helping people be more creative. These are all well and good, but what I found to be true is that any poetry you write is innately creative because it came from your mind, your original thought. So take the pressure off to be doing something no one’s ever done before or that seems highly “artistic.”
With that said, I think there are ways to figure out what inspires you and what contributes to you writing poetry that you enjoy. First, read lots of other poetry and literature. This exposes you to different styles of writing, ideas, and subjects that touch your soul. And even though our poetry is uniquely ours, no one writes or creates anything artistic in a vacuum. Utilize those who have gone before you and see what beautiful blend those influences create.
A fun project to employ what you already know and love, can be to start or end a poem with a first or last line from a poem you really like (of course, give credit if you share this work). This can be a launch pad when you feel stuck and will help you see what elements of writing you align with.
Second, analyze the times you feel the most at peace and when lines or poems come easily. What were you doing? Who were you with, or were you alone? Where were you? What was it that started the creative line of thinking?
A challenge to test out if subjects or styles get your creative juices flowing is to pick a broad subject (like flowers, fruit, colors, clothes, books, family, etc) and write a poem from that “trigger” every day for a week or one day a week for a month. You might find some revealing patterns.
03 | Know your poetry has a purpose.
The last thing that I believe can make a difference in starting (and continuing) your poetry writing journey is believing that it’s worthwhile. You need to know that your work has meaning. There is a reason you are writing. Even if that is “just” for you, it’s important.
Writing poetry was a very unexpected source of healing for me. Maybe that’s what it is for you, too. Maybe it makes you smile when you would otherwise cry or helps you cry when you need to. Maybe it’s a door to meeting new friends, making connections. Whatever the case, stick with it.
The cultural message we often get is that everything we do needs to have a “productive” purpose that we can sometimes, if not always, capitalize on for money or status or followers. I encourage you to write simply because you want to and know that those words are worth writing and sharing with the people you love. Whatever comes after that is just icing on the cake.
New to reading poetry? Start here:
