I want to show you how I, an English major, who is intimidated by the process of writing, approaches writing poetry. And no, not poetry for an assignment, but purely for the practice and my personal creative pursuits. I believe it is helpful to write not only for class, but for yourself because let’s be honest, who really wants to write analytical essays on Shakespeare’s plays for a whole semester, I mean, there’s a lot happening in his plays, and I personally need a break from the big W.S., and writing, especially poetry, is the perfect outlet for me. And so, I am going to give you some tips to make this whole poetry writing thing a lot less daunting.
- Don’t know where to begin? I suggest you familiarize yourself with what poetry is
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To quote the great William Wordsworth in his Preface to the Lyrical Ballads (1801), “poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity.” I cannot express how much Wordsworth really hit the nail on the head with this one, and much like a hammer, it would be beneficial to your writing to beat these words of wisdom into your brain. Wordsworth is absolutely correct when he describes poetry, and that is why he is one of the greatest English Romantic poets, along with his buddy Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who famously said, “poetry: the best words in the best order”, which is also absolutely correct. And if you don’t jibe with their advice, there are many other interpretations of what poetry is out there. It is important to find the ones that make sense to you, which is a good place to start.
- You are not Cummings, Whitman, or Eliot, so don’t sweat it.
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The first draft of your poem does not have to be perfect, and it fact, if it is you are doing something wrong because poetry takes time. One shouldn’t fret over perfection while starting to craft a piece. It may be a cliché, but try your best and you cannot go wrong.
- You don’t need to know exactly what you want to write, just start.
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The poem will tell you what it wants to say. The principle may be simple, but putting into practice takes some time. And if you are really stuck, I suggest picking an image or two to anchor your thoughts to, and maybe write some keywords you would like to start with, and from there you can springboard into putting words down, or better yet, sentences.
- Look around for inspiration
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It was Flannery O’Connor who said, “The writer should never be ashamed of staring. There is nothing that does not require his attention.” This quote stands out to me because it resonates with how I work as a writer. I observe the people and things around me for the humor, complexity, truth, loneliness, innocence, etc. in them, and I try to see what I can create with what I see in the world. For example, I was mindlessly peeling a clementine in the school’s library, and as I was about to discard of it in the trash, I became fixated on the peel. I can’t recall what it was about this aggressively orange, flat fruit carcass that appealed to me so much, but I was inspired to use this image as an anchor for my poem. Outside of the library, I keep a notes page open on my phone and laptop for writing ideas. You never know when inspiration will whack you over the head.
- Print out your story and revise it until you are teetering on the edge of wanting to rip your eyes out with that editing pen of yours.
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Sounds intense, I know, but hey, trying to write something “good” is painful and brutal, but at the same time, when the draft is complete, it truly is the best thing in the world. It is important to not become discouraged with the editing process. One session may be easier than the other, or one piece may be easier to edit than the other, but that is to be expected, and if you know it is going to happen, you will be better prepared to power through the more difficult editing sessions, knowing that in the end you will accomplish something worth the effort. And if it really gets difficult, try making the experience as pleasant as possible, such as being cozy, eating snacks, listening to music you like, or editing with your favorite pen.
- It is beneficial to take breaks and to come back to the page with a different perspective or perhaps focus.
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Taking a break from editing or writing is nothing to feel guilty about, and not to mention, the duration of said break could be short, long, strict, or flexible, whichever gives you the best result. During this break you could work on other projects, research new writing techniques, or read some books that you have been putting off. As I am sure you have heard many times, reading is one of the most effective ways to improve your writing, so read away!
- Write for yourself, and the audience will find you, so don’t try to find them.
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I believe I heard something like this in a creative writing class, and it stuck with me, so I want to share this piece of advice. Writing for yourself can help you gain confidence in your style and approach. It can also highlight your passions, and if your writing is passionate, it will show. If you are not interested in your story, why should anyone else be? If you do not care about it, chances are it will not come out right. So, you know what you know, and to write tailored towards someone else’s interests and knowledge, you lose your voice, a vital attribute to one’s writing style.
- Find a routine that works for you.
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Stephen King’s routine is insane to me. He writes every single day, which is not how I work, even though I wish it was, because I would get a lot more done, however, it is important to find what writing routine works for you. For me it’s spontaneous, not structured. I write when I get this sort of itching glow inside of my stomach that spits out snapping signals of curiosity into my brain, and my brain goes, “hey, I could write that, yea let’s give that a shot.” This usually happens at two or three in the morning when I can’t sleep, and I have found that I do my best work at night, or in the early morning. I believe it is because of the stillness around me which allows me to focus on the mess that is my creative mind. As I said, try to find a routine that works for you.
If you want to learn more about the craft of writing, I suggest you read On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King, it is a great source. Happy writing!
P.S. I haven’t quite finished the first draft of my poem Clementine, and hey, that’s okay!