Writing Tips for New Poets

You want to start writing poetry, but aren't sure where to begin; or maybe you've been writing it for years and hiding it in your drawer. Here are some tips for improving it.

Realize the definition of poetry is not "lines of text that rhyme." People who have no appreciation for poetry, and occasionally people new to writing it, often think if they throw a few lines together that rhyme, that makes a poem. It is true poetry can rhyme, and some of the best poems do; but this does not mean everything that rhymes makes a good poem. (Some of the worst poetry rhymes as well.)

Read poetry. What would you think of someone who wanted to play classical music, but couldn't name even one classical composer or symphony? Those unfamiliar with poetry but who try to write it are like that. I can't tell how many times I've come across people boasting of their poetry who rarely read poetry. They just want to share their ramblings, and their writing is generally awful.

Read all kinds of poetry. New poets can make the mistake of reading only modern poetry or old classic verse. It is good to be familiar with as much poetry as you can, from free verse to the structured classic forms as well as more exotic types of poetry.

Get over yourself. Many are under the impression poetry is just a cheap form of self therapy. Yes, poetry can be therapeutic. If writing it makes you feel better, by all means do it. Poetry is an art form though, and to do it well you should treat it like any other serious craft. If you take a brush and begin to paint a canvas, that does not make you an artist. It may make you feel better expressing yourself, but to be a good painter requires talent, practice, and learning to produce a quality creation.

Show, don't tell. Use tangible imagery. Feelings and other unseen concepts do not usually make for good poetry. It is better to get an idea across by showing the reader rather than telling them. Rather than saying "He made her feel skeptical" say something like "she lifted her eyebrow at him."