How to Write Poetry

I wrote an interesting article for AC recently about how to write greeting card verses. I mentioned in the article that you don't have to know how to write poetry to successfully write these type of verses. Most companies aren't even looking for verses that rhyme. Instead, they want humorous words; or often, words for their greeting cards that come straight from the heart. So, even though I knew how to write poetry, that didn't help a lot when it came to writing greeting card verses.

Your poetry will probably be inspired from things that tickle your funny bone. You'll also feel a need to write about things that warm your heart, break your heart, and make you reflect on life. What is poetry written about? Everything a human mind can think of. There is no right or wrong subject to write on. You'll learn how to write poetry as soon as you can put your thoughts into words. Not just any words, though. Your words have to convey what you're thinking or feeling to the readers of your poem.

Whether you use a computer or a pen and paper to write poetry with, you're probably going to be freaked by the blank white page (or screen) in front of you. Most beginning poets are. You know what you want to tell your readers, but how do you put it into words?

Once you learn how to write poetry, the words will come to you. For the most part, you will develop your own writing style. And, just like writers of books, you'll figure out how to start every poem. That is, you'll find out what works the best for you.

Some poets learn how to write poetry by writing down bits and phrases that come to their mind. They keep going until they have finished their thought, idea, or message. Then, they go back and reread their rough draft of poetry to put it into attractive, readable verses.

Other poets prefer to plan their entire poem in advance. They decide the subject matter, what each verse will say, and then put it all together.