Poetry is an expressive outlet allowing one to creatively form feelings, thoughts and emotions into words on a page. One great thing about poetry is that there is no right way to do it. Poetry is free form and doesn’t even have to rhyme, but this article will focus on how to write rhyming poetry at a beginner level. Anyone with a mind and the ability to write can create poetry. Some are born with natural talent to write poetry while others learn the skill along the way. Although creative writing classes are helpful, they are not required for poetry.
Format the Poem
The first step in how to write poetry is to decide what form the poem will be written in. Some poets write in stanzas with each one containing four lines and the second and fourth lines usually rhyme. Another way to format a poem would be to write two line stanzas that rhyme. Shakespeare often wrote sonnets, which consist of fourteen lines that contain three four line stanzas and a couplet at the end. This type of sonnet is referred to as the Shakespearian Sonnet according to sonnets.org. For beginners, writing in stanzas of four lines with the second and fourth lines rhyming is pretty basic and simple. An example of this would be:
“I wake up in the morning
To another beautiful day
When I look to see you sleeping
You take my breath away.”
Develop Content
The next step involves developing the content. Poems can be written about feelings like love, anger, joy, or sorrow, or they can be written about objects like nature, people, or places. Once a topic is chosen, a good technique is to brainstorm ideas related to the topic by jotting down anything that comes to mind. For example, if the topic was love, ideas that might come to mind include, marriage, couples, family, friends, hugs, kisses, or a wedding. Other than writing down ideas related to the topic, the writer can also jot down rhyming words related to the ideas they wrote down. A natural writer will usually be able to bypass this step because the content will come naturally, but those who are learning the art of poetry may need to brainstorm before they write until they become more skilled.
Write It Down
Once the brainstorming process is completed and the poet has decided on what to write about, it is time for the writing process to begin. The best way to do this is to dive right in and see where the words take you. Remember, anything you write down can always be changed, deleted, or added to if it doesn’t seem to be fitting well within the poem.
Poetry is a unique way to be expressive, and there are endless possibilities when writing poetry. By following these guidelines and practicing your writing skills often, you can be a better poet in no time; maybe even become the next Shakespeare!
Sources
poetry-online.org
sonnets.org
Sarah Smith - Sarah is a freelance writer and current graduate student. She enjoys writing about various topics including travel, beauty, and ...
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