“Show, don’t tell” is a common piece of advice in creative writing, and it applies to poetry as well. By using sensory details and vivid descriptions, poets can create a more immersive experience for their readers, allowing them to feel and see what the poem is conveying.
Tips for crafting & editing poetry
Read Your Poem Aloud
Reading your poem aloud is an essential step in editing and crafting better poetry. When you read your poem out loud, you’re able to hear the rhythm and flow of your words, which can help you identify areas that need improvement.
Question Everything – Don’t Be Afraid To Challenge Conventions
The beauty of poetry lies in its ability to transcend boundaries and push against conventions. While there are certainly rules and traditions within the world of poetry, it’s important to remember that they are not set in stone. By questioning these conventions and exploring new forms, styles, and techniques, you can create work that is uniquely your own.
Play With Sound and Alliteration To Create Music in Your Poetry
Poetry is a musical art form, and using sound and alliteration can help create a sense of rhythm and melody in your work. Alliteration is a literary device used in poetry and prose where a series of words in a phrase or sentence begin with the same consonant sound. It is a technique of using repetition of consonant sounds to create emphasis, rhythm, and musicality in writing.
Observe the World Around You
Great poetry often draws on sensory details to create a sense of place and atmosphere. By using vivid and specific details that appeal to the senses (such as sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell), you can help your readers imagine the world of your poem. So, it’s important to keenly observe the world around you and use sensory details to bring it to life in your poems.
Never Settle For Your First Draft
Even the best writers know that their first drafts are rarely perfect. That’s why it’s important to revise and improve your poems over time, taking the time to refine and polish each line until it feels just right.
Master the Art of Enjambment To Create Rhythm and Flow
Mastering enjambment can help you create a sense of fluidity and movement in your poetry, and is a powerful tool for shaping the pace and rhythm of your work. For example, the poem “Between Walls” by William Carlos Williams consists of a single sentence divided into ten lines using enjambment.
Let Your Emotions and Experiences Inspire Your Writing
When you draw from your own emotions and experiences, you bring a unique perspective to your poetry. It allows you to explore complex themes and ideas in a way that is honest and genuine.
Keep Your Writing Process Flexible
While it’s helpful to have a routine or process for writing, it’s also important to be flexible and adaptable. Sometimes inspiration strikes at unexpected times or in unexpected ways, and being open to change can help you stay productive and creative.
Juxtapose Unexpected Ideas or Images for Added Impact
Juxtaposition is a literary device that involves placing two contrasting or unexpected things side by side in order to create a dramatic effect or make a point. By bringing together two contrasting ideas, images, or objects, the writer is able to emphasize their differences and create a sense of tension or surprise for the reader.