Writing a Poem: Basic Tips
- Make it sound good. While composing a poem, remember that it is to be recited in front of an audience, so it is extremely important to make sure that it does not only rhyme well and has a proper use of language, but also sounds really good. Thus, the best tip that will definitely help writing a poem to you is to focus on the words’ aesthetics rather than their meaning.
- Try different linguistic techniques. Poetry is about playing with words and stepping away from the formal structures that are used in everyday language. A poet is the one who searches for the new ways to talk about the old notions. In order to make your poem impressive and engaging, try finding some original epithets and comparisons or changing the sentences’ structures to make them sound fresh.
- Avoid clichés. Your purpose is to select the most elegant words and phrases for your poem, and create the new combinations of words and notions that will impress the readers. If you stick to the forms that have been used too many times, you risk sounding boring.
- Revise until you are satisfied. It may seem that great poems are written from the first attempt, but in reality, a poet has to rearrange his or her work several times before the final version is ready. Do not be afraid to throw out some parts and change a few things if you are not entirely happy with what you have written.