Five Key Practices for Poetic Growth

Many people write poetry. It requires no license, no education, no experience. All you need to get started is a pen and some paper. But there’s a big difference between poetry and good poetry.

There are an unlimited number of opinions about poetry writing, especially when one’s own approach to the craft is in question. Some people write for the simple pleasure of self expression, others do so with a clear goal in mind: getting published. Many fall in between, writing for the joy of it, but with a desire to continually improve their work.

Here are five key elements of poetry writing, which, if taken seriously and practiced regularly, will help to improve a writer’s poetry:

1. Read Poetry. In order to grow as a writer, and especially as a poet, it’s imperative to familiarize yourself with the canon of works that have already proven to resonate with readers. By seeking out established poets whose work you admire, you will build a roster of mentors. Try reading aloud. Keep a notebook or journal in which you can write your thoughts and responses to various works, and jot down your favorite excerpts.
2. Write Regularly and Let Yourself Be Bad. Writing regularly almost goes without saying. However, many beginning poets have a tendency to take up the pen only when the mood strikes. By engaging your muse on a daily basis, the very practice of writing will become habitual and ingrained as part of the routine that is your life. Allowing yourself a large margin for writing poorly or below your own standards will give you a freedom in your writing and room to explore.
3. Study. There are many books available that explain poetry and will explore terms and definitions such as alliteration, iambic pentameter, and trochee. Such books will provide detailed analyses and provide means for new ways to read, as well as write poetry. To get started, look for A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver or try The Practice of Poetry by Robin Behn and Chase Twichell.
4. Exercises. It’s easy to sit down and just write a poem. Writing exercises present challenges and provide new ways of tackling the task. I have done many writing exercises that not only helped produce some of my favorite pieces, but also taught me how to approach writing poetry in an innovative and more imaginative manner.
5. Revise. Revising your work goes hand in hand with allowing yourself to write bad material. You can always go back and make changes. I have actually heard people say that once they write a poem, that’s it. They believe the art is in the original creation and it should never be altered in any way. While this is certainly one way of looking at poetry as art, there is another philosophy that believes revision is necessary for creative freedom. In knowing that you can go back and make changes later, you will give yourself more liberty in your initial writing, opening creative channels to greater possibilities.

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