Writing poetry sounds simple. You take your basic haiku or free verse and write meaningful or edgy stuff. But it is a lot more complicated than that. There are certain styles of poems that have rules or guidelines to abide by. Everyone can write poetry, but sometimes when you first start writing, it might not turn out how you imagined. So, this is a guide to how to write ‘bad’ poetry because everything starts as ‘not good’ before it becomes ‘good.’
Laugh Along the Way
Before you continue to read, remember that you are still learning about poetry. No one writes like Edgar Allan Poe or Emily Dickinson on their first try. Not everyone is good at new things. So please be kind to yourself while writing and laugh at the result. It is good to laugh at your work but think critically about it. Edit your work and fix the errors as you go. Unless you need to start over, there is no shame in that. No one is perfect at writing poetry the first time!
Too Many Styles
Before you write, consider what type of poem you are writing. Some poem styles use different literary devices to tell a story. The most notorious types are haikus, free verses, sonnets, limericks, and ballads. All poems describe stories, ideas, or comments on aspects of life.
However, there are other types. An example is a villanelle poem (an older French style) and an acrostic poem. But writing in these styles is a challenge. All poem styles have rules, and each type has different rules for that poem (except for free verse). A poet has to apply rules based on which technique they are using. These methods make verses complicated but fun to write.
It’s Poetry, Not Rocket Science!
After deciding on what style of poem to write, look at its rules and see what makes it that poem. The methods of poems often deal with how many stanzas or sets of line groups are in the poem. Some poems also include special rhyme schemes like the sonnet. It has two rhyme schemes depending on which style you use. Italian sonnets follow an ABBA ABBA CDE CDE rhyme scheme. But its English counterpart follows an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG scheme. These schemes rhyme the corresponding lines together and have a unique syllable count.
However, do not let these rules or styles discourage or intimidate you from writing a poem like this. It may take a while for a complicated poem to form, but the more you practice writing, the easier it gets. Sonnets are only one type of poem with rules, and there are plenty more to experiment with!
There are different ways to write a poem, and when you learn the rules, you get to break them! Knowing the rules and how poems work will take your poetry to the next level. However, writing poetry is fun. It helps writers develop new skills and enhances their writing style. So, start writing your idea, even if it is ‘bad!’
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