Poetry

So You Want to Be a Poet, aye?

Congratulations! 

You have made the conscious decision to pursue your passion for poetry. You've probably gone through several poems yourself in your lifetime, got inspired, and now wish to test your pen in the dance that is called poetry. You felt the magic of creating themes and scenes in your head and wanted to phrase them in tiny lines and rhymes. The inner feeling to explore anything with your own words, or to feel the feelings of others in their point of view. Whether or not you desire to be as eccentric as Emily Dickinson or as macabre as Edgar Allen Poe; you need to find a unique style and pattern that works best for you. This article will enlighten you about all things that inspire, aid, and encourage an aspiring poet of any calibre. We are here to walk you through the basics and leave the rest to your wild imagination!


What is Poetry? 

Poetry can be seen as a form of literature that conjures up an imaginative awareness of experiences through a language selected and composed for its sound, meaning, and rhythm. It utilizes colourful aesthetics of the language to evoke strong imagery and mood that the poet expresses through properties such as symbolism, meter, and phonaesthetics. 

Getting started with anything can be quite daunting. Whether it's starting a career, a side gig, a brand, or poetry. There are so many rules and regulations in going about poetry over the past few years if you want your poems to be good. Unlike prose and drama, poetry is more lenient when it comes to these rules. While this is a cause for sighs of relief, there are some tricks needed to improve your poetry craft. 

A Perfect Starting Point for Beginners

This is a worthy site to start if you wish to not only begin your exciting journey as a poet but to also improve your skills as one. Manic Maiden is here to guide those of you who have the craving for poetry, but may not know how to approach writing one. These articles are beginner-friendly and they can assist anyone who wants to brush up on their writing. Now that we have that sorted, let's dive into the major points in starting and improving your poems. Make sure to get your notepads ready or a feather-pen and scroll to jot these following tips down!



The first thing you need to get straight is although there are 'rules and regulations' that standard poetry follows, remember that there isn't one right way to write a poem. "What makes you a poet is a gift for language, an ability to see into the heart of things, and an ability to deal with important unconscious material. When all these things come together, you’re a poet. But there isn’t one little gimmick that makes you a poet. There isn’t any formula for it." ~Erica Jong. 

Reading poems that you like can help you imagine what style you'd like to adopt as you begin your journey as a poet. I'm not telling you to read so and so several poems and hyper-fixate on their writing styles so you can compare and contrast them to your freshly fledged style. Reading poetry should not feel like a daunting task or homework your English teacher gave you in school last week. Even simply breezing through a few poems every once in a while can help you to absorb and subconsciously adapt to that one particular style that's right for you. Even when you're experiencing a creative 'block' reading some lighthearted poems is a sure banker way to have those writing juices flowing again!

Write from your heart. Read poems that move you, ones that inspire you. Emotions are things that connect us. Feeling angry? Write it down. Feel despondent? Write it down. Feeling ecstatic because your crush finally returned your feelings? Write that down. Everyone feels the same emotional outbursts as you do. That's what connects us as human beings. Have an imagery painted in your mind. What exactly are you feeling right now? Try to envision how you'd put these feelings into words and work your way from there. Remember, although poetry is more democratic and lenient, it should have a solid vision and structure. A good poem always has a good foundation first. Don't just dive in head first without preparing yourself for the fall.

Whenever you start any project, whether it's a tedious science project or in this case-- poetry, it is always wise to start off small and steady. Write a few free verse lines like a haiku that reflects a brief idea that can stand on its own or be apart of an even longer poem in the future. Quality over quantity. The most impactful writing pieces can be simple yet contain so much meaning and depth. Start slow and simple, pick a rhyming pattern, choose a theme, and let the art of expression take over you. Beginning a project is already half the battle as it is the hardest. Remember, you're writing to show your talent and not to reach a word count for an English essay. 

You want your readers to think deeply about the poems you are writing. Utilizing literary devices such as colorful imagery, flowing rhyming patterns, metaphors and similes, and personification of objects (among others) can go a long way to add some depth to your writing. Readers can even relate more and form their own interpretations from your poem by using these devices.

Stressing about 'the perfect poem' is a sure fire way to kill the joy of writing. Constantly checking for typos, grammar, fluidity, and other technicalities that come with writing makes it seem more like a chore than a fun hobby or passion. Write whatever your mind tells you to first, tweaking can come later. Your first draft is meant to put the idea forward so that you can perfect it later on. No one is born automatically being William Wordsworth, so you are bound to make a few errors here and there. Even the best poets of our time have multiple drafts stored in their notepads and computers.

Before (or even after) writing your first few lines, read them out loud. Do they make sense? Is the rhyming scheme accurate? Is there even a rhyming scheme to begin with? What are you going for? Are you going off topic? Does it flow well? Reading your poem back to yourself is an awesome way to see if you're using the right descriptions, if the mood is being displayed well, and if your choice of words are correct for the specific poem you are working on.

Writing colorful and fantastical poems from dreamy eyes can be tempting but experience is the best teacher. You can't write a poem about being a pirate setting off to sea if you've never stepped on a boat or ship before. You cannot accurately describe love if you've never experienced heartbreak. It's unfeeling and pretentious to write about things you do not know and believe me when I say readers can always tell when there is a disconnect within the lines. There is always a little piece of the writer in everything they write. It makes your work more real and personal. One truth is better than several lies when it comes to self expression, so always remember to share your truth with whatever you write.


The art of poetry is one of the most liberating and democratic ways of literature. Poets are given the opportunity to write whatever feelings and emotions they are currently experiencing without worrying about the various technicalities from that of prose and screenplay. Although it is more lenient, one should never completely disregard the rules and principles that come with the art such as the elements of poetry (which will be discussed in our next article!).

Partaining feedback and critism from fellow writers in your own niche is a good way to begin and nurture your craft as a poet as it gives you more room for growth and awareness. Reading new poems can spark motivation and influence your own style as well as appreciate the art of poetry even more. Reading your own poems can help you track what themes you're going for and the impact it may have on the reader. Writing with emotional depth and experience leaves the reader with more to work with and can form a connection from your poem to their own experiences and interpretations.

With this in mind, when abiding by this simple guide, you are on a steady pace to leaving the beginners' mindset and into your own lane of expertise.

Until next time,

-A