Tips to Improve Your Poetry: Let the Words Flow Through You

May 7th, 2024 10:00 am | by Blog Contributor Posted in Poetry

If you’ve ever thought about writing poetry, then you’re going to need some helpful tips to improve your process of writing poetry, regardless of type.

It’s astonishing that the majority of people have never taken the time to write some poems. This is despite the fact that even though they have spent their entire lives writing stories, cards, and school papers. It’s honestly saddening to think that there are not a lot of us who study how to read poetry more effectively and write poems just for the love of it.

Writing family-friendly poetry for gatherings takes some time and thought into it, which might explain why many individuals don’t bother. But if you’re one of us who love poetry; if you’re one of us who loves to watch letters play hopscotch on the smooth surface of a paper; if you’re one of us who love listening to words tickle our eardrums and find a home in our heart, then these tips are for you.

Tip #1: Show, Not Tell: Use Imagery When Writing Family-Friendly Poetry

Whether you use one image at the start or finish of the poem or several throughout, make an effort to incorporate visual art to captivate readers and make your words come to life.

Tip #2: To Edit Is Divine: Read and Revise as Needed

Even though you didn’t heed it at that moment, your English teacher back in high school provided you with some excellent advice. Write for as long as you feel your work is perfect, then give it a night or two’s rest. Reread it after a minimum of one full day and make any necessary edits using new eyes. You will sometimes be amazed at what new thoughts come to you during an editing process. Until you are certain that this is your finest work, keep editing.

Tip #3: Know the Goal: Define What Your Poem Is Aiming For With Clarity

After reading your poetry, what impression do you hope to leave on readers? Which would you rather discuss: nature’s beauty or the current state of affairs? Are you hoping to evoke shock, happiness, sadness, anger, or love? Prior to starting to write, try to have a response to these questions. A great key thought is to go with the flow and write come what may.

Learning some tips to improve your poetry will help you embed the message you want to deliver better. You might be aiming to write some family-friendly poetry for gatherings that’ll leave everyone amazed. If you wish to write a poem with impact, you need to know how to write good poetry, and these tips will help.

Tip #4: Rhyme Schemes Aren’t Needed: Poems Don’t Have to Rhyme

Poets, or would be poets, all too frequently have the misconception that a poem cannot be considered a poem unless there are rhymes and rhyme schemes. As a matter of fact, not all poems rhyme. Ensure that you are aware of your subject and audience and employ rhymes only in small doses.

Here’s an example from one of Brion K. Hanks’s poems:

Tip #5: Avoid Cliches: Don’t Utilize Common Subjects or Quotes

Even though it could seem like everyone has already written about anything, make a conscious effort to write creatively when you write.

Tip #6: Keep the Them in Mind: Them Is Valuable Uplifting Poems About Family

Recognize the distinction between a topic and a theme. The topic might be a particular war, but it’s not the theme. One theme may be the affects of war on service members or the conflict humanity faces between the yearning for peace and violence. Your poem title should give a clue as to what the poem is about and is reinforced when those words are used in the body of your poem.

Tip #7: Utilize Similes and Metaphors: Embrace These Literary Devices

Now, we know that we said to avoid cliches, but you don’t have to refrain from utilizing metaphors altogether just because you shouldn’t be corny. Keep in mind that using metaphors for comparison and inference can greatly improve your writing. Alliteration, as sound repetition, can be helpful with the flow of your poem.

Tip #8: Concrete Over Abstract: Use Tangible, Observable, and Measurable

It’s probably not something to celebrate if someone reads your poetry all the way through and doesn’t know what they just read. Express your points succinctly and clearly. Utilizing too many abstract terms or overcomplicating their poetry is one of the poets’ most frequent errors. Having said that, never be afraid to first get your thoughts on paper. Editing brings you closer to perfecting each poem you write.

We Hope These Tips to Improve Your Poetry Makes You Love the Art More

Now that you know some tips to improve your poems, writing family-friendly poetry for gatherings will be more enjoyable. If you need more inspiration from other poets, check out Brion K. Hanks’s poems. www.BrionKHanks-Poetry.com.

Grab a copy of “When The Rose Fades” today and enjoy the beautiful poems penned within every page of the book. As well, don’t forget to check out his second poem book, “Tales of a Traveler in Poetry and Prose“.