How to Write a Poem - A Step by Step Beginners Guide

What do you want to write about?

Do you have a creative idea but need some guidance on how to put it all together? Have no fear; we’ve got your back!

This blog post is for those who are looking for an easy and effective way to come up with a creative poem. We will start by going over the process of how to write a poem and then go into detail on each step.

Writing a poem for the first time can be hard. It might seem scary to put down your thoughts on paper. But do not give up! Instead, you should read this blog and learn how to write a poem like an expert.

If at any point you don't understand something or feel like this isn't for you, just skip ahead and read the last paragraph. If not, keep reading!

Your first order with us is FREE!

Order Now

What is a Poem?

A poem is a way of expressing your thoughts and feelings. It can be about anything you want, but it has to have imagery so the reader can see your thoughts. It should also be written in different styles, like meters or metaphors.

The main purpose of a poem is to tell you what the author feels. They paint an idea or feeling with beautiful language. Thus, the reader will feel what the author is saying, and they can be engaged with powerful words.

Poems can be written in different ways. For example, they can be lines that rhyme or sentences that go together. Aristotle said there are three types of poems:

• Comedy - Comedy tries to make people laugh by showing something funny.
• Tragedy - Tragedy makes people sad and wants them to feel more sadness by using certain things like the effects of the story on people.
• Epic - Epic poems tell a story and use an epic form of writing (slightly different from tragedy).

Moreover, poems are a type of art that can give you new perspectives on life.

Elements of a Poem

Following are the elements of a poem. Have a look at them:

Your first order with us is FREE!

Order Now

Types of Poem

Following are the major 15 types of poems. To know how to write a poem for beginners, you must be familiar with all these types. Let’s explore them in detail:

1. Blank verse - It is different from other poetry because it doesn't rhyme. It has a precise meter and usually uses iambic pentameter.
2. Rhyming Poem - In a rhymed poem, the poet puts words together that sound the same at the end of sentences or verses.
3. Free verse poem - It has a different pattern for each word. It does not have a consistent rhyme scheme, metrical pattern, or musical form.
4. Epic poem - It is a long poem. These poems tell about great adventures and special things that happened to people in the past. They usually take a lot of time to read.
5. Narrative poem - It is when someone tells a story. Two famous narrative poems are "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" and "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."
6. Haiku - It is a short poem that has three lines. It originated in Japan. The first line has five syllables, and the second and third lines have 7 syllables each.
7. Pastoral poem - It is about nature, rural life, and landscapes. Poems like this have been around for a long time in Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and today.
8. Sonnet - It is a poem with 14 lines. It is about love, and it has internal rhymes. The rhyme and meter scheme depends on the style of the sonnet.
9. Elegy - It is a poem about death or loss. It is traditional to have themes of reflection, loss, and mourning. However, it also includes themes of redemption and consolation.
10. Ode - It is a tribute to someone. Like an elegy, the person does not have to be dead. But they must be something more than an inanimate object, like John Keats’s “Ode on a Grecian Urn.
11. Limerick - It has five lines and an AABBA rhyming scheme. The poem talks about a short story or description that is funny.
12. Lyric - It is when someone speaks to him or herself. This can happen in books, plays, and other things. They are the most famous in the plays of William Shakespeare.
13. Ballad - It is a type of poetry or song. It has four lines that rhyme with one another. Poets like John Keats, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Bob Dylan all wrote them. They are melodious stories.
14. Soliloquy - It is when someone speaks to him or herself. This can happen in books, plays, and other things. They are the most famous in the plays of William Shakespeare.
15. Villanelle - It is a type of poem. It's about 19 lines. This poem has 5 tercets and 1 quatrain. It also has a very specific rhyme scheme, which makes it different from other poems.

How to Write a Poem?

Do you want to write a poem? If so, and you're not sure how to start, we can help. Follow the steps below to write a poem like professionals:

1. Go Brainstorm

   Don't think of your poem as an ordered list. Pick a starting point, like a line or phrase. It can be something you want to work into your poem. You might pick something specific, like the curl of your daughter's hair or the feeling you want to describe in your poem.

   Or it might be something more general, like memories that keep coming back to you over and over again.

2. Free Writing Prose

   First, you need to think about what your poem is going to be about. Think about the theme. You can write anything you want about this theme. You can write in paragraphs, dash off bullets, or even sketch out a mind map.

   The purpose of this exercise is not just to generate a plan for your poem but also to generate a lot of material that can then be used as inspiration for writing your poem.

3. Choose Form of Poem

   Once your free-write is finished, you should look at it. You probably have a mess of ideas that are not in order or well put together, but that's okay. Somewhere inside, there is a poem.

   The next step is to take all the concrete words and figure out what shape they will be arranged in when you finally write the poem down on paper.

4. Read other Poems for Inspiration

   Poems are different from other types of books. You don't need to read a lot of research for poems. But it does help to read some books that are related to your poem's subject before you start writing.

   For example, if you are writing about a relationship between mother and daughter, then you want to read poems about relationships between people who are jealous of each other.

5. Start Writing for Yourself

   After you put your idea out there, it is time to start writing. But creative writing can sometimes make you feel anxious. To keep the anxiety at bay, we suggest that poets write for themselves and not for other people.

   You might want to polish your poetry if you are going to publish it. You can read this list of magazines that are accepting submissions. When you write, make sure to keep in mind that your first draft is meant to be what you see.

6. Give Your Poem a Read

   A good poem has to be fascinating. Not all poems need to be sung or pretty. Instead, a poem should come alive on the page when it is read aloud, and you can hear the rhythm of the words. To do this, first, read your poem one line at a time and then read it as a whole text.

   Reading poems out loud can help with choosing between synonyms. It is interesting to notice the differences in sound and meaning between words like "glacier", "icy", and "cold".

   Reading out loud also helps you troubleshoot line breaks that don't feel right. If a line is too long, then it might feel awkward or confusing. You could make a choice on whether to keep the line or change it to make it more comfortable for the reader.

7. Take Break to Refresh Yourself

   Congratulations! You have written a poem. It might not be perfect yet, but you should be proud. Now, put it away and come back to it later.

   You need time to work on other things and think about what you want to change or fix with your poem. Then, when you come back to it refreshed, revise the poem again so that it is better than before.

8. Revise Your Poem Again

   When you read a poem, it might look shorter than what you usually write. Poems can take a long time to become what they are. They change and grow. The most important thing is to find a place where you can be with yourself and listen to your thoughts.

   While revising a poem, you should look for the following things:

   1. Hunt for cliches that you use. Did you find yourself reaching for an idiom? Go back to the feeling and try to think of a better word.
   2. See if your poem starts where it should. Is it difficult to find the beginning? Try starting further down in your poem.
   3. Make sure that every line is important. If you read each line, think about how it helps to make the poem as a whole better. The lines should help with the theme, imagery, and expectations of the reader. If you think that a line does not do those things, then it should be cut from the poem.

How to Write a Poem - Example

You know all the basic things needed to craft a poem, from its meaning to form of poetry. For further guidance, here is line by line written samples of different types of poems:

Your first order with us is FREE!

Order Now

Tips to Write an Impressive Poem

It is okay if your poem isn't perfect. Keep in mind as you write what might make it better or worse so that it is more likely to be something you are proud of.

Have a look at the tips below if you want a poetic form of your writing:

• Poems are great because they give readers a feeling. You must add your feelings while writing.
• Clichés are sayings that have been said too much, like “busy as a bee.”
• Use imagery in poems. This is when you write with words that appeal to the senses, like colors, sounds, shapes, and smells. Metaphors compare two things but don't use "like" or "as."

A poem is a short piece of writing, usually rhyming. It can be about any subject or topic, and there are no hard-and-fast rules on how to write one. The most important thing in the process of creating your own poetry is that you have fun with it!

If this has sparked an interest in starting to create your own verse - give it a shot!

We’ve made available some free resources, including free poetic samples, so you can start crafting verses today.

And if you feel any assistance, give CollegeEssay.org a call today! We want your poem to sound well in academics, whether you need it at beginner or high school.