Lessons Learnt By A New Poet

So something sparked your interest into poetry…

Do you want to send a message across? Is there something in your heart that you want people to hear so badly? What is the impetus that compels you to write?

These are some of the questions you must ask yourself. Having a clear vision and purpose in writing your poem and knowing to whom you are addressing your poem to, is the true essence of writing. So start writing with a purpose.

Let me share with you, what I have learned throughout this whole journey. 

Words liberate you.

Perhaps you need an outlet to express what is lying deep inside your heart? Sometimes we need to vent our feelings when we experience extreme emotion. These will be the tools for us to create such beautiful piece of work and the best will most probably be in the form of poetry.

It is also therapeutic. Writing poetry is an opportunity for you to understand yourself even more, for I believe your writing reveals a part of who you are. People are not always going to understand you, but once you show your innermost feelings through words a part of you is also being revealed for the world to see. Be courageous and have the audacity to let others see through you. Share a part of your soul to the world.

We relate and connect.

We tell stories about real situations. It can be about our lives, our country, about war, about the people, about love and hate, happiness and pain, and many other things. This is one indication that we pay attention to the world and we cannot but share and express. We are communicative-beings. Communication is innate in us humans, and we just happen to have a creative way of expressing language through communication, and that is through Poetry - the art of expressing one’s thoughts, feelings and ideas in the form of writing.

I am proud to say that I have much more to learn. That’s why it is with great effort that I study on these matters pertaining to writing, especially poetry. How you put together ideas and thoughts in poetry are no different from any other form of writing, may it be an essay or a narrative.

There are various ways on how to structure a plot for your poem. So I picked up a few notes from different materials that helped me in composing some of my poems. Here are some of the things I’ve learned on my storytelling adventure, and I hope they can be of some use to you…

Observe.

Maybe you were that curious and pensive student, who has preoccupied thoughts during class discussions; who always sits near the window just to have a clear view of the overlooking beauty seen outside the four walls. Be keen in observing the world and the creation. We might not easily perceive what is happening, so you have to look closer and deeper.

Observing your surroundings and nature may also serve as an inspiration for your next theme. Then you will know when to start another piece that will surely make it a valuable read. You might want to keep a notebook in your bag; a thought provoking phrase may hit you at any time.

A poem with a purpose.

Make sure you know the goal of your poem and the aims you’re trying to accomplish along with it. This will serve as your theme. A poem without a purpose is a dead piece of writing. Write what you mean and mean what you say, or everything else will be in vain.

Free-write.

Writing anything that comes to mind non-stop is called free-writing. Do something to jump-start your writing muscles. Some people call this part of the process “prewriting”. Don’t mind about the grammar; you’ll deal with the editing later.   

Explore new styles.

It wouldn’t kill you to step out of your comfort zone, so why not try other genres for a change? In that way, you would be more flexible. Variation makes the dish more delicious. You can explore new forms and styles to avoid making your craft sound too trite. Then, if you have already mastered the different types of poetry, you can now be more equipped to make your own contemporary piece, even combining those varied types into one poem. Subvert the ordinary; it’s more fun that way!

Stop and leave it.

Creative blocks are inevitable and it’s a pain when these pesky little critters start to pester with your imagination. But just think of it this way, it can also be your time to find new inspiration. You’ll know when these blocks will occur. Whenever you have the feeling that your writing is beginning to sound a bit stale already, then that’s a sign for you to stop and take a breather. We all get tired and our mind needs time to rest. So this could be the moment where you take a break and relax. Enjoy the tranquility of solitary introspection. Go out for some air. Go to the beach, or to the city, eat, watch movies, news or go shopping perhaps. Utilize the time to search for another precious theme and figure out how to tread the path of moving onwards to your new chapter.

Read other materials.

Have time to read other people’s work – it’s already a lot easier for you to do this since you happen to be reading this on a platform that already has thousands and thousands of storytellers. More importantly, you have to know what’s going on in the world outside of your imagination. Storytellers are some of the most inspiring bunch! And even seasoned writers research. Use your free time to read new materials. Reading various poems from other writers is a great help. Maybe you’ll come across a poem that will inspire you to write your next piece. Maybe you’ll even come up with a new style and form by trying a new rhyme scheme. Read other works and study them. Readers love it fresh and raw. That will be your edge that defines you and distinguishes you from other writers.

Revise, edit, repeat.

Go back to your writing once more and check. If reading it feels awkward, then that will be the perfect time to edit your work! Just remember— there is always room for improvement!

Words can either build up the human spirit or break it.

Since I started writing, I learned to have a voice. Having a voice made me realize that you could also touch hearts and make a difference. Having a voice makes you stronger and enables you to empower other people as well. It can either bring destruction, or edification.

So you, as a writer can inspire thousands of people through your writing and encourage others to have their own voice; to let their voice be heard. Who knows what you can do? Who knows what you can achieve?

Figure out the answers to those questions. Because it is your turn. Write here, writenow you have the chance to let your voice be heard.

Conquer your fears

I know it is daunting but you must conquer the fear of criticism and rejection. This is vital into becoming a great writer. We tend to be enthusiastic but afraid of showing our creative work for the world to see. Take a risk, and publish your work.

Creatives fail, and the really good ones fail often.” (Steven Kotler)

“TheCreatives” remind us of how beautiful the world is, how wonderful people could be, and how extraordinary is the journey of life. So just write what you want. If your words come from your heart then I’m sure your poem will turn out to be a really beautiful piece of writing.   

Write attitude in writing

Your attitude as a writer will affect your writing a lot. Spend time on introspection. Let others tell you what they think of your work. Even if it hurts, and no matter what their intentions are, the people who criticize could be making a point that you haven’t thought of yet. If you try to see it in a new light, then you will have a more profound understanding of who you are as a storyteller.

There will always be someone who won’t accept the uniqueness of your art. Even Vincent Van Gogh wasn’t accepted in the society during his time. But my point is, there will always be people like that but it’s up to you if you’re going to let them bring you down or use them to your advantage. If they criticize your work – learn to accept it, learn to deal with it. This will be essential in your maturity as a writer. Be committed and persevere. Keep on writing! Bad writers quit. Good writers keep going.

The mark that we leave behind will be our legacy, and I do hope you will be one of those writers who will write with a purpose.

The aim of writing poetry is no different from any other artistic craft. It is simply a form of self-expression. I believe your writing is at its best when you are able to pour out your heart with full honesty, leaving you bare. These words are the purest and most genuine words that have been lingering inside your mind.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” (Maya Angelou)

We all have something to say. We are all meant for greatness… only if we can learn to leave our fears behind. Enjoy the fall. That’s the exciting part of life. Be courageous enough to charge towering cyclones and use them as your wings to fly even higher. Where is the fun in life, when all you do is hide behind the canopy of leaves in the forest? Be an eagle, for eagles fly with eagles.

There are three types of people:

The ones who observe.

The ones who participate.

The ones who create.

So which one are you?

Start writing now, and show the community.