The A-B-Cs Of Spoken Word Po-et-ry

If there’s one thing I love about writing, it's that it is enabling; it reaches the different parts of the horizon. It gives you the power to write about anything. You can write about how happy you are when you saw him looking at you, or you can write about your midnight blues. It is like fire. Burning. Tremendous. Incessant.

I love almost everything about writing but like any other thing, we all have our own favorites. For me, my favorite things to write are poems. Especially spoken word poems and sometimes, thought pieces.

It isn't easy to write a spoken word piece because it must meet certain criteria before it may be called a spoken word poem. Poems like of those Edgar Allan Poe’s and Langley’s are far from being spoken word. Because essentially, spoken word is not just written on paper but also recited in a particular manner. It is the kind of poem wherein you perform it to an audience. Typically, it uses figures of speech especially metaphors, personification and hyperbole. Remember, a spoken word poem is not spoken word without the use of these figures of speech.
Now, let me share how I write my spoken word pieces and the process involved.

First, choose your topic. Of course, you can't write if you don’t have your topic. Knowing your own craft contributes to choosing what to write about. It is about recognizing your skill with subjects; do you love writing about heartbreaks, about your midnight thoughts, or about certain people?
But it takes a lot of time to really know your craft because it is only through writing that you may discover more of your skill. So basically, you have to write a lot before knowing your forte.
In case you are just starting out, write about something you feel in depth for or maybe something you are experiencing right now. It is easier to put into words the feelings that you are currently experiencing. Writers get more creative when they can play with words and sometimes, our emotions help us do just that.

Second, look to associate. For example, this line from my piece Entity, "An entity is sometimes a beast, a familiar ghost in your past, a creature living inside a tree but sometimes it’s a person who barely exists".
Here, we associate an entity with a beast, a ghost and a person. Using this creates a layered, creative way of describing a certain person, feeling or emotion, or a thing. This is easier than using figures of speech like metaphors and it gives that sprinkle of creativity that the readers would enjoy to see while they read.
Another method is by using facts or statistics. For example, “The average pair of human lungs can only hold 6 liters of air in a single breath. I guess I wasn’t part of the average human ratio. for when the first time I saw you, I inhaled the reckoning scent found in the air that my lungs could take, including your own breath”. It is fun when you associate a fact or a statistic with your way of delivering your idea. It makes it more creative and hence, is more enjoyable to read.

Third, think of a catchy opening line. It is important that the beginning of your poem makes a lasting impression. Make your first sentence a reason for your audience hold onto their seats, jaws on the floor. If you could lure them in with the first few sentences, you’ll find more eyes and ears focused on you.
There are different ways on how to start your poem. Most common is by using your own title. For example my piece To The Next Woman He Will Love, I started that piece with the line, “To you, the next woman he will love".
Another way is to give clues to excite your audience. The more intriguing your piece is, the more you enthrall the crowd, and the more attentive they are. An example of this are these lines from my piece, The Girl You Never Noticed. “She's this girl who loved you without question. The girl who liked to watch you from afar. A thief. She likes to steal stares from you and when you turn to her, she instantly swerves away. She doesn't like to be found out. She's a thing in a mystery box you are afraid to open".
You see, it makes the readers wonder about who the girl is and why is she described this way? Remember, the more questions the readers infer, the better; now, they're curious to know the whole piece, to finish it, to find the answers to their questions.

Fourth, use figures of speech. This is the heart of a spoken word poem- elevated language. Basically, a spoken word poem should consist of figures of speech; most commonly used are metaphors, hyperbole, and personification.
Some examples are:
- “Her mind is complex and in her blood runs spontaneity, she is basically made of fiery…”
- “She's a ticking time bomb…”
- “And maybe that's where she belongs- from afar. Because like stars, she shines bright even she's a million light years away. She's not easy to reach but she burns bright. She's the light that will guide you home...”
- “An entity is sometimes a beast, a familiar ghost in your past, a creature living inside a tree but sometimes it's a person who barely exists…”
- “The kind of love as powerful as a prayer. It can be a shield in any harm in just an utter…”

Your piece should revolve around the use of these figures of speech because that’s what makes it a spoken word poem.

Fifth, make use of your thesaurus. Don't be afraid to use complex words. Instead of using a simple, everyday word like "deep", use "unfathomable" or "prevailing". Use "powerful or "vivid" rather than using plain old "bright". A thesaurus is a big help in writing. Using the appropriate words makes your poetry more efficient.

Sixth, use facts, statistics or research. If you want a lil' extra creativity, this tip is useful. It gives that intellectual approach that appeals to the readers. Plus, readers enjoy reading facts in the middle of the piece; it gives additional knowledge and delight in knowing a certain fact. An example of this is the following: “There are 206 bones in the human anatomy. Eighty in the axial skeleton, hundred twenty six in the appendicular. But it only took 26 bones to walk away from me- you lost me.”

Seventh, develop a way of writing. You can use multiple words and repeat them throughout the piece. This is what I frequently use. In the beginning it will be hard for you to have your own technique of writing. But as I said earlier, it takes a lot of time to know your craft. Reading other people’s work or watching another spoken word poet’s performances could help big time because you could learn something from how they do it. It is okay to mimic their way of doing it for, as time goes by, you’ll eventually develop your own strategy on how to write.

Eighth, note your tone or mood. In writing a spoken word poem, you can actually play with your mood or tone. Fluctuations are normal. You can start your poem with your persona, feeling hopeless and still end positively. You can also try being ecstatic at first then transition into being sarcastic and end it with strong aversion. Or you might put a different tone in the middle of your poem blending with your desired mood at the beginning and at the end. It depends on you. Make your words a roller coaster of emotions. This is how you’ll reach the hearts of your readers.

Ninth, proofread. I think we are all very familiar with this step. No one writer wants a festivity of grammar Nazis preying on their work. Check for possible grammar errors, change some words or verses that you think could be phrased more effectively. Always proofread your work. It helps you notice the things that should be removed or added.

Lastly, a spoken word poem isn’t a spoken word unless you perform it. Practice on how you deliver it; talking at the mirror is a big help in developing your skill in delivering a speech. But in case you aren't comfortable with public speaking yet or perhaps you are unready to perform to a crowd, you can always use the alternative way to utilize your piece. That is to publish it; you can post it on social media sites or better yet, here on Launchora.

Being a spoken word artist isn't simply about waxing poetic, or just about writing and performing. It has been my life saver. Writing saved me from the monsters in my head. I wouldn’t be able to write all of this if I didn’t embrace the skeletons in my closet and unleashed them the moment they got under my skin.
It made me a better person. Someone who could use words to tell how she feels, how she wants to communicate, how she lives. Every time my melancholia says hi, I turn to writing because that how I drive them away. Performing in front of other people has helped me grow as a person. It made me more confident and taught me to believe in myself.
So for those who are bothered by the shadows, by the entities around, by the monsters in their head, and by the beast hidden underneath themselves, I hope you find your way back to the light. I hope you end up on the stage with the spotlight focused on you. I hope you get tired of clinging to the limelight because you deserve to be in the center and not on the sidelines.
For when you feel like you are on the verge of drowning, I hope you find something to hold on to something that can save you from feeling too much. Always remember, you can use words to express how you feel. You can fearlessly try writing or performing. Discover the vastness of this enigmatic art.

Your spoken word journey begins here. Now all you have to do is start writing your story. And when you’re ready, try out for Listen.