Write a poem that uses exactly the same number of characters on every line

Editing a poem is in many ways like editing any other work of writing. The central goal is to eliminate any errors you have made, to improve on words and passages that aren’t quite as good as they could be, and to work to make the poem hold together as a single unit. You would follow much the same process with an essay or a short story. It is the differences though, that matter. Here are some things to look for when you are editing a poem.

• If your intention was to use a particular meter, how well did you manage to carry out that meter? Sometimes you have to read through a poem several times before you pick up on minor mistakes. You may also want to give some thought to other people’s accents or speech patterns.
• How does the poem look on the page? When using a consistent meter, lines generally turn out to be about the same length. If you aren’t using meter, however, line length can vary widely. There’s no rule against this, but make sure any drastic variations are intentional and not unintentional.  Random line or stanza lengths can make a poem feel scattered and disjointed. There may be cases in which this is your goal, but be sure that this is something you are doing on purpose and to achieve a particular effect.
• Examine your word choices. Avoiding clichés and tired phrases can be difficult. Ask yourself whether or not the images, descriptions and statements feel fresh and original. Try to eliminate stock phrases or vague descriptions. Eliminate any words that seem outdated or overly formal. Are the words in your poem the same words you would use in a normal conversation?
• Read the poem aloud. Sometimes writing can look good on the page but be very difficult to read aloud. Some word combinations just don’t flow off of the tongue very well, and until you hear it, it can be difficult to catch those problems.
• Look for overly explanatory passages. It is easy to fall into the trap of explaining or preaching to your reader rather letting them come to their own conclusions. Those passages can seem heavy handed and should be eliminated whenever possible.
• Is there any part of the poem that could be cut? There are generally two areas in which you can cut. Passages that are uninteresting and don’t contribute to the overall poem and passages that are so vivid that they overshadow the rest of the poem. Sometimes you have to cut out your favorites. A line that stands out can be good, but it can also distract from the rest of the poem. Consider your choices carefully.

Today’s Poetry Prompt

Write a poem that uses exactly the same number of characters on every line. You can pick the length, but once you start you have to stick to it. For an extra challenge, try writing about an event that has happened in the past 24 hour.