Four things poets can learn from George Carlin
George Carlin released his first comedy album in 1967. For forty years he has addressed topics that on their surface…
Six Tips For Writing Poetry About Difficult Subjects
Every horrible subject you can imagine has already been written about. There’s some brutal, brutal stuff out there. Writing about…
Meditate, then write a poem
Poetic Voice As you can see from the previous topics, there are many poetic styles to choose from. We have…
Don’t explain everything in your poem
Don’t treat poetry like prose One of the key differences between poetry and prose is exposition. The nature of prose…
Feel free to write a bad poem
One of the most severe problems poets face is perfectionism. Too many poets and aspiring poets feel they have to…
Write a poem that has a variable line length rather than a set meter
Get in Line The first and most recognizable difference between poetry and prose is the line. Poetry is written with…
Write a list poem that uses a single line for each item on the list
About Forms When I decided to write this series, I gave some thought to just how much time I wanted…
Write a poem using syllabic verse
A simple form A sugar skull bell from Ben’s Bells, sporting their slogan. “Be Kind” There are many types of…
Write a three stanza poem that shows a progression with each stanza
On the Move Poetry, unlike prose, is not reliant on plot. While it is possible to create a poem with…
Write about an event in your life that happened within the past week
Personal Therapy Poetry can be excellent therapy. It allows you to process the events in your life, both good and…