Having trouble starting a poem.

[Reccura]

:sick:

For the past few weeks, I've been trying to write poems without much success. I keep throwing out bits of paper to the bin and starting again. I guess my idea isn't strong enough to finish one poem?
And is it really important to rhyme words at the end of the phrases?

My sister writes good poetry and I want to write good poetry, too. Or is it true that poetry isn't for everybody?

I know those are a lot of questions, but I'd really be grateful to hear advices. ^^'

Thank you!

[kevinthediltz]

First of all, poetry does not have to rhyme.
And find something you really care about. Or something you really hate. Or something you have no feelings about at all.
It isnt what you write about, its how you write it.
(although the first two might be better)

[Reccura]

I have thought about that, but then when I start looking down on a paper with my pen, it's like someone threw a big rock on my head and I can't think properly, I write a few words and then crumple the paper.

I appreciate reading poetry and I've a few favorite poets, but I just can't seem to get it why I can't write one.

[kevinthediltz]

As prince M said to one of my friends: try writing about your inability to write.

Staring at an empty page,
the page only stares back...


and so on. :lol:

[a_little_wisp]

Well! I would suggest reading poetry - and not just Shakespeare or Wordsworth. Don't try to rhyme, don't try to limit yourself to a form.

How about this:

Smell, taste, or look at something. What feelings do they evoke? Does the smell bring back a memory? If so, what kind? Does the memory have a color? Does the taste remind you of a bad kiss? Does what you're looking at have an attached emotion?

Do you have a small memory, one that you keep locked away? Have you thought about writing about your sister?

Appeal to the senses, to memory! They're wonderful for inspiration!

Edit: Write about how you feel about Kevin killing squirrels!! (LOL)

Edit2: Next time, DON'T crumple the paper. See where it goes.

[Silas Thorne]

Bears in mind, the following is just my own way of doing things, and I've only been really writing for a short time:

You could keep a notebook. Take it with you everywhere, put it beside your bed at night. Write down lines that come to mind, write down weird news headlines, lines from conversations you hear that seem interesting, anything you think is cool. Just write what comes, and then if you have free time, play with it, don't give up until you've done something with the lines you think to yourself are interesting. Turn off or turn down the critic at first, otherwise you won't get anything down on paper to play with. Don't worry if the words take you places you might not want to go, or if you write things you don't want people to see. Later on you can turn on or up that critic and you can keep that thing personal, or if you want, set it free.

Just my two bob note, anyway. But don't think too much. At least not when you start writing. Just play. And yes, the above advice is good. Resist the urge to crumple. :)

[mayneverhave]

As a remedy to writer's block, I like to simply walk around my neighborhood (this occurs often at night) and smoke a cigarette.

[Reccura]

Well! I would suggest reading poetry - and not just Shakespeare or Wordsworth. Don't try to rhyme, don't try to limit yourself to a form.

How about this:

Smell, taste, or look at something. What feelings do they evoke? Does the smell bring back a memory? If so, what kind? Does the memory have a color? Does the taste remind you of a bad kiss? Does what you're looking at have an attached emotion?

Do you have a small memory, one that you keep locked away? Have you thought about writing about your sister?

Appeal to the senses, to memory! They're wonderful for inspiration!

Edit: Write about how you feel about Kevin killing squirrels!! (LOL)

Edit2: Next time, DON'T crumple the paper. See where it goes.

:idea:
Aw, thanks! It seems obvious that I should have done that in the first place.
*:crash: self*

I usually read Pablo Neruda's. When I feel like my writing won't go anywhere, I just write a short story and that usually ends well.

And yes, I should think about trees and such; I don't want to go wasting paper. x.x


Bears in mind, the following is just my own way of doing things, and I've only been really writing for a short time:

You could keep a notebook. Take it with you everywhere, put it beside your bed at night. Write down lines that come to mind, write down weird news headlines, lines from conversations you hear that seem interesting, anything you think is cool. Just write what comes, and then if you have free time, play with it, don't give up until you've done something with the lines you think to yourself are interesting. Turn off or turn down the critic at first, otherwise you won't get anything down on paper to play with. Don't worry if the words take you places you might not want to go, or if you write things you don't want people to see. Later on you can turn on or up that critic and you can keep that thing personal, or if you want, set it free.

Just my two bob note, anyway. But don't think too much. At least not when you start writing. Just play. And yes, the above advice is good. Resist the urge to crumple. :)

I do that, too, only not with a notebook. :b I put them on my phone that's why my outbox is quite full these days. But it doesn't hit a nerve or something -- some say I think too much and I get pressured to writing one so it doesn't come out.

I will not do crumpling again. :sick:

[Reccura]

As a remedy to writer's block, I like to simply walk around my neighborhood (this occurs often at night) and smoke a cigarette.

I do think I am too young to smoke a cigarette, but I'd like to try out your advice about observing. :) Thank you!

[Lokasenna]

I agree with Silas. I have a pocket-book and pencil on my person at all times, in case inspiration strikes. That said, for every poem I complete there are at least half a dozen that just tail off into nothing.

It really isn't something you can force. You have to be in the mood, and it has to flow naturally. People have been saying that it doesn't have to rhyme, and they are absolutely correct - that is, unless you want it to rhyme. I personally find it very hard to write in blank verse - I need the rhyme and rhythm.

Above all, just practice and enjoy yourself practicing. Every piece of work you produce doesn't have to be Shakespeare - look at Wordsworth for example. The man wrote some of the most beautiful and emotive poems in existence, but also produced a lot of twaddle as well!

[mono]

You could keep a notebook. Take it with you everywhere, put it beside your bed at night. Write down lines that come to mind, write down weird news headlines, lines from conversations you hear that seem interesting, anything you think is cool. Just write what comes, and then if you have free time, play with it, don't give up until you've done something with the lines you think to yourself are interesting. Turn off or turn down the critic at first, otherwise you won't get anything down on paper to play with. Don't worry if the words take you places you might not want to go, or if you write things you don't want people to see. Later on you can turn on or up that critic and you can keep that thing personal, or if you want, set it free.
Well said, Silas, I do this exact same thing, carrying a small notebook everywhere I go; it takes little time to jot down even one or two words of that current feeling, thought, idea . . . something!
As to other recommendations, Reccura, I have gotten a lot of benefit out of freewriting. Personally, I use my kitchen egg-timer, but any clock will work. I will set an alarm for usually about 10 minutes and place it out of my sight, so I will not look at it, take a few sheets of paper, and start writing. The goal: do not stop writing. Even if you cannot think of anything anymore, you have reached some block, and you need to keep writing, even if you just write the same word, phrase, or sentence over and over again. This can seem an easy way to get those creative ideas flowing. After 10 minutes, I will not even read it; I toss in the trash, then begin writing a poem, or what have you.
Good luck! ;)

[JBI]

Poetry is very, very hard work - it takes years upon years to be able to really perfect it - however, one can do great things, on a personal level, without much educational background. The secret is to let metaphor take control, and to not worry too much about anything else.

[Reccura]

Thank you so much! I really do appreciate it. I will bear everything you guys said in mind. ^^ and I might try writing on later to see. Thank you! :D:D

[mono]

Glad to help, Reccura. :nod:

My sister writes good poetry and I want to write good poetry, too. Or is it true that poetry isn't for everybody?
I wanted to say that if you keep saying things like these, you will always think yourself inferior. I think it in the nature of siblings to compare one another, and I think it very polite that you consider your sister's poetry good, but the superiority in comparison's seems immeasurable and non-determinate even among third-person readers. Yes, "poetry isn't for everybody," but writing poetry seems so much more about expression than trying to write poetry like your sister, or like Jonson, Coleridge, or Plath; write what you feel and think, undiluted by others.

[Pancakes]

As prince M said to one of my friends: try writing about your inability to write.

Staring at an empty page,
the page only stares back...


and so on. :lol:

Thank you so very much. If you never said this, I would have never gotten my groove back. Thank you so very much, and I can't say this enough.

[rvansomeren]

Great tips, having the same problems as the topic starter so thanks all :).