Writing Poetry

[Rachy]

Hi. I really need help! I've written lots of stories and love doing it, but recently I've got into the "mood" of writing poetry, but I seem to be finding it quite hard! I have so many things that I am passionate about and want to write about but I just can't seem to get the words out to sound good, I end just writing loads of random sentences that mean nothing, but makes me emotional! I really need someones help!! Thanks xxx

[Koa]

I end just writing loads of random sentences that mean nothing, but makes me emotional!

Well that's what I do...then I copy them into a notebook and pretend they are poems... I can't really help, I wouldnt be able to build a rule...I write what I feel but I dont follow any pattern or anything... And I've been 'dry' for ages now.

[Jay]

I asked my friend google, it said that if you had a look for example here (http://www.knowledgehound.com/topics/writing.htm#poetry), you might find some useful tips

Found a glossary of poetic terms (http://www.poeticbyway.com/glossary.html)... not really sure how that could help you with writing other than knowing the possibilities you could chose from to use in a poem

A lecture with Margaret Atwood from '95 I think, haven't read it, but there (http://www.web.net/owtoad/lecture.html) might be something useful

A site (http://www.poetrymagic.co.uk/approaches.html) that looks like it might contain some useful tips

Good luck :)

[Rachy]

Thank you guys so much! It's really weird though. It's like I've got writers block. I write stories as I said but I can't even finish them now it's getting so bad! I need to write poetry! Hehe.

[Helga]

I have the same problem, I start a million stories and I have so many ideas but I can't finish any of them. Show us some of your 'random sentences' and we can tell you what we REALLY think.
I was really nervous when I first posted a poem here but I can't tell you how happy I am that I did! The people here have critizised and all that but, really, that's how you learn!

By the way, Jay I love the lecture you found :)

[Rachy]

OK, I just randomly wrote these three down a second ago, I know they are rubbish anyways......

I remember the fairies,
My innocent child mind,
Flew away towards the forest,
Following the wings of magic,

[Rachy]

*Four

That's as far as I got before I got frustrated as I couldn't think of anything, you see I love fairies, reminds me of so many things!

[Helga]

this is good, if you'd add more to it. And it makes sense!

[Rachy]

You see, that's where my brain stops. I'm trying to think, it's just not coming to me!

[Helga]

be patient, I have many pages of beginnings, then suddenly something comes to me and it fits in with something old. :)

[Rachy]

OK thank you!

[mono]

Very interesting Margaret Atwood lecture, thanks, Jay.
A loooooong time ago, I posted an essay written by D.H. Lawrence, which served as an introduction to a collection of poetry by him. Other than differentiating the vast differences between free-verse and 'restricted' (rhyming) verse, he gives some very intriguing perspectives about poetry:
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3282
Good luck!

[Jay]

Glad you guys liked it... now I actually want to read it as well :)

[amuse]

OK, I just randomly wrote these three down a second ago, I know they are rubbish anyways......

I remember the fairies,
My innocent child mind,
Flew away towards the forest,
Following the wings of magic,
hi Rachy; i like faeries as well, nice to see you writing about them. :)
just my view: i don't think you need the comma at the end of the second line.

[Rachy]

OK thank you hunni

[Parandol]

The journey through the creative process varies with the individual. For some (as with Mozart for example,) the process is a stream of intuitive impulse (as if taking dictation.) For many of us however, the path to revelation winds though the dark forest of the subconscious. For Wordsworth, the poetic voice takes its origin from "emotion recollected in tranquility," while Keats’ contemplation of death elucidates higher truth. It is helpful for any aspiring artist to develop their own unique aesthetic, i.e.: a set of underlying rules or principles that demarcate the parameters of your creative flow. Perhaps if you write enough poetic fragments, perhaps they will unite seamlessly under a prevailing principle.

[blp]

The conceptual artist Bruce Nauman said 'a lot of poetry is just lists'.

Everyone's going to have their own view, but what I think poetry is not is trying to express an idea you've already got. You can always see when people have done this and it always ends up looking forced. I like it as a way of exploring.