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How to Start Writing Poetry
All the basics, in 4 easy steps.
1. Tell a story with images
Well, you could just describe images. That can be poetry too. But I think the best poetry also tells a story, and uses imagery to do that.
What is imagery?
In a poem, would you rather read this very boring story:
Bob went to the store
Or this one full of imagery:
A young fellow in old worn boots marched down a dirt path to get fresh milk
The first one informs, but the second one paints a picture too. Providing concrete images, sounds, tastes — sensory details in general — is how you paint a mental picture for the reader.
Hint: use nouns. Nouns are things we can picture.
But also think about what those nouns are doing — notice how in my mini-story above, Bob marched to the store rather than just walked or sauntered.
Imagery details like that make you wonder — what’s up with him? Maybe he’s pissed that his kid spilled milk everywhere, and that’s why he’s headed to the store to replace it.
