Some More of my Tips for Writing Better Poetry

Here are some more of my writing tips and tips for writing better poetry.

Some More of my Tips for Writing Better Poetry

1. Attend a performance poetry night. In London the Poetry Cafe, Covent Garden has some good ones.
    If you live in the home counties or south Midlands in the UK, the following websites may be of
    interest. http://rrrants.com/, http://www.poetrykapow.co.uk/

2. Participate in a performance poetry night

3. Write a poem based on some art, a piece of music, or a dance.

4. Write at different times of the day rather than at one particular time every day or week.

5. Write regularly

6. Think about every word that you write. Does it fit in with your intention? Is the language consistent? Does
     it keep with the rhythm and mood of the poem.

7. Write a blog. Participate in other poet's blogs. Discuss poetry.

8. Share your work with other's. Not just with close family and friend's though.

8. Re-write. Re-write. Re-write.

Best wishes,
George Stanworth

Tips For Writing Better Poetry - Be Different

Be Different

Always strive to be a better poet. Never believe that you know everything, or are unable to develop your poetry any further.

If you have just written what your friends, family and you consider to be your best poem yet, don't be content., keep pushing yourself further.

Most poets have self-doubts, so I'm sure that even the Poet Laureates and classic poets were not satisfied with most of their works, and wanted to develop their writing further.

Take risks. Experiment with language, style, form, imagery, or even layout. I once wrote a 4 line poem on a juggling ball. I also wrote one where the words on the left hand side of the page were havinga  debate with those laid out on the right.

I also spend time coming up with new ways to write about universal themes such as love, the past, and nature.

Be original. Be you. Be different.



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Read a range of poetry from different writers

We all have a favourite poet or two. My favourite contemporary poets are John Hegley, Tony Walsh and Paul Eccentric. I also enjoy reading Larkin and Blake. Each of  these poets has inspired me, and pushed my writing on in one way or another.

If I just continued reading these poets though, my inspiration would probably wane, and my writing would stagnate. I therefore try to discover different writers on a regular basis. I studied English Literature at University, so I am well-versed in the works of Coleridge, Byron, Wordsworth, Keats etc. I therefore try to complement their works by reading as many contemporary poets as possible, and not always the well known.

Sometimes I find it uplifting to read works from new poets who have won, or been highly placed, in poetry competitions. Their works can move your own writing in a different direction, and give you fresh impetus to develop your writing further. If you analyse the poems you may find they do not fit into what you consider to be traditional poetic forms. This is a good thing though, as it shows how much poetry is evolving. Good poetry will always be able to stir the emotions, make you think, and be structured in some thoughtful way - but this does not mean it needs to conform with the way poetry was written in the 1600s, 1800s or even the 1980s.

If you are serious about being a good poet, and developing your writing further, it is imperative that you read as widely as possible.

www.georgestanworth.com