How to Write A Poem - And Make It Your Own!

By: A.S. Wynterway 

Wynterway here! Today I’m going to teach you how to write an original poem. Let’s get started! 

Step One: Decide your poem type. 

There are several different types of poems. Some examples include haiku, free-verse, limerick, and sonnet. When choosing your poem type, be sure to take into account its structure, or “rhyme scheme,” if the term applies. For example, in a haiku the first line must be exactly five syllables, the second must be seven, and the third like the first line at five again. Like so: 

Thunder booms, loud and 

Strong, like the trunk of the tree 

That’s struck down, fallen 

Step Two: Pick a topic. 

If you already have an assigned topic (like if you’re doing this for school), great! If you don’t, that’s fine too! What I like to do is think about my hobbies or surroundings. You could write about your beloved pet, your favorite video game, the weather, how school went, how hard the Rubik’s cube sitting on your dresser is to solve…anything you want! Neat idea: If you really can’t decide, pull up a random picker website and put all of your ideas in there. Then let the tool choose for you!

Step Three: Use a writing app on a device or grab a piece of paper and pencil! 

This one is relatively straightforward. If you decide to use a device, common writing applications are Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Apple Notes if you want it to be easily accessible. Personally, I prefer to use Google Docs - it makes it easier to edit in my case - but if you travel a lot, you might want to bring a small notebook that you can take out on the go when necessary. 

Step Four: Start writing! 

Don’t worry, this isn’t the end. Because as easy as it sounds, veteran writers know that writing isn’t just putting words onto paper. So here are some extra tips to make your poem your own! 

• Make it flow. Read your poem out loud to yourself to see if there’s a part that’s a little bit halting to pronounce, or if there’s more description than necessary. 

• Take inspiration as it comes. If you’re in the middle of writing a sonnet about the oak tree in your backyard, and it begins to thunder, it’s perfectly okay to put your oak sonnet aside for the moment and write an impromptu haiku about rolling thunder. 

• Pick a specific place to write. Do you have a cozy nook in your house? Or perhaps you enjoy sitting under that aforementioned oak tree? Whatever the case, I recommend you select a spot that’s easy to access, as distraction-free as possible, and comfortable above all! The human brain enjoys routine. 

• Get constructive criticism from your loved ones. Read your poem aloud to your best friend(s) or your parents and siblings. Ask them what they liked about it and what they think you could revise. This is a surefire way to improve your writing skills. 

I hope these tips were helpful and that you were able to use them for your writing pleasure! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go write a poem about writing. Enjoy your day!