Like Falling Snowflakes
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Dear Budding Poet . . .
My view on modern poetry is that one must read the poets of old, to grasp
the concept of poetic form, word use, tone, imagery. Then, take all that you
like and create your own versions of the form using the language of today.
Now, I would like to share ten tips with you that I have used for years and
that work for me very well. Writing poetry is forever learning new forms.
In order to write poetry you must read poetry. Read poems on poetry sites
on line, and books. Enjoy the poem, then look at it more closely.
Get yourself a notebook and when you come across a form you like, jot it
down. How many lines? How many verses? How many syllables per line?
Does it have a rhyming pattern. Enter it in your notebook and keep adding
to your notebook each time you find a form you like.
Think about the theme you are writing about. Dwell with it, ponder it, go
for a walk with it, go to bed with it. But never rush it!
Write a draft, then write another, then another, until it starts taking shape.
Think about your word choices, syllables used, rhyming, meter if used,
spelling, grammar, tense.
Read your completed poem over and over, leave it and come back.
Figure out your best time to write, for me it is the morning, others the night.
Ask writers more experienced than yourself for their opinion on your poem.
Develop your own unique style and be true to yourself always.
Never let poetry writing become a task you must do, become stressful. Time
to step back if that happens. Sometimes we have to step back to go forward.
Poetry writing has brought so much to my life, in poems I can share my deep
secrets, my sorrow, grief, tears and happinesss. Sometimes, things I cannot
share with family or close friends. I think poetry is a very private thing really.
Themes of poetry I like are: 1. cemetery 2. drowned in tears 3. dream
4. my native culture 5. childhood memories 6. nature 7. love 8. fantasy
My preferred references that help: 1. dictionary 2. Thesaurus 3. rhyming
sites on line 4. Syllable counters on line, and lastly 5. reading poetry books
I have written in every form possible, and like each one, but of course I have
my favorites such as Free Verse, Verse, Rhyme, Sonnets, Acrostic, Narrative,
Haibun, oh the list goes on and on. Here are some of my favorite poems I have
written in the last six years:
1. the dream lingers, Verse, July 22, 2012, 15 lines
2. It Was Me, Mother, Modern Sonnet, September 2015, 14 lines
3. For Grandma, English Sonnet, October 24, 2015, 14 lines
4. I am, ABC,October 12, 2017, 5 lines
5. My Native Land, Verse, August 9, 2016, 18 lines
I have no formal poetic training, I am self taught over the years. I started as
a child writing about my sadness. The twisted tragic past of my life can be
seen in my writing, but I also write of nature and love. I have won hundreds
of First, Second and Third place wins. I am not published by choice. This is a
personal decision that I have made, I write for me. Who do you write for?
My suggestion for a poetry book would be, Fragments from Life, or Jagged Pieces.
____________________
May 16, 2018
Poetry/Prose/Like Falling Snowflakes
Copyright Protected, ID 18-1022-769-01
All Rights Reserved. Written under Pseudonym.
Inspired by the contest, Tips For Modern Poetry,
To Budding Poets of all Ages
sponsor, Line Gauthier
Second Place
Copyright © Constance La France | Year Posted 2018
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