Home » Poetry » Blogs » 10 steps to writing what you believe to be great poetry

John Lawless Biography

I am a retired Ironworker(35 years Local 7), a lifetime Boston, Mass resident. I am old enough to know better - but don't.

Home
Previous Blogs
Photos

John Lawless Poems

10 steps to writing what you believe to be great poetry

Blog Posted by John Lawless: 6/13/2025 2:07:00 PM

Never trust spellcheck
Use punctuation only when it will confuse the reader
Never trust the mind to capture the heart
And vice versa
If you must use the word sublime….don’t
Don’t try to convince the reader it is great poetry…let them figure it out
Remember that it is your blood on the page…don’t let them bandage it
Shout at the pencil or keyboard frequently
Remember the shredder is not after your words…it is after your soul
You wrote it so it’s all your fault stop making excuses

♡Like0

Post Comments

Please Login to post a comment

Glenn Glenn

June 11, 2026 at 1:13 AM

I have a few words no matter what go all caps. Even if I am NOT really mad or going crazy. There is an example. I love your blog post.

David Crandall

June 19, 2025 at 7:15 PM

I am trying hard to rhyme, and the pull is just so great, to use that word we hate. I wonder, should I take the bait, doing 99 years would be my fate, so, I won't do that crime.

Keith D Trestrail

June 15, 2025 at 8:36 PM

Regarding pencils and keyboards in No.8, can I shout at moron road users instead?

Craig Cornish

June 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM

Serendipitous through an idiic gossamer hue!

John Anderson

June 14, 2025 at 12:12 AM

In time, sublime degrades to slaked lime slime

Keith D Trestrail

June 13, 2025 at 8:40 PM

My AI poem generator does all that for me. What…too soon?

Unseeking Seeker

June 13, 2025 at 7:56 PM

Impulse of heart is translated by mind, bounced back to space, wherefrom in-pours grace, whence thus doing nothing at all, we are adrift in the conjured squall. Perhaps hearts are bridged through symbols abridged, as in the koel’s song taking all along. As we pen our verse with no need to rehearse, why then do we yet burn if an echo does not return?

Previous Blogs

I found out "Where the teardrops go"
Date Posted: 8/15/2026 9:01:00 AM

A I nsanity
Date Posted: 8/6/2026 6:35:00 AM

Alas, Poor Poetry
Date Posted: 7/22/2026 6:31:00 AM

25 WORDS.....or fewer.....
Date Posted: 6/24/2026 6:19:00 AM

WHY NOT...
Date Posted: 6/9/2026 7:08:00 AM

PERHAPS
Date Posted: 9/25/2025 9:02:00 AM

10 steps to writing what you believe to be great poetry
Date Posted: 6/13/2025 2:07:00 PM

"I Almost Tossed It Out" contest expiration
Date Posted: 5/21/2025 6:13:00 PM

Alas, old blog
Date Posted: 4/4/2025 11:46:00 AM

AN INFINITE NUMBR OF MONKEYS
Date Posted: 12/10/2024 12:10:00 PM

ARTIFICIALLY INTELLIGENT
Date Posted: 10/5/2024 6:56:00 AM

It's Half Past September
Date Posted: 9/16/2024 1:20:00 PM

Stirring the soup
Date Posted: 8/16/2024 4:38:00 AM

FINALLY FINALIZED....There is a darkness
Date Posted: 4/22/2024 2:07:00 PM

HI-POO SENRYU CONTEST FLUSHED...
Date Posted: 10/30/2023 4:50:00 AM

Hi-Poo contest
Date Posted: 10/28/2023 6:33:00 AM

What was I thinking contest finalized
Date Posted: 9/27/2023 5:15:00 AM

ALERT!!! HE JUST COMMENTED ON HIS OWN POEM!!!!
Date Posted: 9/19/2023 6:49:00 AM

Don't Fight it - Write it contest results
Date Posted: 6/25/2023 11:58:00 AM

HITHER AND ANON
Date Posted: 6/14/2023 5:33:00 AM

COMPLIANT POEMOLOGY
Date Posted: 4/12/2023 6:37:00 AM

To Comment or Respond to Same
Date Posted: 1/23/2023 7:52:00 PM

JUDGEMENT FREE ZONES
Date Posted: 1/14/2023 6:04:00 AM

inserted ads in poetry comments
Date Posted: 11/28/2022 8:42:00 AM

OH TO BLOG
Date Posted: 11/17/2022 5:22:00 PM

10 steps to writing what you believe to be great poetry

Post Comments

Previous Blogs

My Photos

Member Area

Soup Social

Member Poems

Member Poets

Famous Poems

Famous Poets

Poetry Resources