What is Your Opinion on Writing Sonnets?

Never mind, I think I'll stick to Haiku :0

Yes,God did create the chicken,and gave us imagination so we too could be creative.The inspiration(muse or what you will) needs a vehicle (our voice) .One breath length(our limiting factor) then determines the cadence,which when written down (to aid memory )is the structure or form .There are many forms or structures that may suit the muse,some by convention have developed into 'off the peg' ,others need to be ' made to measure'.Such is the beauty of our art ,for we who are God' s poiema ( work of art)are designed to create works of art ,for we are made in His image.Hallelujah.

Craig, I'll arm-wrestle you later (I love to butt heads with you. We get how we can disagree and yet still hold each other in WARMEST regards) I do need to say this: out of soup, unless it mentions it in the title, the poem is not 'categorized.' The reader will like it or not, same goes for the editor. It only matters to the poet where the poem originated or why the lines are arranged as they are. The reader decides how the poem speaks to him/her and an editor decides whether he/she would like to publish the poem based on its content and language. Form is good, but it ONLY holds the content. I've read many poems that pile on adjectives and put in "filler words" only to keep to FORM. BAH

Brian, what you call muse, I call the poet's instinct. When I receive feedback, I listen very carefully to the advice, weigh and consider any suggested changes. What I deeply feel should not be changed, I do not change (because I sense a word, line or entire stanza must remain as written for the realization of my creative expression or the content must remain as is to keep the poem's integrity). I can revise almost an entire poem, or sometimes I can only change two lines. So, yes, if that is what you meant, we should not disobey that small, insistent voice that keeps pointing and yelling, "this way this way!" whether that voice encourages us to either explore our current path or to travel down a strange, new one. I do believe that voice should never be ignored. It is the poet's ART speaking and should be given due respect. PS. The chicken. God-made.

What came first the chicken or the egg?

Anthony, it's all up to you. But I am telling you, that if you like free verse and know how to off rhyme, read the blogs I have included below. Or simply type into Google, contemporary sonnets ... basically, you keep syllable counts per line between 6 - 13 (on average) you start with a metaphor and build upon it and then you add either a slight or large twist to the sonnet (usually about line 9 but it can be later) Slant rhymes keep it fresh. I could put up a blog, again, with several published examples. I mean published in the past two years, not 60 years ago. Still, if you do wish to learn meter and have help with a traditional English sonnet, Craig is awesome! Go for it! Choices!

Folks, some of my all time favourite poems are classic sonnets, metered and perfectly rhymed. However, as said, there are many ways to write a sonnet. Some of the best poets of today are sonneteers and most focus on content, language, imagery, uncommon word pairings. What I am saying to THIS poet who has said, "I gravitate towards a mix of free verse and imperfect rhyming" IS GREAT! That will enhance a contemporary sonnet. Don't let that go! Use what comes naturally and WRITE IN YOUR PREFERRED MANNER and do not let anyone tell you that you can't write a sonnet in YOUR natural voice or style. Cause not only are unmetered and slant rhymed sonnets acceptable, they are appreciated and valued OUTSIDE OF SOUP. If he wishes to try traditional because he wants to, wants to learn that skill, then GOOD. Go for it. But that is not what I'm reading in his blog. Read the Prism blog! Sonnets belong to the sonneteer and can be written a thousand ways. If you'd like more information, let me know. Cheers, Cyndi

The sonnet ,a form imported from Italy ,was the 'father' of English language poetry.A true game changer,as it became 'naturalised ' here, and yet simple enough if broken down into its constituent parts as my Tien4Today posting shows .(Simply 3 quatrains plus a couplet)It has proved to be an excellent learning tool then and so remains.I commend if only for that reason,learn two other forms at the same time!

//prismmagazine.ca/2013/12/10/prompt-the-30-minute-sonnet/ This is a great article! Prism is a highly lauded literary journal here in Canada. I love contemporary sonnets because I am foremost a free verse poet, yet the brevity of the sonnet and the weight it can carry in 14 lines is the kind of candy I crave! I've had two of my contemporary sonnets published so far www.fieldstonereview.usask.ca/article.php?article=167 and www.ekphrastic.net/ekphrastic/the-sick-child-by-mary-c-mccarthy ... journals enjoy contemporary sonnets that use slant rhyme, not because slant rhyme is lazy, but because it freshens the form... gives worn out/overused rhyme a breather. Anyway, try it, my vote. :)

www.poetrysoup.com/poetry_blogs/blog_detail.aspx?PoetID=23760&BlogID=19648 Here you go... I wrote a blog about this some time ago. I hope you find this helpful! Cheers, Cyndi

Contemporary sonnets do not require rhyming nor do they need to be metered. I'll come back and put up a link to some amazing sonnets! Free verse and sonnets naturally fit together! Please make sure to check sources OFF OF SOUP about sonnets. There are many different styles for sonnets... and contemporary sonnets are well read and appreciated and PUBLISHED off of Soup. If you like to add a twist to your poetry, then sonnets ARE perfect! It's really about the volta. Later! Cyndi

It depends on how you look at it.Like Andrea said some poets are more comfortable writing sonnets, it's sorta like playing a musical instrument, some play a guitar, some play a flute..etc..write what makes you feel comfortable, it's your voice that is put to paper..not to say learning a different form is a bad thing, in fact it can be a good thing, but it takes time, poets tend to write in a form that expresses what they feel...just write what you write and let it take you where it will

Forms that use iambic pentameter are best ones for me because it is the natural meter that comes into my head when I write a poem. it makes it difficult for me to write free verse because I have to switch off the beat. But i still find myself wanting to write my free verse with this kind of flow. I discovered my forte was with sonnets and other traditional forms when I took a poetry course online back in 2001 and learned all about many of the different forms out there! Great blog for us. I have many sonnets on site here if you ever want to see mine. I have helped some of my friends change the lines in their sonnets to match the correct beat, if you ever need any help with lines.

I enjoy the challenge, I am not set in my ways as to form or force, but when I do one and I am proud of it, I dig it. It gives me a way to see beyond my normal boundaries, makes me a manipulator of words and feelings that I may not have been able to reach without the confinement. As with any unfamiliar form, I like to try and conquer.

I love good sonnets. I have been trying to learn for going on 2 months. I wouldn't say I have not written a good one yet but I have written more bad than good. I find it extremely difficult to find the precise words and fitting them into the structure. On the other hand, when I complete one there is a certain sense of self gratification from just completing the task. I find them rewarding. Peace my friend:)

You may not be disciplined enough, but I would not say you are not skilled enough until you have tried many times to write a Sonnet. I think I have written two Shakespearean Sonnets, and I think they turned out ok. They are PITAs, but I believe Sonnets are worth the time and effort. I would suggest you try one, make it a part time project that you spread over a couple of weeks, this way, you don't rush it and you can take your time.