How I Write a New Poem

My Process, Self-Prompts, and Influences.

Crafting a New Poem

As promised, this week I'll take you behind the scenes and share my process for writing a new poem. Putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to create a fresh piece of poetry is both exhilarating and challenging. It requires tapping into my creative well, drawing upon my experiences and emotions, and harnessing the power of language to evoke a response in the reader.

Self-Prompts and Inspiration

The first step is finding inspiration. I often start by reflecting on my own life experiences, memories, and observations of the world around me. I'll jot down words, phrases, or images that resonate with me and use those as jumping-off points. Sometimes I'll also give myself a specific prompt or constraint to work within, like exploring a certain theme, using a particular poetic form, or incorporating a specific word or line.

Influences and Muses

Of course, I'm also greatly influenced by the poets and writers I admire. I find myself returning again and again to the works of Ocean Vuong, Nayyirah Waheed, and Dorianne Laux for their masterful use of language, vivid imagery, and ability to capture the human experience. Their styles and approaches seep into my own creative process, informing the way I structure my poems and the themes I choose to explore.

The Writing Process

Once I have my initial spark of inspiration, the real work begins. I'll start jotting down lines, experimenting with different phrasings and rhythms, and allowing the poem to take shape organically. This can be a messy, iterative process, with lots of crossing out, rearranging, and reworking. I'm constantly fine-tuning, polishing, and honing the language until I feel the poem has reached its fullest expression.

Then, a most important step: I leave it for a least a day, then go back nd read it again. I invariantly see bits I want to change or rearrange.

Sharing the Finished Piece

Finally, when I'm satisfied with the result, I'll share the new poem with my readers. It's always a bit nerve-wracking to put my work out there, but I find great joy in connecting with others through the power of poetry. I hope that by sharing my process, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the care and craft that goes into each piece. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reactions to this week's newsletter. Until next time, happy reading (and writing)!

Next week, I’ll write a free verse poem, and go through it, discussing it’s meaning. form, influences and various aspects about the construction.

Plus 6 tips on what not to do when writing poems.

Tom