Lady's Guide to Poetry This guide is for everyone who wants to write poetry, but isn't sure how. Or they do write poetry, but don't like how it turns out. Writing poetry is actually very simple, but there are some hard things to it as well. Like, if you want to rhyme, that can get very hard. I hope you enjoy this guide and it helps you improve with your poetry. Table of contents -topic -prewriting -type -meaning -writing -revising -editing Topic The topic of your poem is very important. You don't want to be writing about nothing, then your poem will have no meaning. Your topic can be anything from a romance, to a bloody battle. Try and make your topic about something your interested in, otherwise you'll get bored with your poem and stop writing. Choosing a topic isn't hard, it can be a broad the elements, or as specific as your dog, it's your choice. Prewriting Personally, I skip prewriting, but you may find it helpful. When you prewrite, brainstorm a list of specific things about your topic. If I was writing a poem about my dog, I would brainstorm like this: My dog -black fur -red collar -brown eyes -Soft ears –playful -loves to chase rabbits -etc. You can skip this step, if you don't think it will be helpful for you, but sometimes prewriting can help you attain the full meaning of you poem. Type These are the main types of poems, and some examples: - Acrostic Example: Doesn't listen Overall not worth it Gosh! So not fun (Just an example, not what I really think) -Concrete I can't make an example of a concrete poem, and you'll soon find out why. Concrete poems are where you write your poem in the shape of what you’re writing about. For example, if you were writing about doves, you would write your words curved to make a picture of a dove. - Free verse Free verse has no rhyme or rhythm, it sounds like your just having a conversation. Example: The tree grows tall Stretching its mighty branches skyward Leafs grow, creating a green canopy Rough bark protects the tree For many years it will shade the small pond Providing shelter for the animals But then the tree will be cut down Like so many others Habitats will be destroyed And homes will be created Animals will die But humans will thrive Selfishly destroying the environment And cutting down more trees - Rhyme Rhyming poems do just that- rhyme. Example: The artist Out and about on a cool autumn day, Mingling with the flowers, the artist comes out to play. Painting their pictures, preserving their leaves, For when winter blows in, everything will freeze. The trees leaves have fallen, but in her branches there's beauty still, For the artists paintings have captured, the frost that clings with will. Winter has passed, and spring has settled in, The buds of the flowers, make the artist grin. Summer time had come at last; the kids are out to play, The artist paints them, climbing trees, on that happy day. Years have passed now, and it's autumn once again, The artist has finally captured, her long lost friend. She is invisible, but not that hard to find, She leaves you cool and comfortable, especially in summer time. In autumn the leaves are tossed around, by her when she plays games, And if you manage to catch her, she's impossible to tame. In winter she blows the snow around, and round and round and round, Until at last it settles, on the icy ground. She bends the flowers, and bows the grass, When at last spring comes to pass. The wind is my imagination, and nothing can stop me now, For I soar with the wind, in the clouds, and nothing will make me come down. -Repetition When writing this kind of poem, you repeat the first or last line in each stanza. Example: Humanity I am hungry I am positive I am negative I am hopeful I am joyous I am tired I am loving I am hateful I am ugly I am pretty I am jealous I am forgetful I am sad I am happy I am depressed I am funny I am anxious I am scared I am forgotten I am vain I am kind I am humble I am noisy I am greedy I am quiet I am breaking I am healing I am grieving I am memorable I am sorry I am human Meaning I'm going to tell you the secret to good poetry: meaning. Without meaning your poem is just words that rhyme, or are in a pretty shape. Your poem must have meaning, or some kind of motivation, even if only you as the writer know what it is. If you are sad, write about something sad, if your beloved dog just died, write about the unfairness of death. It's your choice, and it will make a world of a difference in your poem. Writing If you want to write poetry and post it on the forums, make sure you can re-read it. Get a writing app (I would recommend the free one by savysoda) or just write in your notes app. It is vital that you do this so you can re-read your work and correct any spelling or grammar error. After your done editing and revising your work, and you decide you'd like to post it in the forums, you double tap, choose select all, and then choose copy. Go to the KaW app and go to the forums and create a new post. Then double tap and choose paste. Your poem will appear in the forums, and you'll be able to receive feedback on your poem. Revising When you’re done writing your poem, it's time to revise. Take a good hard look at your poem and delete anything that sounds off, or wrong, and replace it to make it flow better. Continue adding or deleting parts of your poem until it sounds right to you. Editing Once you are completely satisfied with your poem check for spelling and grammar errors. Read it aloud to make sure it makes sense to you. It's okay if your readers don't understand what you’re writing about, as long as you do. Thanks for reading this guide. I hope I helped you improve your poetry skills. Remember, poetry is a way to express yourself, so get out of the way, and the poem will write itself!