5. Find your voice:
Take a minute or two to decide what kind of poet you are by nature. My philosophy is that all people have poetry within them. The only difference is that not all people write down their poetry like I do. So, are you a romantic, a practical thinker, a political voice, a philosophical mind, or something else? Once you narrow it down, things become cake.
4. De-educate your mind:
A lot of times what holds back even the most prolific writers is rules and parameters that our education system instills on us. While these rules are good for the business world, they suck as instruments of good poetics. Dump the rules. You're not writing for a grade. Focus on images like a picture that leaves out all the details of what the subject went through up to that very moment.
3. Describe, don't proscribe:
That is, describe the important details of the image in your mind; don't proscribe it (or prohibit/condemn it) from manifesting itself through your verses. That's what happens in poetry (according to me) when you get too wordy describing how this ties in to that, and then why this other thing happened; and finally you start getting around to a conclusion. In essence, you've written an essay, killing the picture you were painting with words. Poems are just like paintings or pictures, snapshots of an important notion, vision, person, place, or thing.
2. Pen and Paper, don't leave home without 'em:
Make sure to carry a small notepad or notebook and a pen with you AT ALL TIMES! Unlike Edgar Allen Poe's claim that he could use a formula to produce the same quality writing every time he would sit down to write, I believe that inspiration is the primary element behind talent. And it comes unexpectedly, so you must be ready to capture it. Of course, people can write well written stuff all day long. But the truly uplifting stuff comes from moments of inspiration not rote work. If you get shy about others seeing you writing your poetry just say that you're updating your grocery list.
1. Drop it like it's hot:
The number one step is to simply write down whatever idea inspiration brought your way like it's gonna win you a Pulitzer prize. Write it down with a cocky smirk like you just jotted down the illest set of stanzas humanity has ever produced, and it's not even lunch time. Seriously, never pass something over or write it off as irrelevant. If it came to you that means your subconscious is starting to take itself seriously as a poetic mind...you should, too.
If you find yourself overwhelmed by self-doubt, remember this: Poets are not those who write poetry; anybody can do that. True poets are those who write the truth. What is your truth?
Have you ever wondered how you could begin writing verse and start impressing the ladies (or the dudes)? Have you thought that it just isn't fair how some make it seem easy to crank out enough poems to fill out an entire book of the stuff while you still have to rely on Hallmark for when you want to say something deeper, more touching? I bet you have. That is why I have decided to skip the usual rant and give you something you can use to improve yourself right this instant! So without further ado, here is the list of the top five steps to become a poet on the spot: