A Few Personal Rules I Use In Writing My Poetry

Personal disciplines I use in writing poetry

1. I try to avoid using the's and a's as much as possible by rereading the poem to see if they are absolutely necessary.

 

2. I rather us the word "as" than "like" or "perhaps" than "maybe" but sometimes its not possible when I follow the next rule.

3. I strictly try to avoid repetition in words such as if I use the word "night" I might use words such as "blackness or darkness' to refer to it later in a poem. The same when using words to describe colors example White; opal, opaque, cream etc...

4. I never use the word "Strife to rhyme with "Life". I find this all too often and it sounds so forced and contrived.

5. If I can I believe for some unknown reason that evenly numbered stanzas are more appealing to a reader so I strive for this. I have no evidence of it's validity but has become my preference.

6. Rhyming is a normality but I find non-rhymes that work to showcase more of an in depth skill, again my own opinion.

7. Style; I like to explore different styles in the approach to writing poetry. Now am not referring to "forms" because on a certain level I abhor conforming to a already contrived form. I mean creating my own unique style be it free form or otherwise.

8.Also I try avoiding too many words that are going to confuse the reader. Why do I want to purposely alienate the reader? That lead into the next rule of mine.

9. Flowery poetry? Stuffing the lines and verses with unnecessary descriptions is another way to alienate the reader. I see this all too often. When I first started writing I also did this thinking it made good poetry but as I grew in writing skill I went back to find these poems nothing but globs of sugar.

10. This is not as much a rule as a plea. Hollow praises as comments truly do not help a fellow poet to grow or progress but on the contrary stagnant them. Don't be afraid to point out to me or other poets how their work might be improved or if there are mistakes that if corrected would better the power of their poetry.

These are not universal rules but are my own personal guidelines I might not use all the time. They are not meant to reflect onto anybody else here or other's poetry. We all have our reasons and ways for writing poetry and I find a kinship here on this site. I do admit there are many great writers here but their are also many who could greatly improve. The great thing we are all on this journey together so let's continue to help each other in these endeavors.

Thank you, Michael G. Smith

Reviews

[KT-B]

I need to print this off an follow a few of your rules to improve - great tips Michael, thanks for sharing that. :)

[Michael G. Smith]

Your welcome. I had forgotten I posted this here. I hope it helps in anyway. Thanks for stopping by.

[Nyu]

You managed to actually shove free poetry into a filter of rules, I do see these rules though and like them. This generally describes the type of thing I try to make and want to read.

[Michael G. Smith]

Poetry high five poet sister!

[rutherford]

make sense. i wish i could rhyme but i'm stuck in the free verse world. like robert frost said, it's like playing tennis without a net.

[Michael G. Smith]

I never heard that before. I am a big fan of free verse.

[Rita L. Sev]

We all have our "comfort zones" in writing, and personal rules. I like reading about the process for others, too. Agree with #9 & 10! :)

[Michael G. Smith]

Thanks. I'll probably add a few more when I get home like #11 my poetry is in constant flux. I will come back to a posted poem and do minor rewrites every now and then.

[melissa]

Awesome poem keep up the great work and keep them coming