A List of Poetry DOs and DON'Ts

[WickedEve]

I occasionally see a don't when reading poetry online. Other times I read poetry that makes me shout, "Yes! Do more of that!" Of course, I realize that some poets can take a don't and make it into a do.

I have changed some of my dos and don'ts over the years. I'm okay with poems that use simple rhyme schemes, as long as the poem is interesting and the rhyme doesn't control it.

Okay, give me your list -- short or long.

Cliches: Do read a lot of poetry so you Don't end up writing like everyone else.

 

[Epmd607]

Do:
write something from experience
take the time to check your spelling and grammar and cliches
use a thesaurus, but understand the word you use in context
read every canonical poet back to Chaucer(even Walt)
borrow ideas from other poets
write every day

Don't:
write prose poetry
tell other poets they're rubbish
be the guy that gets caught borrowing from an obscure 17th century poet
write with the sole purpose of getting published
criticise the work of others if you yourself don't have work to be criticized
use the words: azure, quantum, ghoul(ish), Frankenstein, hemorroidal

 

[The_Fool]

I had a thread going with this stuff. I have let it lapse lately due to lack of time.

Fools Rools

There are some other good threads with this stuff out there, I need to find them and link them as well. In my spare time of course...

 

[Angeline]

Do write and read poetry every day.

Do give feedback to other poets and find specific reasons for your opinions. It will help others and improve your own writing.

Do feel free to adapt styles, tones, structures, etc., that you like in others' poetry (famous or un) into your own. May not work so well at first, but it's a good way to push your envelope and try new things.

Don't become discouraged if you don't like a poem you wrote. Nobody writes good poetry all the time. Nobody.

Don't be meanspirited when you critique someone else's poem. You don't have to like what you read, but you should never be anything but constructive. There's a big difference between "You might want to reconsider blah blah" and "This sucks!" (And the corollary: If you can't tell me why you think something isn't working, you're wasting both of our time!)

<Great idea for a thread, Eve!>

 

[WickedEve]

I had a thread going with this stuff. I have let it lapse lately due to lack of time.

Fools Rools

There are some other good threads with this stuff out there, I need to find them and link them as well. In my spare time of course...

Yeah, over the years we've had some good threads and posts on this topic.
Please add links!

 

[WickedEve]

Do feel free to adapt styles, tones, structures, etc., that you like in others' poetry (famous or un) into your own. May not work so well at first, but it's a good way to push your envelope and try new things.

I know I've been inspired before. smithpeter was a big influence on my earlier poetry.
But I don't think I ever try other poets' styles. Thinking...

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Do have pen and paper to hand at all times to write down bits and bobs as they occur
Don't lose your bits of paper

 

[Angeline]

I know I've been inspired before. smithpeter was a big influence on my earlier poetry.
But I don't think I ever try other poets' styles. Thinking...

I always thought you and smithpeter had very similar writing styles, maybe because you had similar ways of seeing things.

I've imitated other poets many times. I start out trying to write like a poet I admire, and then I think about what the exact qualities are that I'm trying to adapt. Then I can start figuring out if (and how) it works for me. I don't know if this works well for other writers, but I find it to be a very creative process that helps me.

I think the Iranian poet I always mention here, Forugh Farrakhzad, has influenced me more than any other writer. But I have some weird influences too that seem, on the face of it, to not fit with the way I write at all, like Ted Berrigan.

Lester Young (yeah I know lol, bear with me) said something about this that makes great sense to me. Lemme see if I can find it. Ah ok here it is:

The trouble with most musicians today is that they are copycats. Of course you have to start out playing like someone else. You have a model, or a teacher, and you learn all that he can show you. But then you start playing for yourself. Show them that you're an individual.

Imitation is, for me, a way of forcing myself down another path. It may not work but whether it does or not, I'll learn something.

Who influences all you poets? Do you ever try to write like someone else, not to plagiarize of course, but to try something different that you think might work for you?

 

[The_Fool]

Cooking analogy. You first start making a dish from a recipe, which someone else developed and wrote down. You make it a few times, working on your skills as a cook. Particularly if it involves techniques you have never used before. Hopefully you are tasting the ingredients as you go, understanding what flavors they bring to the party. From this, you start to change the recipe, to suit your taste and to maximize the flavors you want to develop. Then you move into other dishes with similar components, sometimes by starting with someone elses recipe and sometimes by creating your own.

 

[WickedEve]

The trouble with most musicians today is that they are copycats. Of course you have to start out playing like someone else. You have a model, or a teacher, and you learn all that he can show you. But then you start playing for yourself. Show them that you're an individual.

Imitation is, for me, a way of forcing myself down another path. It may not work but whether it does or not, I'll learn something.

Who influences all you poets? Do you ever try to write like someone else, not to plagiarize of course, but to try something different that you think might work for you?

My only other influences would have been old, old, poets, like the 19th c poets I read as a teen. I think I'm past that. I'm influenced by others but never really try their style that much. But now I am intrigued!

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I wish I could write Terzanelles like that Terzanelle Trollop Champ

 

[bflagsst]

I try to steal everything I can. I'll steal your similitudes from the clothesline if you're not careful. I just submitted my Dylan Thomas nic. I hope someday someone steals something from me worth stealing.

All my don'ts are just words I don't want to hear in poems. I can't think of a list of them off hand, but I think 'blandish' is one of them...

 

[Angeline]

Cooking analogy. You first start making a dish from a recipe, which someone else developed and wrote down. You make it a few times, working on your skills as a cook. Particularly if it involves techniques you have never used before. Hopefully you are tasting the ingredients as you go, understanding what flavors they bring to the party. From this, you start to change the recipe, to suit your taste and to maximize the flavors you want to develop. Then you move into other dishes with similar components, sometimes by starting with someone elses recipe and sometimes by creating your own.

Yes, exactly. Imitation leads to instrospection, then learning, then growth. At least that's how I see it.

I go on all sorts of poetry websites all the time and just read. If an idea for a poem or a style of writing appeals to me, I'll write on the same theme or try to imitate the style. That and daily practice have helped me a great deal, I think.

 

[Angeline]

I try to steal everything I can. I'll steal your similitudes from the clothesline if you're not careful. I just submitted my Dylan Thomas nic. I hope someday someone steals something from me worth stealing.

All my don'ts are just words I don't want to hear in poems. I can't think of a list of them off hand, but I think 'blandish' is one of them...

Eve had a series of challenges here a few years back where we would write poems on whatever subject without using any of the words one would normally associate with it. Like: write a poem about the ocean without using the words "water," "sea," "wave," "sand," etc. Very helpful exercise. Maybe we should revive it although I'm feeling pretty mired in survivor poems at the moment.

 

[WickedEve]

Eve had a series of challenges here a few years back where we would write poems on whatever subject without using any of the words one would normally associate with it. Like: write a poem about the ocean without using the words "water," "sea," "wave," "sand," etc. Very helpful exercise. Maybe we should revive it although I'm feeling pretty mired in survivor poems at the moment.

It was poetry taboo. We had a list of taboo words and I think I stole the idea from Unmasked Poet or Daughter. It was a cool challenge.

 

[WickedEve]

Here's a link to one of the taboo word challenges: http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=59434
Just please ignore anything I wrote back in '01.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Where did all those people go ?

 

[annaswirls]

Here's a link to one of the taboo word challenges: http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=59434
Just please ignore anything I wrote back in '01.

oh it was so good to see Cordelia again. How do some women become so beautiful all over?

 

[annaswirls]

I try to steal everything I can. I'll steal your similitudes from the clothesline if you're not careful. I just submitted my Dylan Thomas nic. I hope someday someone steals something from me worth stealing.

All my don'ts are just words I don't want to hear in poems. I can't think of a list of them off hand, but I think 'blandish' is one of them...

there are some words I cannot get past. Gossamer.

I think words that no one would ever speak in their life, in poetry, just makes it seem show-offy and I hate a show off.

Well I don't HATE them. Just their poetry.
And no, I don't hate YOU, I know you have used that word. Many times. Shush.

 

[bflagsst]

Anna's kisses fell like gossamer
upon her children's gossamer heads
if only the little nuggets would fall
as soundly in their snug, gossamer beds



Sometimes I actually try to write the worst poem I can to get it out of my system. It's not so much because of cliche, there are some words that don't really belong in poetry for whatever reason. Most of them are old sounding, some just have too many syllables.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Anna's kisses fell like gossamer
upon her children's gossamer heads
if only the little nuggets would fall
as soundly in their snug, gossamer beds



Sometimes I actually try to write the worst poem I can to get it out of my system. It's not so much because of cliche, there are some words that don't really belong in poetry for whatever reason. Most of them are old sounding, some just have too many syllables.

I've had friends sent me poetry that sounds very much like your little verse there and asked me what do I think? What on earth do I say? It's their baby they think it's wonderful and would be terribly hurt. One asked what poetry board I went on and could she join I told her a fib and said it was closed I didn't want her poetry coming up against some of the critique, not that I am saying it is nasty but she would have been most insulted and never been quite so friendly again

 

[bflagsst]

I've had friends sent me poetry that sounds very much like your little verse there and asked me what do I think? What on earth do I say? It's their baby they think it's wonderful and would be terribly hurt. One asked what poetry board I went on and could she join I told her a fib and said it was closed I didn't want her poetry coming up against some of the critique, not that I am saying it is nasty but she would have been most insulted and never been quite so friendly again

The last poetry reading I went to, which was probably six years ago, for some reason all the poets came over to me and my buddies to ask what we thought of them...of course we're like "Yeah, dude, I liked that. The guitar amplifier blasting feedback while you ranted about your tuition assistance being pulled was really interesting..." It was in Buffalo near this bar called Nietzsche's. It's probably worse over the internet, because you always think you're going to come across wrong and the person will get offended.

I want to add a Don't to my not quite a list:

Don't use the image of Sylvia Plath's head in an oven, or her depression, to evoke a feeling in the reader. Even though it still works to a certain extant, it's inelegant and borderline cliche. Her daughter wrote a poem about it in the back of "uncut" Ariel, which isn't that great of a poem, but what she says in it makes sense.

Write about Dorothy Parker's head in an oven instead.

 

[WickedEve]

I've had friends sent me poetry that sounds very much like your little verse there and asked me what do I think? What on earth do I say? It's their baby they think it's wonderful and would be terribly hurt. One asked what poetry board I went on and could she join I told her a fib and said it was closed I didn't want her poetry coming up against some of the critique, not that I am saying it is nasty but she would have been most insulted and never been quite so friendly again

She doesn't sound like she really wants to learn about poetry or she just isn't ready. Besides, you don't need that. She's come here and be upset and make you feel bad. And she'd also see what a naughty girl you are -- if she doesn't know already.

So I guess that's a don't. Think twice before you invite a friend to your poetry forum.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

She doesn't sound like she really wants to learn about poetry or she just isn't ready. Besides, you don't need that. She's come here and be upset and make you feel bad. And she'd also see what a naughty girl you are -- if she doesn't know already.

So I guess that's a don't. Think twice before you invite a friend to your poetry forum.

LOL Can't hide my other reason from you ..... you're too astute for your own good!

 

[TheRainMan]

DO:

1) above all, try to be original (by all means be imitative of poetry you think is good. ‘voice,’ and originality, develop over time).

2) be clear

3) be economical

4) value ease of expression

5) be monosyllabic whenever possible

6) read poetry often

7) read the Chinese masters often

8) write poetry often

9) accept constructive criticism well, even when it is harsh


DON’T:

1) rhyme or write form poetry, unless:

....... a) you are just writing for fun, in which case you can do anything you please

....... b) you are experienced and convinced your writing has improved far beyond that of a novice

2) write dishonestly (meaning, don’t let content be a slave to form)

3) moralize

4) rely on abstraction

5) capitalize the beginning of every line

6) write like no poetry has been written on earth since Wordsworth

7) let anyone convince you a certain word (such as ‘love’, or ‘heart’, or even the infamous ‘gossamer’) is automatically bad or clichéd and should never be used. all words are potentially legitimate. cliché is not determined by a word, but by the words that surround it. – there are no bad words, only bad poets.

8) write poetry about pagan gods and goddesses (this is a pet peeve of mine, since said writing can obviously be done well. it just usually isn’t)

9) be pointlessly cruel or pointlessly laudatory when giving opinion on another’s poetry. be nice but be true.