A Guide to Starting Poetry
Writing poetry can sometimes feel forced or unnatural, but there are ways to ease into it. I’ve found that capturing words in the moment using voice notes can help – I talk my way through a poem to see how it sounds out loud. When that’s not an option, simple writing exercises can help me get into the right mindset. The key is to write for yourself, be vulnerable, embrace mistakes, and accept that not every poem will be a masterpiece. With practice, these exercises can act as warm-ups to spark creativity.
How long will it take?
How hard is it?
How many people can do it together?
Under 30 mins
Beginner-friendly
Participants: Solo or 2 people (for relay writing)
Anytime
a wildish story
What do you need?
A notebook or paper
A pen or pencil
Old magazines, newspapers, or books (optional for cut-up poetry)
A black marker (optional for blackout poetry)
How to do it.
Start with Prompts Create a list of prompts to wake up your creativity.
Here are some examples:
Today I noticed…
and it made me feel…
Today I found…
Today I lost…
Today I remembered…
Write freely based on these prompts.
Write a List Use a simple starting point.
One of my favorites is:
I am… I am… I am…
Expand on this to create a rhythm or pattern in your words.
Cut It Up – Concrete Poetry Take an old magazine, newspaper, or book.
Choose an article or passage and cut out words or phrases.
Rearrange them to create a poem.
Let the existing tone, content, and your current mood shape the outcome.
Block It Out – Blackout Poetry Use a black marker to block out words in an article or page, leaving only the ones that form your poem.
Read it from top to bottom, letting the remaining words tell a story. Relay Writing Partner up with someone. One person writes a line and passes the pen to the other, who writes the next line. Continue until you feel the poem is complete.
You can set a time limit or start with a borrowed line for inspiration. Remember, these exercises are meant to loosen you up and explore the joy of poetry.
There’s no right or wrong—just write!