Here is my shortcut for becoming a good poet: Read poetry from as wide a variety of poets as you can. Separate out the small percentage that appeals to you (rhythm, content, etc.) Compile a selection of fifty or so poems that your soul feels a consonance with. Then read them over and over and over until you begin to feel the rhythms, until they become second nature to you. Then start writing your own and the styles will suffuse your own writing like an accent seeps into a foreigner’s speech patterns. From that point you will begin to find your own voice.
Since i’m new here, and you didn’t quote yourself, I don’t know what type of poetry you write.
So to that end, here’s my advice:
Start small and work your way from there. I remember in high school that the English/Lit professor would give us a poetry assignment that was oh-so-simple… pick a color, write a list of things (or whatever) that remind you of that color. After about 10 items, your mind goes blank, and then gets creative… and you no longer just write down one or two word items!
Then just assign yourself higher goals. Keep breaking your records.
Also, learn some new words… I find that synonyms, similar words, help greatly. (a good deal, a lot, very much so, wonderfully…etc)
Read whatever the Vogon’s do, and do the opposite.
Please, don’t ever use o’er.
Thank you.
You gotta love words, IMHO. And you can’t just use a word without knowing what it means when you’re writing. You should read as much as you can, IF you enjoy reading. Any type of non-fiction is a good place to begin.
I’m a word junkie. When I see a word that piques my interest, I devour it. I’m always reading, too. I read two to three books of different genres all the time. One book in each bathroom, and one near the kitchen table for reading while I eat. Here’s a kind of odd tip; peruse a thesaurus and possibly a dictionary. I’m a strange one, I know, but I love words. I use my artistic side to study the world around me and write out descriptions of what I see for kicks. Again… I’m odd.
Don’t force yourself to write though, it’ll make you either hate it or become stale. Let the words flow out of you, don’t fight or analyze too much.
Write down any dreams you may have (another wacky tip of mine). I dream vividly most nights and try to recapture everything I’ve dreamt about as soon as I can (dream therapists suggest writing them down as soon as you wake but I don’t have such leisurely mornings for that). Good luck with this. As with everything, practice, practice, practice…
“Please, don’t ever use o’er”
Excellent point. E’er is also a big no-no.
I think, comparing success factors, that alcohol is probably your best bet. Interesting clothes are also important. Based on what I’ve seen, black is definitely the hue of choice. I’m not sure whether pallor is still in or not. I’ve observed, though, that many successful poets tend to read their work in a strange voice, while staring at a point somewhere thither. Practice that. If you don’t know where thither is, then stick to novels.
Of course, rhyming is totally outré these days. Use plenty of alliteration. Putrid people passing pedestrian pallbearers, or something like that. Finally, develop an attitude. Ennui is a good one.
Don’t waste your time writing small poems. Today, people want epics. If you run out of paper, start a new chapter, but please remember to label each new one with Roman numerals: Strophe LXIII, for example.
Finally, find a publisher who will advance you enough money to keep you warm, safe and drunk for the two or three years you’ll need to produce your Premier Opus.
Good luck.