When and Where to Write Poetry
My salt lamp is lit, a lavender candle is burning, and the little water feature on my desk is trickling. I’m surrounded by houseplants, and my little Yorkshire Terrier snores lightly at my feet. Now, I’m ready to write poetry.
What an idyllic setting! If only I could write in that space every day! The only thing missing is a cup of tea or a glass of wine!
However, it’s a privilege and a blessing to be able to write in that space, free of distractions. Few of us have that privilege. So, when and where can we write our poetry?
The answer to the question is, perhaps, surprising—almost anywhere and anytime!
I’ve written while sitting and waiting for the train. I’ve written in the wee hours of the morning, in the little journal I keep by the bed so I can scribble lines and bits of dreams. I’ve written in the kitchen while dinner is cooking, at the laundromat waiting for clothes to dry, in a crowded stadium during a football game, and yes, while on the toilet (TMI?).
I don’t need to complete the poem from start to finish, and I often don’t. Instead, I write what lines come to me, what I piece together by my observations and random thoughts. Maybe I’m inspired to write about the weather, or the people I see at the grocery store, or the feeling of being a fly on the wall at a baseball game.
My point is, I don’t need that perfect setting and hours of time to write a poem…and neither do you. The reality is that few of us are paid to focus on the craft of writing, and so, we write when and where we can. And that’s fine!
How to Start a Poem
Starting a poem is, perhaps, easier than it seems. For me, I ask the following questions:
- What is my topic?
- What emotion do I want to convey?
- What image do I want to convey?
- Who is the speaker?
Often, I start by describing my surroundings. Whether I keep that part in the poem or not, how I describe the setting often sets the mood/tone for what I want to say. I like to “freeze” a moment in time.
Remember, nothing is “divine.” I usually tell my students this as a reminder that the first thing you write isn’t perfect; it can improve with edits or whole revisions. However, I’m telling it to you now to remind you that you don’t have to start with the “perfect” line or phrase or idea.
Often, we are our own worst critics, and like I tell my students, “Put it down on the page! You can always change it or omit or add to it. But you can’t do anything with it if it’s not written down.”
How to Continue a Poem
Once I’ve got some lines (or a whole poem) written, I go back and reread. I consider if I’m going in the right direction, and I edit before continuing. I look back at other lines I’ve written and see if they fit what I’m currently writing. Then, when I think I have a poem finished, I put it down, take some time (often a few days or a few weeks) and approach it again so I can revise it.
How to Revise Your Poetry
When I have a completed a poem, or I’m working on a poem that just doesn’t seem to do what I want it to, I like to approach it differently and:
- Try writing from a different perspective
- Start in the middle of the poem or with a favorite line in the poem and go from there
- Begin the poem with the last line
In doing any or all of these exercises, I try to reevaluate what I’m trying to say, how I’m saying it, and why I’m saying it.
What to Remember about Writing Your Poetry
What works for me may not work for you. There is no “one way” to write poetry. And, what works for you today may not work for you tomorrow. Be patient, and enjoy the process!
Note:
I delve more into how to write a poem in my podcast (The Poetry Podcast with C. Patrice Ares-Christian) episode number five: “Writing Poetry” (release date 2/26/25).
Leave a Reply