Tips for writing verses
A Poetry Primer by John Rieping
|
|
|
Poetry and lyrics are not so difficult as some people think, although it helps a great deal if you enjoy reading or listening to them, and think about what you are hearing. Your appreciation of the art is also your education and the best education you can receive in the subject.
Below are some tips for writing poetry based on personal experience.
FREE AND TRUE
Your first step should generally be to write your feelings honestly and simply -- without self-censorship. The best way to strangle lyrics or poetry at birth is to be critical as you write. You have to write freely and without inhibition and do so until you've exhausted the theme. Then you should -- perhaps after taking a break -- modify, correct and work with it. Be assured that you won't use all of it, or even most of it. You usually shouldn't use all that you write in the initial writings. But you can pick and choose the best parts and use that for your final lyrics.
PLAY WITH PATTERNS
Find a pattern you are comfortable with to fit your words into. All poetry is about expressing thoughts and feelings in a way that has a pattern, whether it be in the rhyming, alliteration, parallel structure, repetition or whatever. It is this expression of thoughts within a pattern that gives others satisfaction in hearing poetry, and is what separates poetry from normal writing.
Paradoxically, following patterns makes writing verses easier, in my opinion, especially as you grow used to them. Eventually you'll be able to express thoughts spontaneously that already conform to a pattern of poetry, but that will take practice and exposure.
For music lyrics, your pattern will be, of course, partly determined by the music itself. But for other verses there are many forms to choose from.
THE SONNET -- One of the simplest patterns for poetry, in my opinion, is the sonnet (or at least some forms of the sonnet). It mimics the normal "cadence" (pattern of emphasis) of regular speech, although it also has a rhyming pattern too.
There are many types of sonnet forms, but the following form is one that I prefer using (CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE). It uses "iambic pentameter," which means that each line has 10 syllables and the emphasis, or stress, on each syllable alternates. The words in each line follow this pattern of emphasis when spoken: du DUH du DUH du DUH du DUH du DUH. Each "stanza" (or group of lines) should contain four lines except for the fourth (and last) stanza, which should only have two lines. In a four-line stanza, the last word of the first and third line should rhyme, and the last word of the second and fourth line should rhyme. In a two-line stanza, the last word of both lines should rhyme.
FREE VERSE -- I do sometimes write "free verse," which is "prose" (regular writing) that is broken up into lines, stanzas and verses solely because the author dubs it a poem. Free verse has no discernible pattern whatsoever, at least by definition. In a way it is a rebel's declaration of "poetry" by force of will.
But, in practice, great free verse does have patterns of its own, even if subtle ones, and when I write free verse I usually make up a bizarre and arbitrary pattern to the words that only I am probably consciously aware of, and yet which the brains of others, I hope, picks up on at some level and makes the reader think (I hope) "Hey! This is a poem!" ;)
Perhaps it is my bias, but I don't believe any writings can be truly poetic if there is not some sort of method to the madness of it all. All poetry -- in my mind -- follows some sort of pattern, whether consciously or unconsciously. As poet T.S. Elliot wrote: "No verse is free for the man who wants to do a good job."
COURAGE
Don't put poetry or lyrics on a pedestal. Everyone is capable of it, even if it is of the "Roses are red. Violets are blue" level of poetry and lyricism. To help you grow more relaxed about writing lyrics or poetry, you should practice by writing "throwaway" poems or lyrics that are silly, goofy or whatever. These should be treated like playtime and not as a serious matter. If you compose throwaways repeatedly you may occasionally unearth some enjoyable wordplay that you can actually use (that should NOT be your goal though). More importantly, though, you will relax more with poetry and lyrics.
Don't be afraid to create metaphors, analogies and descriptions. Sometimes emotions can't be expressed directly but you can describe them indirectly using imagery with the same feeling to it.
HAIKU -- A simple example of poetry that relies heavily on this is the haiku, which has few requirements. A haiku consists of three lines. The first and third lines are five syllables and the second line is seven syllables. More to the point, a haiku is based upon a single idea, usually one related to nature or a natural state, and expresses it in an indirect fashion without ever mentioning its subject explicitly except in the title. (If a poem written in a haiku style is about human relationships, human nature, or humor, then it is called a senryu.)
A series of haiku poems I wrote can be found elsewhere on this website (CLICK HERE). To make them more interesting for me to write, the haiku poems are meant to be read separately or together. If read separately the subject of the haiku is in the title of the poem, but if read together the meaning shifts.
STAY FRESH
Avoid cliches "like the plague" or your lyrics and poetry will sound as stale "as yesterday's news." ;) But seriously, that is the most atrocious mistake that people make when trying to idly write poetry. A metaphor, analogy, and so on can be wonderful, but not if it is a commonly used phrase that, as a result, has little life left in it.
If you're not sure if something is a cliche, then just don't use a metaphor, simile, analogy, or phrase that you've heard two separate people use on two separate occasion.
Use your imagination or past experience to recall an image that evokes the same feeling you are trying to express. Don't be lazy. ;)
It is okay to write about common topics like love, sorrow, romance, loss and so on. Just don't use cliches and you'll be fine. In fact, those topics are written about so much because they are so meaningful to us. They can be great topics even now.
BE YOURSELF
Don't worry about being original; instead try to be personally meaningful. Your poetry or lyrics should mean something to you personally, even if you are in a situation that a million other human beings have also experienced and written about. What is unique about the experience is not the topic. What is unique about the experience is the author and/or subject: you.
NOTE: The original version of this poetry primer was written on an online forum in 2008 in response to someone who wanted advice. Revised in 2013. For now, all rights reserved. Copyright 2013 John Rieping. Yada yada yada.
Below are some tips for writing poetry based on personal experience.
FREE AND TRUE
Your first step should generally be to write your feelings honestly and simply -- without self-censorship. The best way to strangle lyrics or poetry at birth is to be critical as you write. You have to write freely and without inhibition and do so until you've exhausted the theme. Then you should -- perhaps after taking a break -- modify, correct and work with it. Be assured that you won't use all of it, or even most of it. You usually shouldn't use all that you write in the initial writings. But you can pick and choose the best parts and use that for your final lyrics.
PLAY WITH PATTERNS
Find a pattern you are comfortable with to fit your words into. All poetry is about expressing thoughts and feelings in a way that has a pattern, whether it be in the rhyming, alliteration, parallel structure, repetition or whatever. It is this expression of thoughts within a pattern that gives others satisfaction in hearing poetry, and is what separates poetry from normal writing.
Paradoxically, following patterns makes writing verses easier, in my opinion, especially as you grow used to them. Eventually you'll be able to express thoughts spontaneously that already conform to a pattern of poetry, but that will take practice and exposure.
For music lyrics, your pattern will be, of course, partly determined by the music itself. But for other verses there are many forms to choose from.
THE SONNET -- One of the simplest patterns for poetry, in my opinion, is the sonnet (or at least some forms of the sonnet). It mimics the normal "cadence" (pattern of emphasis) of regular speech, although it also has a rhyming pattern too.
There are many types of sonnet forms, but the following form is one that I prefer using (CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE). It uses "iambic pentameter," which means that each line has 10 syllables and the emphasis, or stress, on each syllable alternates. The words in each line follow this pattern of emphasis when spoken: du DUH du DUH du DUH du DUH du DUH. Each "stanza" (or group of lines) should contain four lines except for the fourth (and last) stanza, which should only have two lines. In a four-line stanza, the last word of the first and third line should rhyme, and the last word of the second and fourth line should rhyme. In a two-line stanza, the last word of both lines should rhyme.
FREE VERSE -- I do sometimes write "free verse," which is "prose" (regular writing) that is broken up into lines, stanzas and verses solely because the author dubs it a poem. Free verse has no discernible pattern whatsoever, at least by definition. In a way it is a rebel's declaration of "poetry" by force of will.
But, in practice, great free verse does have patterns of its own, even if subtle ones, and when I write free verse I usually make up a bizarre and arbitrary pattern to the words that only I am probably consciously aware of, and yet which the brains of others, I hope, picks up on at some level and makes the reader think (I hope) "Hey! This is a poem!" ;)
Perhaps it is my bias, but I don't believe any writings can be truly poetic if there is not some sort of method to the madness of it all. All poetry -- in my mind -- follows some sort of pattern, whether consciously or unconsciously. As poet T.S. Elliot wrote: "No verse is free for the man who wants to do a good job."
COURAGE
Don't put poetry or lyrics on a pedestal. Everyone is capable of it, even if it is of the "Roses are red. Violets are blue" level of poetry and lyricism. To help you grow more relaxed about writing lyrics or poetry, you should practice by writing "throwaway" poems or lyrics that are silly, goofy or whatever. These should be treated like playtime and not as a serious matter. If you compose throwaways repeatedly you may occasionally unearth some enjoyable wordplay that you can actually use (that should NOT be your goal though). More importantly, though, you will relax more with poetry and lyrics.
Don't be afraid to create metaphors, analogies and descriptions. Sometimes emotions can't be expressed directly but you can describe them indirectly using imagery with the same feeling to it.
HAIKU -- A simple example of poetry that relies heavily on this is the haiku, which has few requirements. A haiku consists of three lines. The first and third lines are five syllables and the second line is seven syllables. More to the point, a haiku is based upon a single idea, usually one related to nature or a natural state, and expresses it in an indirect fashion without ever mentioning its subject explicitly except in the title. (If a poem written in a haiku style is about human relationships, human nature, or humor, then it is called a senryu.)
A series of haiku poems I wrote can be found elsewhere on this website (CLICK HERE). To make them more interesting for me to write, the haiku poems are meant to be read separately or together. If read separately the subject of the haiku is in the title of the poem, but if read together the meaning shifts.
STAY FRESH
Avoid cliches "like the plague" or your lyrics and poetry will sound as stale "as yesterday's news." ;) But seriously, that is the most atrocious mistake that people make when trying to idly write poetry. A metaphor, analogy, and so on can be wonderful, but not if it is a commonly used phrase that, as a result, has little life left in it.
If you're not sure if something is a cliche, then just don't use a metaphor, simile, analogy, or phrase that you've heard two separate people use on two separate occasion.
Use your imagination or past experience to recall an image that evokes the same feeling you are trying to express. Don't be lazy. ;)
It is okay to write about common topics like love, sorrow, romance, loss and so on. Just don't use cliches and you'll be fine. In fact, those topics are written about so much because they are so meaningful to us. They can be great topics even now.
BE YOURSELF
Don't worry about being original; instead try to be personally meaningful. Your poetry or lyrics should mean something to you personally, even if you are in a situation that a million other human beings have also experienced and written about. What is unique about the experience is not the topic. What is unique about the experience is the author and/or subject: you.
NOTE: The original version of this poetry primer was written on an online forum in 2008 in response to someone who wanted advice. Revised in 2013. For now, all rights reserved. Copyright 2013 John Rieping. Yada yada yada.
For poetry, CLICK HERE.