THE WRITER’S REBELLION 2017

WRITING FUEL
Principles for Writing Poetry

© 2017 The Writer's Rebellion | Write Yourself Alive | Andrea Balt

 “A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a
homesickness, a lovesickness.” ― Robert Frost

Before you proceed with this poetry practice, please make sure you see our
Showing vs. Telling segment.

1. Paint pictures with words. Two essential figures of speech to help you
accomplish this are Metaphor and Simile. A metaphor applies a characteristic
to a person, object or action to which it is not literally applicable. A simile uses
direct comparison (through the words “like” and “as”) to communicate the
same. Example of Metaphor vs. Simile: “The ocean in her eyes” (metaphor) vs.
“Her eyes are like the ocean” (simile).

2. Your poem is a story. A story is any written statement that communicates a

piece of a reality. As a Storyteller, what kind of story are you telling through
your poem? Get clear with the goal + intention behind it. Always ask your
poem these questions: What is it saying? What does it really want to say? 


3. Don’t try hard to rhyme. Don't try hard not to rhyme. If you’re just
starting out, focus on creating good poetry and leave the rhyme aside for after
your first verses. If you do want to incorporate rhyme, make sure you get
familiar with the different rhyme schemes before you dive into it. Poor
rhyming can result in clichés and distract the reader from the actual story the
poem is communicating.

4. Avoid abstractions. Use concrete words. Don’t write about concepts —

like “love,” “hate,” “sadness,” “pain.” These are abstract concepts that fall
under TELLING more than SHOWING. Instead, try to SHOW what you mean
by “love,” “hate,” or “sadness.” Use concrete words to create imagery + actions
that poetically SHOW these concepts and make the reader feel them.

5. Read your poems aloud to yourself. Attend poetry readings. Poetry

was originally meant to be recited, not read. More than any other writing, this
genre begs to at least be read out loud. Read your poems out loud as often as
possible. It will give you a more clear understanding of your work and
progress, strengths and weaknesses, lacks and excesses. In addition to sharing
your work online — such as through this program — try to together with other
poets for in-person readings as often as possible.


© 2017 The Writer's Rebellion | Write Write Yourself Alive | Andrea Balt
6. Avoid cliches or getting excessively sentimental. Cliches distract your
readers and often make them cringe. Excessive sentimentality — usually about
love and the loss of it — forces emotion out of the reader instead of inviting
them to an experience. The attitude of poetry is of Seduction, not of emotional
manipulation. Focus on making your verses so irresistible that they invite the
reader to fall in love naturally vs. grab them by the throat and force them into
feeling what you’re feeling.

7. Don’t swallow a dictionary. On the contrary, poetry more than any other
genre, demands clear, accessible language, easy to understand for most people.
The magic of poetry doesn’t lie in using recherché words that most people
would need a dictionary to follow. It lies in the way you learn to dance with the
simplest language and turn the ordinary into magic. 



As Einstein put it, “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making
it simple.” — Poetry takes this advice to the next level by making the simple
beautiful. 


8. Write about opinions and feelings regarding a topic or an event —

not just about the topic itself. Poetry always transmits a Point of View, a
Feeling — about a specific topic. It’s not just information, it aims for
transformation. To achieve this, focus on writing only about the things that
affect you, enough to generate a feeling or an opinion.

9. Edit & Revise. Some poets argue that poetry doesn't need revision. Yet, like
all literature and ANY written word, it absolutely does. Poetry is not instant
photography, it is a piece of writing that can and should and must be edited
and revised as many times as necessary until your true message is conveyed
through the most simple, yet extraordinary combination of words.


Suggested Exercise


Write two poems with and/or without rhyme, about a topic that pains you and another
topic you love or that fills you with joy. Place each within the poetic story frame (aka,
context) that fits best. Example: a dream, a memory, a direct statement, a
conversation, etc. Through this exercise try to embrace the full spectrum of emotions
in poetry, and practice the points discussed in this section.

© 2017 The Writer's Rebellion | Write Write Yourself Alive | Andrea Balt