For Tips #1-5, please visit the previous post on my Five Tips for Beginner Poets. That post became so popular that I have decided to make it an ongoing series. Check back regularly for new posts, or subscribe to be notified of new posts!
Tip #6: Always keep a notebook nearby.
One of the greatest challenges poets and writers face is finding inspiration. You never know when the Muses will gift you with a new idea, so keep a notebook on you at all times – in your bookbag, purse, or briefcase, on your desk, by your bed on the floor or on top of the nightstand, and even consider investing in one of those cool waterproof shower notepads. This way, you won’t ever miss an opportunity to write down an idea once it comes to you.
Tip #7: Be receptive to feedback.
Another challenge authors sometimes face is writing in a vacuum. If you are fortunate enough to have friends or family who are willing to read your work, ask them for feedback, and be open to whatever they have to say. Read your poems aloud to them, and ask them what works and what doesn’t. If no one you know wishes to read your work, consider starting a blog or an Instagram page for poetry. Ask your readers for feedback. (But don’t fall into the trap of measuring your success in terms of ‘likes,’ which often depend more on how often you post, when you post, and how many followers you have than the actual content of your post.) Once you have gotten some feedback, use it to edit your work.
Tip #8: Write all the time.
Write prolifically. Write at the beach, and when you’re out and about. Write on the couch, or in bed. Write even when you’re not supposed to be writing. Write whenever you can, wherever you can. (Disclaimer: Please do not write when you are driving or operating heavy machinery, unless you have one of those fancy, entirely hands-free dictation programs, and even then, use caution and your better judgment.) Basically, write and then write some more. If you do, you set yourself up for success, improvement, and all good things.
1 Comment