How on Earth do you write poetry.

My only advice would be to let your emotions flow! There are so many different kinds of poetry, some are structured, some rhyme, some flow like song lyrics... Some are just seemingly jumbled messes of words! Either way, there is beauty to be found in all poetry as long as the poet has allowed him/herself no boundaries or filters.

My process is usually the same... I will have an intense emotion, and a single sentence or phrase will pop into my head and I write it down. Throughout the day or weeks to come my thoughts and energy seem to focus on this line and build on it. Eventually I'll have enough lines to really motivate me to sit down, write some more, organize them in whichever order flows well, etc.

To me, there is no right or wrong way to write poetry, although everyone has their own opinion on what sounds good and what makes sense. I believe it's up to you to write what you are feeling and re-write it to make it sound the way you like!

Best of luck!! There's no shame in trying :)

Wait until you have an inspirational moment ,think of a sentence that best expresses how you feel,find a pen and paper then bingo let it all pour out.

When I first started writing poetry over 40 years ago I found that it was not something that just happens. I am fortunate to be able to sit down upon command and kick out a funny poem as I often am asked to do for parties, celebrations etc. But when it comes to the kind of poetry that comes from the soul and the heart and seems that the poet knows the readers very innermost feelings, you either have it or you don't. I have never been able to just set down and write a serious poem because I can't pull up the feelings out of the blue.. I don't think poetry can be taught but I will tell you this. Some people can't write it until they stop trying. Start by jotting simple sentences down to describe what you feel, or to paint a verbal picture of something breathtaking you are seeing or experiencing. Sometimes poetry can come from that. It's like taking a bunch of random colors, choosing the most beautiful and then shaping them into the gentle arch of a rainbow. Separated, the colors were pretty. Together, their splendor leaves one in awe.

Go to a favorite place. Someplace you like to be. Pick up a pen and write what is in your heart. Do not edit. Do not check spelling. Just write. Do this for as long your thoughts flow. You will have a poem or at least the beginings of one. Just trust yourself.

look into your heart, and see what is there.

Or look into someone else's heart and see what is there.

And write, share your emotions, sadness, gratefulness;

hope, friendship, etc. You can write, everyone can write.

Try starting with a letter, like when you write to a friend.

Practice a little bit everyday. Soon you will have poems to share.

They can rhyme or not. Doesn't matter.

I believe that we all have poetry of some sort within us. For many of us the poetry is lyrical and rhyming, for others it is prose or narrative. The best way to find your poetry is to find your style. There are many poetry sites out there including a poetry community on myspace and another called wordmachinist.com. At these locations you can get constructive criticism, learn your style and participate in challenges which make you step outside the box and look at things differently. Try a few different themes and styles and see what fits. That is how you start. Good luck.

i usually write whenever i'm in the mood to, or if i see something that inspires me to write about it. i literally woke up at 2 in the morning once to write a poem. =]

Writing, all kinds of writing is40% talent and 60% hard work. You may have a great idea but if the style of your writing is not intriguing enough then no one will get the message you are trying to portray. ... keep reading →

From the bottom of your heart and the conviction that what you write come from deep within your soul. Then it is the most beautiful writings you would ever read. They contain your beliefs, your passion, you unique imprint. Regardless of the genre, poetry will always be beautifl and it has the advantage of being a crystal clear window to your soul.

I think poetry is something that comes from within, you either have it or you don't. the ones who do, it's like a gift from God. Although; their are many people on earth proclaiming to have the gift of... keep reading →

Begin by reading poetry...lots of it. Either anthologies or individual poets, it doesn't matter. You can't write poetry consistently if you're not reading it consistently. Don't worry about copying someone else's style. You probably will at the beginning.

You will find that some poets speak to you, others do not. Read the Elizabethans, the Romantics, the Victorians. Read Walt and Emily especially. They are our American precursors. Read the "big four" of the 20th century:

Eliot, Yeats, Frost, Stevens. Read their successors. Read men, women, ethnic, formal and free verse.

If you can't make reading poetry a lifelong occupation, why would you think that anyone would want to read yours?

If you're a poet, your own words will come to you. Remember, poetry is about language, not about ideas. (If you want to write about ideas, write essays.) Try your hand at everything. Don't "choose sides". Read, write, read, write.