How to Write a Poetry Collection

From Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson to Timothy Liu and Audre Lorde, it is clear that each of these poets has a special knack for words. All possess a unique style and voice, and they all write about topics that are important to them. If you are a poet and are thinking about writing a poetry collection, here are some tips to get started and ensure that your work truly reflects what you feel.

What Is a Poem?

With modern poetry becoming more and more experimental, it is sometimes difficult to determine what a poem is. Poetry can be a million different things, but there are two things all poems have in common:

1. Words
2. Emotion

Emerging poets may find that the most helpful trick in learning how to write poetry is by reading the works of other poets. Find your niche by reading a variety of poems in different styles, forms, and subjects.

Where to Find Inspiration

Once you have found what you like, the next step is to start writing.

This can look different for every writer. Taking time out for some daily writing can spark those creative flames.

Another opportunity where you can write poems is when speaking with God. The raw emotion and deep connection to our spirituality opens our hearts, minds, and souls for the words to start flowing. Meditating or spending some time alone can also be beneficial in letting the inspiration come to you.

Write from your heart and don’t worry too much about making sense. The beauty of poetry comes from its honesty and vulnerability.

Play With Line Breaks, Rhyming, and More in Your Poetry

Another important factor to remember is to play around with line breaks, spacing, sounds, words, and different forms. There are lots of different poetry forms, from erasure poetry to the more traditional sonnet.

Poetry does not need to rhyme. Although internal (rhymes within the lines instead of at the end of the line) and slant (rhymes that are not exact) rhymes are usually seen within poems. The traditional, “Roses are red, violets are blue…” poem is a bit outdated and can seem repetitive, which makes the poem lose its luster.

Try to avoid clichés to make your poems one of a kind. The specificity of each word, the way the words are formatted on the page, and the meaning and sound behind the words will allow your poems to speak for themselves.

What Do I Include?

Poetry collections are typically comprised of poems that share a common theme (this isn’t to say that all the poems have to have the same topic). Love, nature, God, and the complex difficulties of being a human are common themes, but more specific themes can also be explored. Picking a main theme for your collection will allow it to feel cohesive and powerful while providing an outlet to share what is important to you.

There is no set limit for how many poems to include in a poetry collection. When you feel that it is complete, end your collection. With that being said, you want to include an ample amount to make it a full-length collection. Furthermore, variation within your poetry collection can keep readers engaged and show the full extent of your poetic skills.

Final Thoughts

You may be thinking, Wow, there seems to be no rules for writing a poetry collection, and you would be correct! Although there are no set criteria or rules, staying true to who you are and what you love to write about will elevate each of your poems in a unique and impactful way.

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