How to Write a Poem: Demystifying the Process and Integrating Poetry into Manuscripts
Poetry is often viewed as mysterious, with complex structures and hidden meanings, but at its core, it’s simply a powerful form of expression that connects deeply with readers. In this post, we’ll break down the poetic process and explore how poetry can be woven into longer manuscripts to enhance storytelling.
Step 1: Start with an Emotion or Idea
Every poem has an emotional core. To start, think about a feeling, a moment, or a concept that resonates with you. For instance, my poem about the pineapple, inspired by strength and guarded beauty, started with the simple yet rich image of the fruit as a metaphor for resilience and self-worth:
In her lavish jade-hued crown that
adorns her golden armor,
the pineapple guards her
sweet soul in utmost
tropical sophistication.
Because boundaries are key
when you’re striving to
Stay Golden.
…and it’s not a facade
or a shield
that she
hides behind.
The pineapple knows how
delicious she is
and doesn’t make it easy
to reach her core.
But, when someone is willing to
take their time…
to put forth the effort,
and gently carve through
her gilded thorns
she’ll nourish them with
the richest,
most soul-quenching
love.
This poem builds on the idea of strength in boundaries, layered with imagery of the pineapple as an emblem of guarded beauty and warmth. The approach to writing this poem, like many others, began with a single metaphor and evolved into something more expressive.
Step 2: Choose Your Structure
Poems can take various forms, from free verse to structured styles like sonnets. A well-known example of a sonnet is Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, which captures love with timeless language:
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
Each line of a sonnet has a rhythmic and structured quality, helping convey powerful emotions in a compact format. You might choose a similar structure if you want rhythm and repetition to guide your writing, or opt for free verse if you prefer a more fluid, open-ended approach.
Step 3: Let the Imagery Speak
Good poetry leans heavily on sensory language. Use words that paint vivid images, so your readers can feel the textures, hear the sounds, and see the colors of your poem. Imagery helps a poem breathe life into the page, making it memorable and evocative.
Integrating Poetry into Full-Length Manuscripts
Poetry can deepen a manuscript by offering a break in narrative, allowing readers to pause, reflect, or engage with a character’s inner thoughts. In my book I Love, poetry is used to express raw emotions that prose alone couldn’t convey. For example, Mona, the protagonist, experiences romance, heartbreak, and self-discovery—her poetic musings add layers to her narrative journey and reveal deeper aspects of her personality.
Adding poetry to prose, like in a novel or memoir, can make the storytelling richer. By inserting a poem at a pivotal moment, you can shift the tone, add emotional weight, and give readers a new perspective on the storyline. Try writing a poem to punctuate a character’s pivotal moments or to explore a theme your story touches upon, such as love, loss, or resilience.
Writing Prompt
Take a moment to reflect on something that holds significance to you. Write a poem inspired by that person, place, or object, and let your words explore its meaning. Remember, poems don’t have to rhyme or follow strict rules—just let the words flow and see where they take you.
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