dissent - Hello Poetry

Please, dear god, use stanza breaks.

0

Sep 16, 2013

Sep 16, 2013 at 9:36 AM UTC

dissent

Stanza breaks

Please, dear god, use stanza breaks.

3

One word title poems? Unless you're writing something as thick and funky as "Howl", it's probably best to do some work with the title towards a central idea- I'm talking very deep, abstract stuff. Otherwise, it's not ever going to stick. Or you could just named it an attitude or mood. But please don't.

0

Sep 8, 2013

Sep 8, 2013 at 2:04 AM UTC

dissent

Seriously

One word title poems? Unless you're writing something as thick and funky as "Howl", it's probably best to do some work with the title towards a central idea- I'm talking very deep, abstract stuff. Otherwise, it's not ever going to stick. Or you could just named it an attitude or mood. But please don't.

3

Pick up any respected poetry collection. Are there poems that go on and on about ex lovers? I'm not talking about a motif or a metaphor, I'm talking about something like: "I remember your hair color I remember your shirt size I remember your favorite ice cream" Did any of that seem interesting? No, it's a list of junk you miss. People in a similar position might find it relatable, but what's to stop that from being a blog or Tumblr post? If you're going to be autobiographical, you need to walk a thin line between whining and writing poetry. Plath wrote poetry about her life, but she sure as hell did not write strictly about her life. It has to be alive on its own accord, not because you're a human being there to be the meat puppet for a human idea.

0

Aug 24, 2013

Aug 24, 2013 at 9:32 PM UTC

dissent

On the autobiographical

Pick up any respected poetry collection. Are there poems that go on and on about ex lovers? I'm not talking about a motif or a metaphor, I'm talking about something like: "I remember your hair color I remember your shirt size I remember your favorite ice cream" Did any of that seem interesting? No, it's a list of junk you miss. People in a similar position might find it relatable, but what's to stop that from being a blog or Tumblr post? If you're going to be autobiographical, you need to walk a thin line between whining and writing poetry. Plath wrote poetry about her life, but she sure as hell did not write strictly about her life. It has to be alive on its own accord, not because you're a human being there to be the meat puppet for a human idea.

7

1. If it doesn't take place at 4 in the morning, immediately change the setting. 2. You should center all your work. Centering makes the piece unique and improves readability. 3. You should invoke the idea of The Mask. Paul Laurence Dunbar didn't do it well enough. 4. One word lines improve readability and do a great job of making emphasis. Use them a lot. 5. On the other hand, really long lines explain points wonderfully. Feel free to be essentially prosaic. 6. The subject should be obvious and everyday, that way everyone can easily understand what you're trying to say. Subtext is dated. 7. Confessions and heartbreak are unique to you. 8. Not editing makes the work extremely human and relatable. 9. Emoticons and the ilk are the cutting edge of the English language. Feel free to use them without reservation. 10. Rhyme scheme doesn't need meter. 11. Making a word into waterfall letters tells the reader you're falling apart (See #3). 12. Journals, diaries, blogs and Tumblr are old news when it comes to venting. Write an angry poem about your day instead. 13. You're probably going mad according to the DSM-5. Definitely write about that.

0

Aug 22, 2013

Aug 22, 2013 at 2:23 PM UTC

dissent

How to write a successful Hello Poetry poem

1. If it doesn't take place at 4 in the morning, immediately change the setting. 2. You should center all your work. Centering makes the piece unique and improves readability. 3. You should invoke the idea of The Mask. Paul Laurence Dunbar didn't do it well enough. 4. One word lines improve readability and do a great job of making emphasis. Use them a lot. 5. On the other hand, really long lines explain points wonderfully. Feel free to be essentially prosaic. 6. The subject should be obvious and everyday, that way everyone can easily understand what you're trying to say. Subtext is dated. 7. Confessions and heartbreak are unique to you. 8. Not editing makes the work extremely human and relatable. 9. Emoticons and the ilk are the cutting edge of the English language. Feel free to use them without reservation. 10. Rhyme scheme doesn't need meter. 11. Making a word into waterfall letters tells the reader you're falling apart (See #3). 12. Journals, diaries, blogs and Tumblr are old news when it comes to venting. Write an angry poem about your day instead. 13. You're probably going mad according to the DSM-5. Definitely write about that.

13