My Poetry Writing Process

With anything done creatively, there is always a fascination with the processes people use to harness that creative flare and turn it into a finished piece of work. I would say that each poem I write is unique to the next and always appear in their own way. That being said, many similarities often pop up in the writing process that I use to at least end up with something written on the page.

The first part of writing my poems is always the inspiration. Something that catches my attention and starts to spark ideas. It could be something as simple as a shadow, a fallen leaf, or something complex like an emotion or feeling. Ideas don’t always result in a complete piece of writing that I am happy with, though I do make sure I capture each thought I have through notes and photos, just in case I want to revisit it later. I have often found this useful when producing content for instagram. I do not want to share all of my completed poems on the platform as it would get in the way of getting some published though I still need to produce content. Often simple phrases or single lines are really useful for this format.

Once I have an idea that I want to explore, the next step is to begin note-taking without worrying about accuracy or grammar. I can tweak and edit later, but you need to get something written first. I often use a freewriting technique when producing poetry, and this was something that I learned on my creative writing degree that I am in my third year of studying. The method is straightforward and involves writing quickly without paying much thought to what is written. The hardest part is often getting over the barrier to writing anything in the first place, and I have found this helpful when struggling to get something written down.

Seeing my words written down, whether in my journal, on a notes app on my phone, or a post-it note, allows me to plot what I am trying to say. Once I have something written down, I turn to the next blank page and begin to write it again, with slightly more care and concern for my word choices and my use of imagery. I repeat this process until I have something coherent. Reading a poem aloud is the simplest way to find its flaws. After each major change to my initial draft, I will always start reading aloud from the begging to see how this change has enhanced or diminished the entire piece.

In the simplest way possible, that Is usually the process I follow when writing Poetry. I edit until I can live with the words or reach the feeling of knowing I would gladly let someone read it. I then give it some space to let it breathe and revisit the poem in a couple of days with fresh eyes to continue the editing process.