by Kat Apf

Created on: March 08, 2010   Last Updated: February 18, 2011

Writing captivating poetry is an art form.  You have to go the extra mile with the descriptions, make sure the poem has universal appeal but is also personal and from the heart and has a natural rhythm, even if it's not written in rhyme.  But how do you do that?

First things first-

To write captivating poetry, you have to read captivating poetry, first!  Otherwise, how will you know what's been said?  And how will you know how it's been said?  So read all the poetry you can find.  Becoming a well-read poet will lead to writing good, captivating  poetry. A great place to start is

poets.org.  

Personal vs. Public-

There are two kinds of poems.  The kind you write to get through something or unburden yourself and the kind you want the public to read.  So, you have to know which is which.  Diary entry poetry is fine for you but not for the public.  The poetry you write that strangers may read should have that universal appeal.  

The best way to decide if a poem is for public viewing or not is to put it away for a bit, come back and read it with fresh eyes.  If it still seems like a winner to you, then, it's for the public.  If it reads like a page from your life that no one else can understand, then, it's just for you and your loved ones.  Your poetry won't be captivating if no one else can relate to it.

Descriptions-

It's hard to say something new at times.  A lot of poetry has been written, a lot of scenes have already been described,  but if you can find a twist on the way you describe things, you'll be writing captivating poetry.  

Don't use abstracts.  When you say you're in pain, there isn't a concrete thought there. Pain means different thing to different people.  You can compare your pain to something else but leave out the word pain.  Find other ways to say pain.  Abstracts do not make captivating poetry.  

Remember to employ all of your senses.  Don't just say how something looks but how it smells, how it feels.  In some cases, how it tastes.  Write so the reader can hear what's going on, too.  Give them the full experience.  Because that's what captivating poetry does, it draws the reader in.  

Rhythm-

Even free verse needs some kind of beat.  And if you write in rhyme, you really need to learn about meter.  Again, reading good poetry will help you see the natural rhythm that comes with good free verse and will help you understand more formal types of poetry.

Meter is often hard for new poets to grasp.  It's more than syllable counting. It's about how words are stressed in speaking.  Once you get a handle on meter, then, go for writing in rhyme.

Writing from the heart-

Captivating poetry does come from your heart. But it also needs to be polished and rewritten.  All good poetry has heart but it's also a lot of work, rework and more work.  Rarely does a poem not need a rewrite.  So, keep at it.  Keep striving to make your poems the very best and you'll end up with captivating poetry.

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