by Paul Rance

Created on: May 15, 2010

To write captivating poetry it helps to be inspired. You can be inspired by the great poets or by taking a walk in a beautiful wood or meadow. You should find that if you are inspired then those feelings will translate to the page.

You'll need to make sure that you are in the right frame of mind to write verse that will captivate someone. So don't write when you're feeling tired, otherwise your work will not sparkle. Let the words flow naturally at first, and then tidy up the poem at a later stage. The initial feelings will be the soul of your poem.

A poem that captivates has to be fairly uplifting, and you can mine a rich seam from nature, specifically, or from personal experience, i.e. endearing childhood memories, the first time you fell in love, your first kiss, your wedding day, the birth of your children, the love of your family, etc. You could also write about amusing incidents in your life, especially involving children and animals.

Try to avoid negative thoughts when writing your poem, as they could affect the whole tenor of the poem itself. Think of happy thoughts and memories, and write about them.

Take your time over what you write if necessary. If you are finding that the words aren't really coming, then writing something down when you are not feeling inspired will detract from the quality of the poem.

If you are yourself moved by what you write, then the chances are so will other people, especially if it is something which connects us. We may not have totally similar experiences regarding events in our lives, but we do know, for instance, how the joy of being in love feels, and that is where a poem can 'connect' from the writer to the reader.

You should write in the poetry form you are most comfortable with, as all poetry forms can captivate, from a haiku to a sonnet to a limerick. Don't try to write in the exactly the same way as a great poet, but try and put your own stamp on your poem.

If you follow these basic rules you will find writing captivating poetry easier than you may have imagined. Remember, be captivated yourself first of all, before you write your poem. Then you will find that those reading your poem will feel your emotion, and be captivated themselves.

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