Five Poetry Writing Exercises
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Every poet can benefit from writing exercises because they give you the opportunity to brainstorm and practice new forms. For beginners, poetry exercises are a good way to learn how to write poetry. For poets who have been writing for awhile, these exercises can help refresh your style. Writing exercises can also be fun, like allowing your imagination an afternoon at the playground. You never know—a spectacular poem may be born out of a simple writing exercise.
Pull out your notebook, journal, laptop, or whatever you use to write. Some of these exercises can be completed at home, but others force you to head out to a public place (unless you have a fabulous view of a busy street or the doings of your neighbors).
Exercise #1 – Lists
This exercise requires you write a title at the top of your page, and then create a list down to the bottom of the page. You may find the beginnings of a poem, or a wonderful line, in some of your lists. Here are some examples taken from one of my old journals:
Frustrations-
- Feeling tired
- Not having enough time
- Being misunderstood
- Not able to speak clearly
- Having a disagreement
- Being late
- Feeling incompetent
- Feeling depressed
Firsts-
- The first time…I was scared when home alone;
- First time I felt comfortable crying in public;
- First time we kissed;
- First time we kissed and it meant something;
- First apartment, the craziness;
- First time I said, “I love you;”
- First time someone told me “I love you;”
- First pair of glasses, with the black frames;
- First hangover…oh, yeah…
Make a list of fears, losses, happy memories, accomplishments, dreams—whatever you can think of. Take some of the ideas from these lists, and see if you can expand upon them. Example: “Feeling tired, like an ant trying to get somewhere with a rock in its.” Or, “Incompetent feels like a fish in a bowl, always swimming, but hitting nothing but glass.”
All of these lists are opportunities for a poem.
Exercise #2 – Making Similes
Look through a book of poems you like, and find a few similes to use as inspiration. Now go someplace where you can observe nature, people, traffic, or something. Based on what you notice, begin listing some similes. They don’t have to make complete sense. Don’t think about what else you would write with them. Just write whatever you think of.
Some inspiring similes I’ve written in my journal:
“Sounds of leaves moving overhead like so many whispered conversations.” –Jane Kenyon
“He slumps like the very meaning of surrender.” –Ted Kooser
“Lawyers encircled the farm like a fence.” –Ted Kooser
Now, start making your own. Some from my journal:
Ivy creeping like silent footsteps.
A breeze gentle as a child wakening.
Leaves rustling like distant voices.
Leaves falling like men on a battlefield.
Breath from her mouth like a wave of sea water.
Go back and read what you wrote to see where the opportunities are. Sometimes, you simply need to close your journal. Come back to the list another day, with fresh eyes. You may be surprised by what you find.
Exercise #3 – Sensory Observations
Poetry is truly indefinable, but there are a lot of things poetry can do. It can describe a feeling, make a reader see a sight, help you smell a smell, and make something inanimate come to life. Sometimes, a poet has trouble finding ways to describe what she wants to express. This exercise will help you stop and pay attention to the smaller things around you. Go out into the world, and make observations. Wherever you go, make five sensory observations for each sense.
Examples from my journals:
At Elliot Bay tonight, I see…white, square tiles; the backs of strangers; endless rows of books; a lonely microphone; shadows of chairs.
I hear…chattering voices; espresso machines whirring and fizzing; dishes clattering, softly, just clinking together; laughter; the crinkle of newspapers.
I feel…brick wall under my arm; a warm cup in my hand; hot air blowing against my face; the hard seat against my bottom; a wooden curve across my back.
I smell…coffee, mm; my plum chap stick (smells better than it tastes); used books; cinnamon; baking bread.
I taste…a soft coffee flavor; a hint of honey; the thickness of hot air; the ink of a fresh pen; more coffee.
You can do this exercise anywhere at anytime. Try it on the bus, at work, in a classroom, on a park bench. You may be surprised at the observations you make, and the opportunities for poetry that you find.
Exercise #4 – Describing a Scene or Picture
Either choose an physical place to observe, or find an interesting picture, and fully describe everything you experience. Don’t forget to include all of the senses, but also describe any action taking places. Get nitty gritty about the details—don’t leave anything out.
Afterwards, go through what you have written to see what stands out. Some detail, description, or word might be the beginning of a poem. You can also try to write a quick poem based on solely on the scene you choose.
More Poetry Hubs by this Writer
- Home of the Hub Haiku
Learn how to write haiku, and leave one to add to the hubpages collection. - Rondeau Poem: Fitting Room Safari
Learn what a rondeau poem is, and how to write it. "Fitting Room Safari" is offered as an example. - A Virtuous Vice - Living Poetry
A raw, repetitive poem about a piece of life. - How to Make a Chapbook - An Illustrated, Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to make a chapbook, so you can self-publish your own collection of poetry.
Poetry Exercises on Amazon
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Exercise #5 – Making Metaphors
This is actually a really fun, imaginative exercise. You are going to make three columns of lists, one for adjectives, one for concrete nouns, and one for abstract nouns. After you have filled at least one page with these lists, you will create another list: of metaphors. Take a word from each list to create your metaphor.
An excerpt from one of my journals:
Adjectives:
- Scrambled
- Empty
- Withered
- Sour
- Dark
Concrete Nouns:
- Outlet
- Doghouse
- Medicine
- Hook
- Clock
Abstract Nouns:
- Sadness
- Grief
- Apology
- Hope
- Anxiety
Metaphors:
The empty outlet of anxiety.
The withered doghouse of grief.
The empty medicine of hope.
What do you see in your metaphors? Are there opportunities for poems?
Don’t be afraid to alter or trash any of the ideas you come up with while doing poetry exercises. It is perfectly normal for a lot of what you write to be crap (one of my metaphors was “the marbled doghouse of apology” – huh?), but there will also be a lot of gems. Writing exercises offer you opportunities to practice and brainstorm. The more you write, the better you will be at finding what works.
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That must be such a powerful hub. Would you mind sharing a link?
What a wonderful hub, and I'm going to be sure to reference my son to it for his English projects - you know the ones where they ask high schoolers to "just write a poem" lol and it turns into pulling teeth :)
Thanx for the tips! Its very helpful, I love writing poetry!
I can write poetry very well.... that`s my dream job!
Great ideas! Thank you so much - I love these exercises and am excited to gain some inspiration in trying them.
Interesing
Thanks for the tips on poetry writing. Great ideas for practice and creating.
I started writing poetry as a teen as an alternative to some other not so creative outlets for my feelings. I just write my emotions and feeling in rhyme. Never had any formal classes or training. This hub is great. Thanks!
Genius.
Good Hub.
--Cupideros
Like to have your thoughts on any topic. Like to have it written in poetry. If not just start typing and post your thoughts on anything at poetry post hub. great hub will use the information provided in your hub. LOL tomdhum
hmm...very hubilicious words ma'am, thank you very much!!! informative and really interesting.:)..hidden words in a scribbling treasure! (i'm just trying :)! ..thanks once again! :)
I think these suggestions will help me out alot, I could do poetry, but it's like all the same, like for example, I see a butterfly landing on a blooming flower, a grasshopper hopping from blade of grass to blade of grass, A water ski bug gliding with incredible ease. Those were the main things i used in a poem, pretty much whenever i think up a poem, grasshopper, butterfly, blooming flowers and a water ski bug gliding, and tonight i decided that i would like to get help from a famous poet, and it worked!!!
wow-i love poetry but occasionally get stuck,youve totally helped me get past that...thank you
I feel like singing
dancing in the rain
my love has come back
i can see again
im counting my blessings
and the first one i thought of was
you
I love these exercises, especially the ones with metaphors. Well honestly looking back at them, I cant single any out because I plan to do all of them. Thanks for these, I am a seasoned poet and this will be some things I do to make sure I am always staying fresh.
Thanks a lot you don't know how much fun I am going to have on long trips, No more computer games for me!!
B. Price
this is excellent!!:)
i am hugeeee into journaling, every day.
and about 90% of it are poems that I've read/or favorite quotes, OR my own poems.
Youve now given me even more ideas to fill my Journal, AND my brand new Hub Page:) !
Your Hub is the first Ive read so far since Ive joined(just a few minutes ago...)
And it has gotten me VERY excited for this website already. God Bless
Thank you very much Stacie!
I`ve written poetry and short
stories in Spanish, some in
Japanese and some in English!
Writing in English has a different
feeling, and this hub has made me
want to write again!
Thumbs up for you!
Warm regards,
Mystique1957
I am going to practice these exercises everyday, thanks!
Gosh, this is a great resource for poets. I have just published my 2nd hub and its a romantic poem, and I see myself doing even more here. You are very knowledgeable about poetry and how it is made. Thank you. I am a fan,
Thanks for an excellent hub!! Will try out some of these excercises in the future!!!
Stacie-What a fabulous introduction to poetry this is! I took my very first stab at non-prose just today, and had a ball with it.
Your writing is quite inspirational...thanks!
absolutely.
As a failed writer who now grumbles along in his own business (after i dropped out of law school) I appreciate your consistency. Keep it up , if only for the others like me..
Clear, commonsense advice for poets at any stage of literary production. Thank you.
Wow, thank you sooo much. This is exactally what I needed to get my Clever Waves of Brilliance flowing. LoL
Thanks Again
great hub for new writers :)
Thanks :) this is great and i simply love reading new inspiration tips!
I Love this Hub
I seem to have a very odd way of writing
maybe I need to take care and be aware of all this when am
writing a poem.. will keep it in mind...
Thanks for a great Hub :))
Exercise #5 is especially intriguing. Thanks for the great hub.
Interesting.... Like exercise 5
it is really good thanks
Thank you Stacie this has been so helpful. I have always loved reading and listening to poetry but your article has inspired me to try to write some myself.
A great hub! Wonderful exercises. Very helpful. Thank you so much.
Love it . I write poetry and fiction,but this is a thorough hub =) eay to understand and now i have to take a few goes at these exercises !
thumbs up!!!
Great! This is really inspiring. U've made it easier 4 me 2 write poetry in a clever & adroit form. Respect & 1 luv!
A really inspiring post, thanks! I like the idea of going out and jotting down a few thoughts that come to mind - sometimes I do that with my mind's eyes.
Another Masterpiece! (Also bookmarked). I can hardly wait to begin your "observance" exercises. This information is so exciting. With your help, I will become a much improved writer. You are so kind to share such valuable information with us. I appreciate your skills and thank you for your inspiration. :)
Very good suggestions. I do like your metaphor example. I've also found that magnetic poetry can be an awesome source for inspiration. Just to have the words all over the fridge for you to arrange at will without caring if it makes sense or not is a very unique and mind blowing excercise
Thanks stacie, actually i started writing poems about 6 years ago, though without knowing the nitty-gritty of it, but it was just born out of many experiences and thoughts i had all my teenage life which with some kind of professional support i later collated to publish as a book last year with the title 'Heart crux'though i-proclaim. If i had been priveledged to read your post earlier than now may be i would have been faster in realising my dreams. thanks anyway as i promise to share some with you soon. cheers.
GREAT hub, thanks!
Thanks. This will be fun. I love the ideas you have.
I truly appreciate your help for us novice writers. And i guess, its not just for the poet in you but a writer can also improve with all the above advice. Thank you, for making hubpages a better place for some useful content.
Hi Stacie,
Time has no limits to learning opportunities. I am fisrt reading this and you offer sound, quality tips that will help like I have been writing for years.
Thanks
john Safranski
Thanks for your tips, this is great hub for helping beginner as well as experts.
Abdi
Stacie, this is really great stuff! I am a newbie to writing poetry and I'm anxious to give these exercises a try. Thanks for a great hub.
Great information. I think that there is more to writing poetry than just rhyming some words and you pointed this out. Great writing exercise advice.
great information in 2011 as any time. what do you DO with creative written words? after your thoughts are on paper? or in the computer? Is the idea to make money from being creative? In school you are creative to earn a grade. How do you take that to the world?
Very informational, I too write instructional aricles on writing. Mine focus more on beginners and basics. Please check them out when you can. :)
Awesome! Thank you!
Thank you so much! this helped me with my foundation for all of my pomes. before I read this they would bounce in almost every direction thanks again :)
Thanks, I'll try this exercises weirdoo xxx
Thanks for your insightful information for the beginners, and I will try to use your tips in writing my poems.
I have a question....about poetry. Are they written so that that usually rhyme? I have in my heart so much to write...but seems to me that it comes across better when it rhymes.
Hi Stacie, great tips here. I write a blog for Hello Poetry and we've set up a little experiment called adopt a metaphor that you and your readers might enjoy!
http://hellopoetry.com/experiments/adopt-a-metapho
Let us know what you think!
djtphn1 3 years ago
Wow, Stacie....my mind is blown right now. A while back, about 10 years ago, I had a boyfriend pass away at my house in his sleep. I woke to find him dead....anyways, I ended up writing this poem about him, acutally it is published on Helium and it is called First.....and it talks about all the firsts that I encountered w/ him and I just cannot believe you touched upon this in this hub....what a trip. anyways, thanks for reminding me