6 Tips for Writing the Modern Ode
Looking for a form to help you express some intense emotions? Consider dusting off the classic ode and giving it a modern twist! Imaginative, emotional, and dignified, the ode is an open invitation to show gratitude, grieve, or even make
Try This Trio: 3 Poetic Forms to Push Your Writing
When poets struggle with writer’s block, a poem that rambles, or the persistent instinct that a poem is still not as strong as it could be, they’re often greeted with an intimidating, yet interesting piece of advice: Experiment with form. Though
5 Steps to Writing a Hard-Hitting Poem
You know the poems you hear at readings that elicit gasps and snaps from the crowd? Or those poems that leave you lingering on a book’s page, rereading your favorite lines and leaving crowded, awestruck notes in the margins? You’ve
5 Poetry Accounts to Inspire Your Next Instagram Aesthetic
Have you ever scrolled through someone’s Instagram page and been drawn to the overall appearance of their work? We often refer to this as a page’s aesthetic, which refers to its attention to detail and beauty. One of my favorite things
Don’t Miss These 6 Poetry Scholarships
Looking to further your education in poetry? Don’t think you’ll have to foot the bill on your own. There are a number of resources, foundations, and endowments out there ready to lend a helping hand to talented poets. All you
7 Poetry Contests To Submit To in September
The general sentiment about poetry contests seems to be that they’re intimidating and difficult to win. And in recent years, the number of poetry contests has surged, leading to an overwhelming, ever-expanding list of opportunities, each with their own unique
How to Self-Publish a Book of Poetry
With the rise in poetry communities across platforms like Instagram, Goodreads, and Tumblr, self-published collections have helped poets everywhere land the book deal of their dreams. Rupi Kaur, perhaps the most popular example, was in school to be a lawyer
How to Grow Your Audience on Social Media
I still remember why I first created my Twitter account: because one of my writing professors “strongly suggested” it. At the time, the process of replacing my blank “egg” avatar with a photo, finding people I wanted to follow, and
8 Reasons to Appreciate the Villanelle
Sometimes known as a villanesque, the villanelle is a fixed-verse poem made up of nineteen lines: five lines of three (or a tercet) followed by a four-line stanza (or a quatrain). The first and third lines of the first tercet
10 Reasons to Love Iambic Pentameter
While traditional poetic forms sometimes get a bad wrap for being too strict, remember that rules can often help you push your creativity. The most common meter in English poetry, iambic pentameter is measured in pairs of syllables called “feet.”
Best How-To Books on Writing Poetry
One of the most frequently mentioned tips for improving any craft is to keep learning. And when it comes to poetry, adjusting to and growing alongside the ever-changing genre can only benefit writers. From learning a new poetic form to
Should You Publish Your Poetry Anonymously? Successful Anonymous Poets and the Pros and Cons of Publishing Under a Pen Name
With the rise of social media, we might feel as though we need to document our every move or broadcast our deepest thoughts. The internet has become a platform for self-expression, a space to showcase who we are, what we