Early poets were called bards.
Poetry is one of the earliest forms of storytelling and the written word. Poetry dates back to 3000 B.C., according to Poetry.com. Many techniques and styles of poetry have evolved, but making sure a poem reads well is a technique poets still practice. Many contemporary poets consider it a form of art and read their poems aloud at conferences like the Dodge Poetry Festival or at coffee houses. Some poets even compete in poetry slams, which is the competitive art of performance poetry.
Read Other Poets
Imitation is the best flattery, but it is also the best way to learn the various styles of poetry. Poetry styles include ballads, sonnets, odes, epitaphs, haiku, narrative elegies and many more, according to Poetry-Online. To figure out which style is most appropriate for your poem, study some classic poetry. A ballad is a poem that could be set to music. Robert Burns wrote many ballads. Sonnets are poems that use iambic pentameter. Read sonnets by William Shakespeare to get an idea of how they are shaped. Odes are forms of lyrical verse in praise of a person, animal, place or thing such as John Keats' "Ode To A Nightingale."
Choose Words Wisely
Poetry is all about using words creatively so try not to state the obvious. Saying the sky is blue won't win you any awards in creativity. Employ words in your poem that illustrate the senses, including taste, smell, touch and vision. Try to show the reader what you are describing in a poem, instead of just telling them. Most poets use metaphors, which is a figure of speech that draws similarities between two items, according to Creative Writing Now. Steer clear of cliches. They are easy to fall into, but often a reader will lose interest after reading one.
Picking Good Subjects
WhiteSmoke.com recommends focusing on small everyday situations or items as opposed to broad topics like love and war in a poem because they are easier to write about and they are also easier for a reader to relate to. Try to pick unique or pressing news topics to write about, suggests Poetry.com. Work with opposites, such as making something that is ugly like a snake slithering through a marsh attractive to a reader. Don't be afraid to get creative.
Make Time to Write
The hardest thing for a poet to do is make time for writing. Many poets keep a journal to record their thoughts in a stream of consciousness style. They write down observations, dreams and everyday thoughts. Try to draw pictures for the reader or listener with your words. Don't be afraid to rewrite your poem several times over, says Dummies.com. Practice and revision are part of the poetic process.
