From the very moment of his birth, man seeks to express his feelings. In these circumstances, since he does not know how to speak, he does so crying. Later, as time goes by and he manages to pronounce single words, he uses them to imply what he wants.
Already when they reach adolescence, as the vast majority feel misunderstood, they reveal what they feel through their behavior, the way they dress, the type of music they listen to and, many others, they keep a diary of notes.
It is usually at this stage of life that writing is used as a means of liberation. It is written to drain emotions, rage, anger, sadness, love, loneliness, etc. Some do it in the form of prose, while others decide to write a few verses.
This would be, for some, the first contact with poetry. Upon leaving this stage, there are those who are no longer interested in the subject. However, many others continue to practice and get better and better. They write cleaner and more elaborate verses, full of feeling and beautiful metaphors. Hence they begin to harbor the dream of being a poet.
But have you ever wondered how you can become a poet? Do I need to receive any special training? What is needed to achieve it? Where can you start? If you are reading this article, it is because you want to be a poet or, at least, you want to find out how it can be. We have good news for you, you have come to the right place.
Here you will know everything related to the process of training a poet. In this way, by applying the advice that we will give you, in a short time, you will become a recognized poet in the world of letters. But, let’s get to work and begin to address this interesting topic.
Instructions to be a poet
Poetry is one of the most beautiful means that exist to capture and express feelings. For this reason, those who are interested in it are usually people with great sensitivity and with a totally different vision of the world than that of their contemporaries. It is like a needle in a haystack or like a beautiful flower blooming in the swamp.
Therefore, if you want to become a poet, without realizing it, you have already taken the first step, that is, having the motivation, since it is what will drive you to take all the steps that are necessary to reach the end of the road., no matter how many obstacles may present themselves.
- First of all, it is important that you train as a poet. To do this, he studies poetry. You can do it professionally, by studying at university, or by attending dictator workshops by local writers. Usually, this type of information can be found in bookstores and libraries. You can also take creative writing workshops online, very appropriate in these times where we are at the mercy of Covid-19. Here you will learn basic notions of poetry and the story.
- As part of your training, there is the reading of great poets, of those who made history, since they will become a great reference for you and so that you can find a personal writing style.
- Choose a topic that is important to you and about which you can write. Think about what you value most or the experiences, positive or negative, that you have had in life. Some of these themes can be: death, love, revenge, oblivion, etc. When you have an emotional interest in the subject you are writing about, the poem gains strength and becomes much more passionate.
- Make a list of things that you would like to describe, such as a photograph, a flower, a landscape, a person… And look for new ways to describe them, using metaphors, similes, hyperbole, metonymy, among other literary devices. Think about the feelings they inspire and how you can express them through words.
- Register all your poems to have the copyright of each one of them and prevent someone from plagiarizing them.
- Look for contemporary poets in literary magazines. That way, you’ll be able to get acquainted with new poets and learn about their cutting-edge writing styles. Usually these magazines include publishers with a lot of potential. Get in touch with them when you have new poems, they may even publish one.
- Attend poetry recitals. By doing so, you will be able to interact with local poets, listen to their writings and read yours, to practice a little and to give yourself projection as a new writer. Rubbing shoulders with other writers will keep you motivated and help you get better and better.
- Make a compilation of your best poems and send them to a publisher. Before doing so, carefully check the grammar and spelling. Select only those poems that you have rewritten and revised several times. So you will be giving your best.
- Along with the proposal, attach a cover letter, where you tell the editor about you and your work. Try not to be too long, otherwise you may not read it. Don’t forget to thank them for taking the time to read and review your work.
- Use social networks to advertise yourself as a poet and for users to begin to become familiar with your writing.
- Finally, don’t stop reading and writing poetry. Remember that no one is born a poet. Practice is what makes perfect.
But what do you need to become a poet? We’ll be talking about them right now. Therefore, he continues reading.
What do you need to be a poet?
Actually, to become a poet you don’t need many things, just:
- Paper and pencil to write whenever inspiration strikes.
- Poems by renowned writers, to improve your own style and to find references with whom you can identify.
- Literary theory books, to learn and master theoretical concepts related to poetry, such as what a poem is, literary resources, meter, verse, rhyme, etc.
- A blog where you can practice and publish your writing to find out what critics think about your work.
These are the basic things you will need. However, the most important thing is not tangible. Rather, it is related to the development of skills and qualities. For example, you need to be passionate, patient, consistent, persistent, energetic, personality, sensitive, disciplined, studious, etc. If not, then it is necessary that you cultivate these qualities, because it will depend on them whether or not you become a true poet.
Now, what advice and suggestions should you take into account in order to become a consolidated poet?
Tips for being a poet
- Take time to write. Make a schedule where you include all your daily activities. That way, you will know what moments you can dedicate to writing. When you have been able to determine what they are, use them for that purpose and be strict in complying with it. If you notice that ideas don’t flow at that time of day, try different times and stick with the one that works best for you.
- Determine what style of poem you want to write. Many poems have a specific rhyme scheme. Others do not have a specific structure. You can start by trying free verse poems, so that you have more freedom when expressing your feelings and emotions.
- Think about which images are related to the topic you want to address. Make a kind of brainstorming, where you exclude common phrases or clichés. When making a description, use your five senses and say things without saying them. That is, the message can be interpretive.
- To find more descriptive and less common words, use a dictionary of synonyms and antonyms. Thus, you will be able to embellish your production.
- When you have finished writing, read your poems out loud so you can hear the rhythm of them. If you notice that something is not right or you have problems with a word, modify it and read it again. By practicing the declamation of the poem you will get an idea of what others are going to hear and you will be able to make all the necessary changes, before bringing the poem to light.
- Check the poems over and over again. Do this until you are satisfied with the way they sound. Modify those phrases that sound strange to you or those rhythms that don’t flow in the right way. After you’ve edited the poem, reread it to see if the changes you made are effective. If so, it will be ready to be shared with your friends or with your poetry group.
- Be humble and ask for suggestions and recommendations from the most experienced poets. Remember that they have already been through what you are experiencing and will always have good ideas to contribute.
- Be your own best critic. Don’t feel comfortable with the first one. Look for ways to perfect your work. A good idea is to archive, for a while, the poems you have written. Then read them again, and if you feel comfortable with them, then you have succeeded. Otherwise, you may need to do another review and edit of it.
- Keep in mind that a poet is not born overnight. It is the result of study, many readings, hours of writing and the rectification of many errors. Therefore, be patient and do not stop working because, in due time, you will reap, if you do not tire of sowing.
What are you waiting for? Let the adventure begin today! Do not leave for tomorrow your training as a poet. Remember that there is a whole universe of words left to explore.
