Published books are a major milestone for established and emerging poets. Not only does it boost creativity confidence but also makes you feel accomplished on a professional and personal level. You can find something to aim for, encourage you to develop a creative practice and motivate you to improve your writing skills.
You can publish your poems regardless of how many stanzas you have written. This guide will show you how to create a poetry book.
1. Write daily
It is crucial to maintain a writing habit if you wish to be able to write enough poems for a book. Many poets start writing daily with a project in mind. Some poets start with journaling or freewriting, which is similar to brainstorming. This involves writing down sentences and phrases quickly, without thinking about grammar, while not stopping to think about it. This can spark ideas or help you find an image or line that will inspire new poems. You can find a variety of prompts for writing poetry on the Poets & Writers Website.
2. Poetry is a great way to learn.
It’s like creative fuel! You will find that you can understand more about poetry and the different types of books available. You should be familiar with both classic poetry and contemporary works by living authors. There are many styles of poetry: Modernist, Beat, Confessional and all the rest. The creative process is enriched by knowing the history of the genre. Writing poetry books allows you to be part of the creative conversation between poets present and past.
3. Learn how to write poems
Learning the techniques and traditions of poetry is a great way to improve your writing abilities. It is worth taking the time to get immersed in poetry. Although you might instantly feel a poem is your favorite, what do you know about the craft of poetry? Consider how stanzas are structured in poems you like. Focusing on just one element of poetry at a given time can seem overwhelming. You can read poems and then practice applying it to your own writing. Poetry Foundation provides a great glossary of poetic words to help you get started. They also offer daily poems, literary reviews, podcasts, and online magazines.
4. Try out different forms
Many poets are familiar to poems with rhyming structures, such as the sonnet form or haiku. Are you familiar with the villanelle and sestina forms? What style do you prefer to write? Do you prefer short lines with no punctuation or longer stanzas that contain complete sentences? Many contemporary poems are written in free verse, which is a form of poetry that doesn’t follow a rhyme structure. While poetry offers a wide range of possibilities, it is still possible to use key literary techniques. Take it up as a challenge and write poems that are not your normal style. It’s possible to make amazing discoveries by taking risks.
5. Avoid cliches
Although this writing tip may bring back memories of English class, it is sound advice for all levels of writers. A cliche phrase is one that you recognize when it appears or sounds familiar. This means it’s not original and overused. Examples of cliche phrases include “fluffy like a cloud”, “at the speedof light”, “clear blue waters,” and “scared death.” Check your poems regularly for hackneyed phrases, and remove them. Poetry’s power comes from its creative use, so be careful with what words you choose.
6. Get feedback
Poetry books are creative when you’re open to getting constructive criticism. Do not be intimidated by the idea of receiving constructive feedback. It is part and parcel of being a writer. You will need to edit your work if you want to be a successful poet. Consider joining an online poetry forum or starting a local writing group at a cafe or bookstore. You will find other poets who are looking for inspiration, help, and support each other.
7. Take your time to review
You will feel that rush of creative energy after you write something new. You may occasionally leave the first draft alone, but you should keep it updated more often.
It will be tempting to leave the poem and come back with fresh eyes. After some reflection, you might decide that the poem should be extended to a whole page or to trim repetitive, vague lines.
8. Choose your best work
It is tempting to include every poem, especially if you are starting a poetry book. The book’s best poems will be devalued if you leave out any poor ones. You will need to make some poems to show the best of your writing. To publish a full-length poem book, you should have between 40 and 70 pages worth of work. If you are struggling to find the right poems, consider publishing a chapbook. Chapbooks are shorter collections with poems, ranging in length from 20 to 40 page. They make great books for beginners.
9. Organise your poetry
A poetry book should contain a variety of poems that are related or work well together. Perhaps the book will be focused on a particular theme, format, style, life event, or other aspects of it. It is your book. You determine what the poems should connect and how they should sequence. The first poem of your book is like the opening act. Which poem is the most inviting and set up your entire book? Also, which poem (or final image) is your last? Your reader needs to know what you have in your last poem (or final image!)
10. Choose a book title
It’s exciting to choose a book title. It is a great time to think of naming your book after one the most powerful poems you have written or a favorite line or image. You want your poetry books to grab the attention of new readers.
