How To Write Found Poetry

Since childhood, I’ve been creating stories. When I was able to write down my ideas on paper, I started keeping them in notebooks. I found it easy to create short stories because I have always had an imaginative and fertile mind. I haven’t had to do that in the past few years.

This frustration became a major one for me. I tried to use standard techniques like “just do it” and “just write everything until you’re done.” These techniques didn’t work for my because, once I was already upset by my inability of writing, I wrote a lot to prove I didn’t have any talent.

This phenomenon is commonly known as “impostor Syndrome” among writers. This made me feel that I was not a “real writer”. Real writers can either find a way around their block, or the block lasts only for a few hours. Sometimes, I experienced periods of complete blockage or couldn’t think of anything that was particularly great for several weeks.

My creative writing efforts, as well my non-fiction work, taught me that everyone has their own ways of coming up with ideas. Some people need to write anything to get through the day, while others need to put their thoughts aside and find something else to distract them. Writing prompts can be used to generate ideas.

Writing prompts

Personally, I don’t find single word prompts to be particularly helpful when struggling with writer’s block. For me to be creative, I need structure and detail. Oulipo is a great tool for me. However, many people find that detailed prompts can hinder creativity because they give too much detail. Their mind is conditioned to follow the prompt, and this hinders their creativity.

Although I’m good at identifying the best prompts for me when I need to generate ideas for fiction, I had never considered using prompts as a way to create poems. My poetry muse doesn’t appear often because she is unpredictable. While she may provide me with the inspiration to write a poem that I love, I have learned to accept that my poems will be few in number.

Writing prompts for poetry: found poems

Because I don’t believe poetry prompts are useful, I think I was too busy thinking of them. These elements are closely related to me. Both must fit within the rhythm of the poem. These characteristics were not possible to me through prompts.

After I started writing more poetry, my search for prompts helped me find ideas. But, as I expected, the prompts weren’t very helpful. The Chalkboard magazine asked for magnet poems. I took part in the challenge.

Magnet poetry refers to finding poems in original works. This is a form collaborative poetry. It’s named after the word magnet sets that you can purchase at shops and bookstores. These allow you to create messages, poems or ideas by changing the words on your fridge. The contest’s words were derived from poems written by Medium authors.

Here is the description taken from the call-for-entries:

Magnet poetry is a type found poetry that uses words from other poems to create new poems.

The instructions stated that you should choose 2-3 poems from Medium and at least five of each poem’s words to create a new piece.

I called the poem,


“Supposing Dawn. ”

The prompt for magnet poetry and the resulting poems are part of a larger category called found poetry. Find poetry is traditionally created by using random news headlines.

How to create a found poem

1. Choose the source material you want to use. You will find it easiest to use only one or two poems for the first time. This helps you to get into the right mental frame.
2. Pick a focal point. You can either use one of your source poems as a focus or develop your own. Perhaps the seashore, an old sweater, a porcelain doll or a thunderstorm are your focal points.
3. Your poem’s theme should be chosen. The theme can be one of the poetry you are currently using or a combination. You can also choose to use the theme of another poem or a combination of them. You might also choose something completely unrelated to any of your poems. You might choose, for example, the seashore to be your focus. Your theme could be the cyclicality of life.
4. Go back and read your source poems. Keep reading and highlight any phrases or details that are important to your focus.
5. These words and phrases should be written on a separate piece if you don’t have the original source poems. Each word or phrase should be removed
6. Check your words carefully and remove any that are not relevant to your focus or theme.
7. Mixing up the order in which the words or phrases are placed can help you to create new lines. Each line should be written down. Write down each line.

You can also use these other ideas to create found poems:

• Use the original words. When I have to, I will use derivatives of words. However, I cannot find a way to include the original form (e.g. I can also change the singular and plural of a word, or a verb to an adjective.
• If you are writing a poem that requires repetition, don’t use the same phrase or word more than once.
• It is important to stay focused on your theme.
• If desired, add a sentence at the bottom which explains why you chose certain words and how you focused your theme on one or more original sources.
• Include a reference listing the title of original works, author and source.
• You can mix classical poetry from different countries and eras with modern poetry. My friend and I may use poetry by Shakespeare, Poe or William Carlos Williams.
• You can add words from products labels, billboards and signs you see throughout the day. To record any words and phrases you encounter, keep a notepad handy. Note where and from whom they were found.
• Note down interesting words that you hear people use when you are listening to them talk.
• As you work on your poem, while you are writing lines, take a look at your notebook to determine what is most relevant for the poem that you are currently working on.
• Do not let your beliefs about the rules of creating found poems limit you. You can interpret writing prompts in any way that sparks your imagination. You have the option to modify the rules so they fit your style and the needs of the moment. It’s not important to follow the rules strictly.

Find something that inspires you to create the poetry of your dreams.

What other sources could you find that would provide more interesting, unique and diverse words for the list of words you will use to create your poems? Do you know of any poems like this? Comment below to share your thoughts.