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Poetry: Finding Your Inspiration

A good poet is able to find the natural rhythms of everyday life and express them eloquently in words. But where do the ideas come from? There are thousands of poems out there about tired subjects like love and war; as a poet, your job is to find either a new and original take on these overused subjects or bring an original idea to life. Sometimes, however, the poetry muse takes a hike…and doesn’t return.

Here are just a few of the many ways to either discover or reclaim your wayward muse:

Look around you. Anything, anything at all can be the subject of a poem if dealt with in an original and creative matter.

Keep a notebook with you at all times and keep an eye on the people and places around you. The grocery store, the park, the bus—all can inspire new and creative ideas for poems. You might not necessarily write about what you see, but ideas may come to you in different settings.

Keep a notebook beside the bed for ideas that stem from dreams. Or write a poem about a dream you wish you’d had.

Keep a file of ideas—clippings, sketches, quotes—anything that may inspire a poem later on.

Writing prompts can often generate original thought. Try a “what if” scenario: What if children ruled the world? What if you woke up three feet taller?

Write about something “ugly” and make it beautiful through imagery.

Write a poem that consists solely of dialogue. Or create a poem from a list (i.e. the ten best pieces of advice I ever received).

Write a poem about someone from a distant place and time as if you were that person.

Write about an inanimate object—or from the object’s point of view. “Ode to a Paperclip” may not get you published, but it may spark creativity and original ideas.

Write from someone else’s point of view. Instead of yet another poem about Christmas, try writing about Christmas from the point of view of the homeless woman on the corner. Avoid using the word “Christmas” and rely on imagery instead.

Write about something you did NOT experience but wish you had (i.e. Woodstock) or an era in which you’d like to have lived.

Try writing passionately about something you passionately do NOT believe in—and make it convincing. Write about the joy of being a skinflint or how lovely it is to kill baby seals. Try this with or without the use of irony.

Go back to your childhood and write an apology in the form of a poem. Write a poem to someone you wish you had known or confront someone who did you wrong.

Scan newspaper or magazine headlines—write a poem about the woman who gave birth to six alien babies or the man who built a shrine to cockroaches. Take risks and experiment with the bizarre.

Take your personal demons and put them down on paper. If the subject is painful yet rings true, it will strike a chord with your readers. Don’t be afraid to tackle uncomfortable subjects.

Take on the cliches directly: try writing a good love poem without once using the word “love.” Take it a step further and eliminate the words “joy,” “desire,” and “heart.”

Read contemporary poets’ work. Read all you can. Identify what makes a poem call to you and analyze what makes you dislike other poems. Gain inspiration from others’ work.

Remember: all subject matter is worthy. A good poet need not have traveled the world or lived a life of tragedy. Look in your own metaphorical backyard for material.

Above all, keep writing, keep submitting, and write some more. The poems that result may not be worthy, but keep it up. It’s better to write a bad poem than to not write one at all. Eventually, even when your muse has flown the coop, the right poem will emerge.Submit to Review Board

Writer QuestionsQUESTION: What are your tips for staying inspired? Leave your comment; share your voice. 

29 Comments

  1. Liz

    Hmmm..

    Poetry is not something I "try" to write. The inspiration to write just happens, and the poem is written, full blown, from my pen almost faster than I can write.

    I am unable to write poetry on demand or by conscious decision. If I do, it sounds awkward, forced and contrived.

    Most of my writing is prose. My mother used to write poems, fully rhymed (while I do blank verse), and we’d share back and forth. No one else in the family is much interested in poetry, or in hearing my efforts, so it seems when my mother died back in 1998, my muse died with her. I’ve scarcely written any poetry since.

    My focus now is on organizing my previously written poems for publication.

    ..Cheers…

    Reply
  2. Vee

    This would help when you have writers block. I really need some advise. Thanks in advance for the help. I have written over three-hundred poems and I am in need of guildance upon getting this material published.

    Reply
  3. poetlar

    Thank you for the great ideas. I’m always on the lookout for fresh exercises to wake up the muse.

    Reply
    • Writers Relief Staff

      Poetlar, we’re glad to hear that our ideas helped you (and your muse!).

      Reply
  4. Novelistta

    I’m especially inspired by places. I always set my work in an interesting place. The story comes out of the place where it happens.

    Reply
  5. elisse

    poerty you find in your heart in your heart.you can look in a book or a magizine.i promise poerty will make understand whats it about

    Reply
    • Delight

      When I have a topic or a subject matter in mind I find it very easy to write
      Buh there’s this urge to write something sometimes and I pick up my pen and yet nothing
      And sometimes I just don’t know how to pour down my emotions or how to put them into writing

      Reply
  6. Tiolu

    you will love poems when you try them

    poets
    optimistic
    ecdysiast
    majestic

    Reply
  7. Katie

    This is a lot of help I enjoyed this a lot you could call me a newb at writing poetry but this helped a lot

    Reply
  8. Jack

    I have been writing poetry for as long as I can remember. It is getting harder and harder to think of things to write about, so this website helped a lot.

    I would like to add something that I do quite often…

    Skim through a dictionary and choose a word at random. This works better if the word is descriptive and/or specific. Write a poem using this word in the last line of each stanza, describing a different thing each time. Make sure all of the objects you are describing are related in some way.

    Thank you!

    Reply
  9. katrina

    I find that that tip about having a notebookwith you at all times is very on point, often when I get a wift of inspiration it usually dulls by the time I get to my notebook. We all should remember that poetry is an art not a practice and shouldn’t be forced otherwise the poetry is meaningless if it doesn’t come from the heart

    Reply
  10. Alfred

    It’s strange how you can write a bit on an idea that crossed your mind and have it all set up, but when you actually write it, you write about one verse and then your mind is totally blank.

    I need help on this

    Reply
  11. Saregama

    I literally just started writing poetry three days ago. I was never the literary type but I did write some silly sounding (today) rhymes and my family was amused and entertained that I came up with something – they never out down the negative or say stop.

    I wrote my first poem after I watched a squirrel in the snow in the backyard, other two ideas just built up. I think they are quite good.

    The key is inspiration that is driven by the smallest hint from someone or somewhere – Its not will because I had no will buy as I out thought down they flowed perfectly and succinctly – if this continues I will have a book once I gave 30 – now for that I need some will!

    Reply
  12. mia

    I love to write poems, I often get lost in my imagination and when people say my name, I cant answer. I am to focused on the clouds in my head or the cool shiver running through me. My imagination goes were it wants, I don’t tell it what it what to do. Neither should you! Don’t forget that!!

    Reply
  13. Sprinkle

    Fine words of wisdom from a fine source, helping many poets plot their own course.
    Great read!

    Reply
  14. xelam

    i enjoyed ur article but the context was typically yours- American-
    you forgot about the cultural influences.
    often poet’s mind triggered by cultute and some cultures are still on primitive stage, so they often use clichés and over used themes.
    glad to hear from you
    xelam

    Reply
  15. Happy

    I have been writing for over 25 years and love the ideas you put together. They are certain to prove helpful by the new and the experienced writers — it is noteworthy for the readers to recognize ideas are limitless and governed by one’s imagination.
    While most of my work is inspired by actual personal experiences, I have found it to be great exercise to write about a subject that is completely random.

    Thank you for the great read.

    Reply
  16. Joie de winter

    I don’t think writing poetry is an effort, just write. You might just find one word, but make it real and raw. Poetry is powerful — the trick is to be silent enough to listen and find your truth. I play, sing, meditate, and write. I’m exploring how to channel poetry.

    Reply
  17. Martin

    In designing a house for a poet, looking at the working area mostly. What would you fit in there? Eg, desk and table.

    Reply
  18. Vincent

    Poetry is so beautiful and carries a lot of meaning.

    Reply
  19. Meryvic

    I’m bless to have come by this….needed to get inspired because been having trouble with my muse lately…thanks so much here

    Reply
  20. Emmaani

    When you write a poem, put all your emotions and feelings into your writing. If you put the effort and think hard about what kind of poem you’re going to write then you’ll hopefully be proud of what you’ve wrote.

    I recently lost all my friends and i wanted to let my emotions out but the only way i can let them out is through poetry. And now that i have i’m really happy and I’ve continued to write my own poems. So those of you that are writing poetry now, don’t give up and always believe in yourself because if i can do it you can!

    Reply
  21. Lucy M.

    I love Poetry and this has helped me out alot. Thank you very much for helping me find inspiration.

    Reply
  22. Violet Noel Davis age:11

    Awesome! Great inspiration.

    Reply
  23. Zidanemabro

    I really love poetry. It is so cool. Very good

    Reply
  24. mike mezzatron

    THis poem was great, i love poetry with a fiery passion

    Reply
  25. Najgy

    Thank you! I’ve been trying so hard to find inspiration for a poem project in my English class, and i found it!

    Reply
  26. fnaf

    Thank you so much! This helped me write my first draft. 🙂

    Reply
  27. robbers alice

    I didn’t have any expectations concerning that title, but the more I was astonished. The author did a great job. I spent a few minutes reading and checking the facts. Everything is very clear and understandable. I like posts that fill in your knowledge gaps. This one is of the sort.

    Reply

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