That Dr. PaulI did this on Twitter a while ago, but let's try here.
For every like on this tweet I'll give you a simple poetry-writing tip.
Until I feel like stopping.
Make everything as embodied as you can.
Pay attention to rhythm, even if your poem doesn't have a fixed rhythmic pattern. Even in a prose poem.
Every poem should have some element of surprise. Usually but not necessarily near the end.
Neffie Thimble@thatpaul thank you, that is something I kind of had an inkling of but never heard put into words.
Tom Ireland-Delfs@thatpaul As a poet in Old Norse, Rhythm, line length, alliteration, and rhyme - all required, but, for me, rhythm and alliteration are most important.
You can use references, like a thesaurus or a rhyming dictionary, but only use them to remind you of words and phrases you already know. Have complete comfort and fluency in all your vocabulary.
There are no clichéd emotions.
In poetry as in all art it is easier to edit down than to edit up. That means don't be afraid of going too hard on your first draft. Take everything up in intensity, you can always bring it back again if it's too much.
It's ok to be funny. It's ok to be silly. It's even ok to be cheesy.
Be honest and vulnerable.
Practice writing in forms. Look up lots of poetic forms and try them all out. Writing in forms is for a poet like playing scales are for a musician. Maybe you won't ever want to do it in front of people, but it'll make you better at everything.
If your poetry is going to be good it has to be risky. Risk writing a bad poem or you'll never write a good one.
Len Northfield@thatpaul love these, thanks.
Most poetry lives in the ear. Read your poetry aloud. No, the voice in your head won't do. Aloud.
Rhythm creates mood, even in blank verse.
Read poetry. From different centuries, in different styles, from different countries. Read poetry written by marginalized or historically marginalized people. Don't try to copy it, but do notice what makes it good.
Don't be afraid to try new things. Just because you've never done it before doesn't mean you can't. This goes for small things (capitalizing differently) and big ones (something that hits a mood you've never aimed for)
Your first draft is not a finished poem.
Every word matters.
You can transform an "old, worn-out" image just by putting it in new words, but don't use old worn-out phrases.
As far as phrases go: if you've heard it before it's too stale. Find new words.
No rule or tip is absolute.
Don't be afraid to do something uncool. Few people write rhyming poems nowadays. That doesn't mean you can't!
Eeeee Woooo
Bryan@bry Haha, I'm not saying you HAVE to rhyme. Just that you don't have to feel bad if you want to.
Write things that are too hard for you--both technically and emotionally. You don't have to show anyone if you aren't happy with the result!
I have miscounted and given more tips than I was asked for. I'll take that as a sign that it's time to be done.