Writing Poetry
Do you have a yearning to express feelings and ideas using a distinctive style and rhythm? Perhaps you find joy in describing the subjects of love and emotion, or composing rhyming verses to soothe a tortured soul. But who reads poetry anymore? Modern society contrasts vastly from Jane Austen’s novels depicting the slow-paced early 19th Century Georgian society. Albeit, the world in which all her characters are set depict the joys and sorrows, as well as their loves, in their daily lives. It’s the quiet tranquility of sitting in the drawing room, embroidering, reading poetry and sipping tea that is missing in our hurried 21st Century lives. Human emotion and expectations have not changed, only social hierarchies, gender roles, marriage, or the pastimes of people have been altered. If poetry in Jane Austen’s novels provide an understanding of everyday life, why then are modern poets who have a wealth of social issues to write about not gaining recognition? Awaken the Poet in You! A common question is: “What is poetry for?” Because poetry today is mostly perceived as an old-fashioned genre, occasionally stumbled upon in writers’ groups or among creative individuals to “express powerful emotions that deepen insight”, published in literary journals and magazines that are affiliated with colleges and universities, self-published books or to produce music. Poetry [also called rapping among nouveaux rhymesters] in our modern age aims to encourage social awakening. Lyrics are poems to “delight so that it may inform and illuminate the world”. People still see poetry as a means of expressing powerful emotions, to clarify and express a one-dimensional statement. What to do if you want to take that big step and begin writing [and marketing] your poetry? Begin with immersing yourself in reading poetry of all kinds. Study the masters. Read what your contemporaries are writing about. Learn to distinguish between the different ‘voices’. Browse the Internet for numerous poetry sites. This way you will develop an eye for quality writing, which will help in assessing your own work. Experiment with different kinds of poetic forms, including free verse, traditional verse, avant-garde poetry, and villanelles, to find your ‘voice’. Search for online tutorials on how to write poetry. Learn all aspects of how to market your work. Surf the Internet for magazines and book publishers to submit your work. Prepare a professional manuscript; choose poems carefully. Keep a record of your submissions [list which poems are sent to which editor]. Learn from rejections; hopefully the editor will provide constructive criticism about your work. Poetry is a very individualistic genre, but at least consider advice offered. Remember to include a one-page cover letter when submitting your proposal. Use it to tell the editor a little about yourself, mention subjects you enjoy writing about, what direction you desire from your collection of poems. For instance, your intention may be to publish a chapbook or regular poetry book, or transform poems into songs. It is important to copyright your work. Use the © symbol, your name and the year. Speak to an Attorney if you need further information. Many talented writers of poetry keep a private journal, and have no ambition to publish their work. On the other hand, budding poets who do aspire to have their work widely read need to explore opportunities to promote their talent and their work. Get involved in readings at bookstores and coffeehouses. A writers’ group provides fertile ground for a poet to have their work heard and critiqued; special events attract media coverage, including radio, newspapers and TV. Have an edition of business cards printed. Create a Website. People...
Read MoreAbout Theresa
I’m a published author of four business books and have written a number of self-study tutorials [creative writing; editing and proofreading; business writing; and self-publishing] and an eBook [Workplace Harmony]. I am an experienced writer, editor and publisher. 
Infographics
Bizculture
