Writing Poems

I've written poems for quite some time, won some awards and have had them published regularly. My friends have often asked me the secret to writing good poems. Maybe some of you wondered the same thing too, but just didn't have the time to read through those boring "technical" books.

I don't consider myself a good poet, I'm not writing poems for money or fame(though it is very satisfying :)). I'm just writing it because I feel like it, it's a way for me to understand myself better. It's another step towards maturity.

So I think that the ideas and the feelings behind your inspiration to write are far more important than the flowery words. When you're happy, sad or in deep thoughts, grab anything and write on it. It could be a napkin, your T-shirt, you could even write on your palms! The important thing is, START writing!

That's it for today, do send me some of your poems, I'd love to be your friend.

September 16, 96 JS

If you have motivated yourself to start writing, there are two basic principles which you must be aware of. The first and foremost is do not overdo. Try to conceal your passion and keep it to a reasonable level. As Robert Frost puts it, "Anything more than the truth would have seemed to weak." Understatement is one of the principal sources of power in English poetry.
Secondly, you should let the action speak for itself. A good novelist who wishes us to know a character does not tell us that character is good or bad and leave it at that. Rather, he introduces the character, shows him in action, and let the action do the talking. This process is known as characterization in action.
Refer to Robert Frost's poem in My Inspiration and learn from the master.