What Should You Not Do in a Poem?
Writing a poem can be a daunting task for new poets. After all, there are so many rules and conventions to follow. It can be hard to know what to do and what not to do. To help make things easier, this post will cover the 6 common mistakes new poets tend to make.
1. Cliché
In case you don’t know, clichés are overused phrases. They’re phrases that have been used so often that they’ve lost their original meaning. Examples of clichés include “love is blind” and “the early bird catches the worm”. When writing a poem, it’s important to avoid clichés. Instead, try to come up with unique and creative phrases that express your feelings and ideas.
2. Melodrama
Melodrama is when a poet exaggerates their emotions in an attempt to make their poem more dramatic. While this may seem like a good idea, it can actually have the opposite effect. It can make the poem seem over-the-top and melodramatic. To avoid this, try to be honest and sincere with your emotions.
3. Doing Things To Sound “Poetic”
Many new poets make the mistake of trying to sound “poetic”. This often involves using flowery language and complex metaphors. While this may seem like a good idea, it can actually make the poem sound contrived and artificial. Instead, try to use simple language that conveys your feelings and ideas in a straightforward way.
4. Abusing Figures of Speech like Metaphor and Simile
Figures of speech like metaphor and simile can be powerful tools for poets. However, they can also be overused and abused. If you use too many figures of speech, it can make the poem seem forced and contrived. To avoid this, try to use figures of speech sparingly and only when they truly add something to the poem.
5. Your Free Verse is Prose With Line Breaks
Free verse is a type of poetry that doesn’t follow any particular structure or rhyme scheme. However, many new poets make the mistake of writing free verse that is really just prose with line breaks. To avoid this, try to think of ways to make your free verse more poetic. This could involve using figures of speech, alliteration, or even playing with the line breaks.
6. Ignoring the Rules
Finally, many new poets make the mistake of ignoring the rules of poetry. While it’s true that poetry doesn’t have to follow any particular rules, it’s still important to understand the conventions of poetry. This will help you create a poem that is more effective and powerful.
By avoiding these 6 common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to writing a great poem. Just remember to be creative, honest, and sincere with your emotions. Good luck!