Ink
wells up
and spills forth,
staining my fingers with
poetry.
Do your fingers itch to capture a thought or feeling through words and ink? Have you imagined becoming the next great poet? Whether you are new to poetry or hoping for a fresh perspective; whether you write free verse or rhyme, short poems or long, currently share your work with others, or are still finding the courage to hit the “Post” button, You/Poet was written for you. The writing toolbox and creativity-boosting prompts in You/Poet are designed to help you, the budding poet, better understand the craft of poetry and improve your writing, guiding you from beneath the leaves and into the sunlight as a full-fledged lyricist ready to share your talent, truth, and voice with the world.
To help you on your creative journey, we have divided You/Poet into four parts. In the first part you’ll find a brief history of poetry and the voices that shaped the art form we love—from a famous poet like Homer, who provided the foundation for the poetry we read today, to the poetic forms of today: poetry that is short and sharp, and poetry that has jumped off the page and into spoken form. Here we will also help you to uncover the ingredients that make your poetic voice unique—and how to blend them into poems that you can truly be proud of.
Once you’ve connected with your voice, we’ll help you to improve your poetry writing. Part 2 is your guide to key poetry concepts, as well activities that will allow you to practice those concepts. You’ll learn the fundamentals of grammar and punctuation, the essentials of every poet’s toolbox; word choice and rhyming; meter; and metaphor. Soon you’ll be describing this very book through vivid metaphor; is it a vessel cut from wood, moving you through poetry as a ship moves its crew through stormy waters? Or perhaps it is a pirate’s tattered map, showing the way to precious treasure (a.k.a. your work—published!). In poetry, the possibilities are endless. Here you’ll also work through the basics of editing, so that once you’ve got the perfect poem written, you don’t have to worry about messing up your flawless post with that one stubborn letter that strayed out of place.
In Part 3 you’ll be able to put everything you have learned about yourself and poetry together with seventy unique and interactive writing prompts. Sculpt the meaning of a beautiful and uncommon word into a short poem about distance, and ponder the colors and shapes of a photograph, transcribing your thoughts onto the page. Suffering from writer’s block? No worries—these exercises will help kick your creativity into gear.
The final part of our creative journey is dedicated exclusively to sharing your poetry. From traditional publishing and poetry competitions, to sharing on social platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, you’ll discover a complete guide to translating your words—and the emotions within them—onto the digital “page,” connecting with other writers, and gaining an online following—everything you need to get your name and work out there! You/Poet is your road map for finding your voice and your place in the ever-growing digital poetry community—the incredible journey starts here.