Poetry-writing Hints for Kids

1. In order to write poetry, read lots of poetry!
2. Write your words in regular sentences - then take out the unimportant words and maybe add a few important ones. (see ** below)
3. Experiment with the length of your lines. (see ** below)
4. Use comparisons. Tell what something reminds you of - maybe the moon reminds you of a pizza pan. You could say "The moon shines like a pizza pan."
5. Use personification. Pretend what you are writing about is human. "The wind munches the leaves..."
6. Let your poem do what it wants. Don't try to hold it too tightly to the subject you started with. Let it lead you where it wants to go.
7. Try "being" what you want to write about. Pretend you are a cat... a car... a basketball...
8. Keep a journal.
9. Keep paper and pencil with you at all times.
10. Keep trying!
11. Don't try too hard. Just write. It doesn't have to be "good". But every once in a while, it may be!
12. Use repetition. Or don't.
13. Use rhyme. Or don't.
14. Use lively verbs
15. Use interesting words, but don't strain too hard for the unusual.
16. Love words!
17. Write about what you really want to write about.
18. Revise - but not too much.
19. Write freely. You can always change it later.
20. See hint number 1.