Writing Free Verse Poetry

Writing free verse poetry is the perfect answer for writers who would like to give poetry a try but do not want to feel hemmed in by the rules and constraints of other types of poems. All bets are off when it comes to free verse poetry. You make the rules, so your poem comes out exactly as you want it.

Writing Free Verse Poetry – What Is It?

Free verse poetry is exactly what it sounds like – it is poetry that is free from any set pattern or rhyme scheme. Other types of poems are identified by the number of lines they contain, the number of syllables each line contains, the rhyme scheme and other factors, but free verse shrugs all of these rules off. Instead, free verse poetry may rhyme or may not rhyme (or may mix rhyming and not rhyming lines), it may be very long or very short, and it doesn’t count syllables. A free verse poem is whatever the poet wants it to be.

The freedom of format, however, doesn’t mean free verse poetry is simply a block of prose. This style of writing still falls very much in the category of poetry. Free form poem express a complete idea and rely heavily on descriptive words and literary devices to get the point across. Unlike prose, the meaning or the message isn’t explicit. Like all poems, free verse requires the reader to analyze the writing and develop their own understanding of it.

One popular technique with free verse poetry is to not only play with language but to play with words visually as well. Words may be scattered around a page to create a picture or an abstract image, different words may be printed in bold or italicized, or any number of other artistic devices may be used to add to the descriptions in the poem to help communicate the message. For this reason, as a reader, it’s often important to read free verse poetry exactly how the author intended it to appear on the page. The visual usually tells part of the story.

Writing Free Verse Poetry – Getting Started

Although it sounds like it would be the easiest to write of all types of poetry, many writers discover that free verse can pretty intimidating when they sit down to hammer some out. The strict rules associated with writing other formats of poetry can be cumbersome, but they force writers to think within a framework, which can help get the creative blood pumping. Since anything goes with free verse, getting started can be hard, and avoiding creeping into prose territory can be even harder. Here are a few ideas to get you started on your free verse poem:

• Pick your topic. Although you may not come right out and tell your reader exactly what you have in mind, it will help you as a writer to know exactly what you’re writing about it. Your topic can be anything you’re comfortable writing about, from the tree outside your window to the death of a close friend or anything in between. Whatever inspires you should be your poem topic.

• Think of descriptive words associated with your topic. Sure, when you think of your topic and feel inspired, the words may just pour out, but if that doesn’t happen, making a list of adjectives that draw a picture of your topic will help you focus your thoughts. Of course, you’re not limited to adjectives. If sentences or phrases that speak to you topic come to mind, add them to your list.

• Juggle your descriptive words. With a list of words associated with your topic, you may have your poem already half written. See how you can play around with your list to tell a story or create a more distinct picture about your topic or your message. Fill in any gaps, and you’ve got a poem written!

• Consider what you’ve written and see if there is any way to play around with the poem visually that might add to what you’ve created.

If you’ve been holding back on trying out free verse, give it a try! Following these steps, you’ll soon become comfortable with the writing style and confident in your poetic prowess.

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