Observations from the March 2009 Poetry Contest
There were a few common mistakes made in several of the poems submitted to the March 2009 Poetry Contest. Those entering the April 2009 Poetry Contest should take the following suggestions under advisement. These suggestions were derived from insights Lance Larsen*, a creative writing professor at Brigham Young University, shared with me.
- Chopping up prose does not create poetry.
- A poem should make or have a point. Yes, there is a layer of abstraction, but a poem should not be so abstract that is means nothing.
- Poetry should have tension and opposition.
- Make arguments through imagery and metaphors.
- Use fresh language and avoid clichés.
- Be concise. Poems should be composed with the fewest words possible.
- Use concrete examples that entice and elicit the senses.
- Link form and content in appropriate ways in both closed form and open form poems: rhyme, meter, stanza pattern, enjambed vs. end-stopped lines, alliteration, assonance, caesura, juxtaposition, syntax, diction, and other figurative patterns.
Jacob
*Lance Larsen received a Ph.D. Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Houston. He has taught creative writing and poetry courses at Brigham Young University since 1993.
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Tags: How to write poetry, Poetry tips