5 Question A Poet Must Ask Themselves

As a poet, I often find myself writing in the spur of the moment, which is of course what poetry is all about. However, when it comes to publishing my work I often force myself to scrutinise my work to the fullest. After checking the basics, like grammar and spelling, there are 5 check points I always go through

"Ensuring you have the perfect balance is the best way to optimise your writing." (Flow3try)

WHY?

Why am I writing this piece? Am I scrutinising, empathising or verbalising. Once you can see clearly what your purpose for that piece and your gift as whole is, you know how to make it more impactful. Sometimes, you may find that you don't have the answer to this. I have a few pieces myself that I simply wrote because that was how I was feeling at the time, but even something as simple as that is still a motive.

WHO?

Who am I writing this for? Like the previous question, knowing who you are writing for can help you to better adapt your piece to the correct audience. If writing for youth, you may choose to add certain colloquial language (slang) in order to make it more relatable. However, you must also be careful that you don't over use such terms, or over adapt your piece into a play of comfortability, or take away from its message. In short, don't waffle or be fake.

CLARITY?

When writing, it is essential that your piece is clear. There is often a battle between the abstract and the clear in a lot poetry, especially my early ones. Literary devices such as metaphors and similes are key to making any piece sound more sophisticated, however, sometimes you can lose a reader with the same tools. Ensuring you have the perfect balance is the best way to optimise your writing.

QUALITY vs. QUANTITY

There seems to be a myth that tells poets that writing long soliloquys and essays shows their expertise. It's a lie. In fact some of the most famous and exemplar poetry can be taken from Shakespeare’s 14 line sonnets which packed a strong punch. Now, don't get me wrong, I’m not saying that poems can't also be long. In fact, when I was studying for GCSE's, I remember reading a poem called 'Boat Stealing', which was the prelude to an epic poem of eight-thousand lines. I loved that prelude, though, I’m certain not one soul in my class would've have been pleased to heave have read that entire poem. Therefore, don't make people dread reading or listening to the fantastic pieces that you put you time and effort into. Even if you poem happens to be long ensure that you compensate that with your...

PRESENTATION

Whether you share the recorded or written version of your poetry, it is very important to catch your viewers' eye. Whether that be through formatting or visuals, it is a great asset to include in your pieces to grow your platform. However, make sure that your presentation does not distract your viewers from your message.

Once I have gone through this checklist, I know I am ready to publish my work. I hope you do too, and that your individual platforms grow.

#publish #steps #checklist