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fyapoetry · 9 months ago

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How To Write A Poem: Comprehensive Guide For Beginners

Tips on How To Write A Poem

How To Write A Poem Ever wondered how to write a poem but felt overwhelmed by where to start? Crafting a compelling poem often begins with identifying a poignant moment or stirring emotion that resonates. This guide will walk you through the basics, from choosing your subject to refining your verses, ensuring that poetry doesn't have to be perplexing for beginners. Dive in – poetic expression awaits! Key Takeaways - Start by picking a topic that touches your heart, then play with words and sounds to express it. - Use literary devices like similes and metaphors to add depth to your poem. - Try different forms like sonnets or free verse to find what best suits your message. - Edit your work by reading aloud and changing words for the strongest impact. - Join a writing community, seek mentorship from published poets, and keep practicing.

Understanding the Elements of Poetry

An open book Before diving into the creative current of poetry, it's essential to grasp its foundational elements — these are the building blocks that give your verses structure and depth. From the subtle dance of assonance to the precise architecture of stanzas, each aspect works in harmony to transform a mere string of words into an evocative literary masterpiece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7fYAtgy2jo Poetry for beginners

Sound

Sound in poetry They use sounds to support their themes and messages. Rhymes give poems a catchy beat and can make them fun to say out loud. Learning about syllables helps you see patterns in stress and rhythm. Mastering rhyme boosts your creativity everywhere – not just in writing poems! Sound devices are your secret tools for making each poem unique and powerful. Use them wisely to create special effects that stick with the reader long after they've finished reading. Rhythm Moving beyond sound, we find that rhythm truly breathes life into a poem. It creates a beat, much like the heartbeat of your piece. Picture rhythm as the drum you tap to while reading your poem out loud—it shapes how fast or slow, smooth or choppy the words flow from one line to another. Think of stressed and unstressed syllables as the building blocks of rhythm; they help you decide where emphasis falls in each line. Rhythm can stir emotions and reinforce your message. Use it skillfully to make readers feel the excitement, calmness, or tension with every verse they read. Consider how sometimes repeating certain sounds at regular intervals can add power to an idea or emotion you want to express. Mastering this musical element will set your poetry apart, turning simple words into an experience that resonates deeply with those who hear them. Rhyme Rhythm sets the beat, but rhyme brings harmony to your poem. A good rhyme can make your lines sing. Think of it as a pattern where sounds match at the end of each line or in the middle. These matching sounds are part of what's called a "rhyme scheme." Poets craft these schemes to give their work structure and flow. You don't need every line to rhyme, but when they do, it creates melody and rhythm that stick with readers long after they've read your poem. Explore different types of rhymes, like slant rhymes or eye rhymes, to add variety. Use rhyme scheme wisely – it guides listeners through your poetry, making each verse memorable. Sound matters in poetry; let's use it well! Literary devices Literary devices are like secret tools poets use to make their writing stand out. Think of them as spices in cooking—they add flavor and depth. Poets sprinkle these devices throughout their work to stir up emotions and thoughts in the reader's mind. For example, similes compare two things using "like" or "as," making images more vivid. Metaphors do a similar job but without the comparison words, creating solid connections directly. Analogies extend those comparisons even further, often across several lines or an entire poem, building complex relationships between ideas. Sound devices like alliteration repeat consonant sounds at the beginning of words close together—it can make a line hum! Personification gives human traits to non-human things; it makes everything feel alive and relatable. Using these literary tools well takes practice. Begin by playing with them in your writing exercises—see how they change your poem's sound when read out loud or alter its meaning line by line. Let's dive into how you can start your journey step-by-step by choosing a topic for your poem next! Form Just as literary devices add depth to your words, form gives shape to your poem. Many types of poetry have specific structures, like a sonnet with its 14 lines and strict rhyme scheme. Choose a free verse that flows without set rules. Each form comes with its rhythm and flow. Trying out different poetic forms can be an exciting way to find the one that resonates with you. Explore traditional forms such as haikus or limericks if you're looking for clear rules to guide you. For more freedom, consider a free verse where line breaks and stanza divisions are up to you. The important thing is how the structure reflects what you want to say—whether it's controlling pace through quatrains or building intensity with couplets. Whatever form catches your eye, give it a shot! Experimenting is part of discovering your unique voice in poetry.

How to Write a Poem, Step-by-Step

Creating powerful poetic lines Diving into the world of poetry can be exhilarating yet intimidating, but with a solid step-by-step approach, crafting your verses becomes an attainable adventure. This section is where creativity meets methodology; it's about transforming that spark of inspiration into lines that resonate and stir emotions — let's get those words flowing! Choosing a topic Picking a subject for your poem is like choosing the heart of your message. Look for ideas that stir your emotions, things you feel deeply about. This connection makes your words more powerful and can touch others, too. Use images and experiences from life to bring richness to the theme. Brainstorming helps you explore different angles of the topic before starting your poem. Jot down single words, phrases, or even feelings related to the idea. These notes will be valuable in crafting lines that resonate with readers later on. Think about what kind of poem celebrates or reflects upon these thoughts—this sets the tone for writing something significant. Consideration of form Poems come in shapes and sizes. Some are long; others are just a few words. There's free verse, which doesn't follow rules, and then there's sonnets with 14 lines that often tell about love. Haikus from Japan have three lines with a pattern of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Think about the form before you start writing your poem. Want to share a story? Try a ballad! They're like songs telling tales. Or pick cinquains if you want something short but mighty – they've got five lines that paint a vivid picture. Make sure your choice suits the mood and message of your poem – it helps bring your words to life! Word exploration Pick each word carefully, like choosing a color for a painting. Think about how they sound and feel. Some words can make your poem soft or loud, fast or slow. Play with language to find the perfect match for your ideas. Look at different words until you find ones that fit just right. Try synonyms to see if they add something new to your lines. Use strong verbs to give power to what you write and paint clear pictures in the reader's mind. Word choice is critical – it can turn a simple message into something beautiful and full of life! Writing process Let your ideas flow onto the page without worrying about perfection. Start with brainstorming and free-writing in prose to get your thoughts out. This technique helps tap into emotions and can spark creativity for your poem. Try to include feelings and consider using nature as an inspiration source. Once you've got a bunch of ideas, shape them into a first draft of your poem. Don't fret over misspelled words or misplaced commas; write something down! Exploring different words, rhythms, and rhymes will refine your vision. As you write, pause often to feel the beat of each line—this is where rhythm comes alive. After finishing this step, you'll be ready to edit your poem—a crucial part that polishes rough edges and tightens up language. Now, let's move on to reshaping with editing. Editing Once your poem is on paper, it's time to fine-tune it. Dive into the editing process with fresh eyes and a sharp mind. Look for lines that could be clearer or stronger. Swap out any weak words for ones that pack more punch. Listen to how each line sounds; cut out extra words that drag down your rhythm. Editing is about polishing your work until it shines. Read your poem aloud—does anything sound off? Fix those spots! Changes might include cutting lines, adding imagery, or playing with the order of words. Even minor tweaks can make a big difference in how your poem flows and feels to readers. Keep shaping and refining because every edit gets you closer to a poem you'll be proud to share!

Different Approaches and Philosophies for Writing Poetry

Exploring the vast landscape of poetry can be as diverse as the poets who pen it—each with a unique approach to uncovering the heart's musings. Whether you're capturing fleeting emotions or painting with words in a stream-of-consciousness style, your philosophy shapes every stanza; it's about finding that resonance within and letting it ripple through your verses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOXxF0ZJofI How to write for beginners Emotion-driven Poems can make hearts race or bring tears to the eyes. They reach deep into feelings, sometimes in ways that stories and songs cannot touch. The secret? Poets pour their own emotions onto the page. When you try your hand at writing poetry with emotion, let your heart lead. Think about what stirs you up inside—joy, anger, sadness—and write it down. Use words like a painter uses colors; mix and match till they feel just right. You don't need fancy tricks or rigid rules to convey raw emotions. If a line of your poem makes you laugh or cry when you read it back, chances are it will move someone else, too. Poetry isn't just about form and technique—it's also writing from the soul for an audience of one or many. Let each word take its reader on a journey through sensations, guiding them to taste, smell, see, and feel everything you pour into your lines. Stream of consciousness Stream of consciousness lets you capture every twist and turn of your thoughts. This style can feel like a wild river of ideas, jumping from one to another without strict rules. Think of it as a direct line from your brain to the page. Your readers get to ride the rapids of emotions and images just as they come. This powerful technique is not just for stories or novels; poets use it, too. It can add depth to your poetry by showing how feelings and thoughts connect in real time. Don't worry about making perfect sense at first. Let your mind wander and spill those raw, unedited thoughts onto paper. Use specific words that pop into your head—no matter how strange or disconnected they may seem. Feel free to mix memories, hopes, fears, and dreams all in one poem. Permit yourself to break traditional poetic structures with this method! Mindfulness Mindfulness brings a special touch to poetry writing. As you focus on the present moment, each word flows with purpose and intention. It's like using poetry to capture snapshots of life's experiences. Whether observing the rustle of leaves or the rush of emotions, mindfulness in writing helps explore personal insights deeply. Writing mindfully also offers peace and clarity for both the poet and the reader. A poem becomes more than just words; it transforms into a journey through sights, sounds, and sensations. Embracing this practice enriches your craft as every line reflects a clear, tranquil state of being. Use mindfulness to write poetry that speaks from the soul—simple yet profound. Poem as a camera lens Shifting our focus from mindfulness, let's explore how a poem can act like a camera lens. Just as a lens captures fleeting moments, poetry seizes emotions and ideas in words. A poet's job is to observe closely and snap verbal pictures of life. They might zoom in on a single emotion or pan out to catch the sweep of an experience. Like photographers choose their frame and focus, poets pick every word with care. They play with light and shadow through poetic devices to bring depth to their work—every stanza crafted for impact, just as photographers compose each shot for maximum effect. Poets use literary devices skillfully, making sure imagery jumps off the page; it's all about creating that vivid picture readers will carry with them long after they've finished reading your poem.

Tips for Furthering Your Poetry Writing Journey

As you embark on the path to poetic prowess, delving deeper into your craft through a range of enriching strategies can transform the way you think about and create poetry—discover more, write with passion, and see where your words can take you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OatlfkoBEk 3 simple steps to write poetry Publishing in literary journals Getting your poetry published in literary journals is a big step for any poet. Start by exploring different magazines and websites to find the right fit for your work. Look at what they publish and read their submission guidelines carefully. Please pay attention to whether they want poems about specific topics or themes. Send your best work to these places after you revise, revise, revise! Please make sure each word in your poem matters before you share it with editors. They see a lot of submissions, so give them something unique that stands out from the rest. Remember, rejection is part of the process. Keep trying even if you get no's at first. Every poet starts somewhere, and many famous writers faced rejection too before their poems saw print. Keep writing, keep revising, and stay persistent in sending out your poetry – publication could be just around the corner! Assembling and publishing a manuscript Pulling together a poetry manuscript takes time and attention. You'll want your poems to fit well together, like telling a story or taking readers on a journey through your thoughts and emotions. Once you've selected the poems, arrange them in an order that flows smoothly. Think about how each poem interacts with the next. Publishing your collection is the next exciting step. Start by researching publishers who are interested in the type of poetry you write. Make sure to follow their submission guidelines carefully—this can make or break your chance of getting published. Self-publishing is also an option if you want more control over the process. It lets you design, market, and sell your book on your terms. Use social media platforms like Instagram to share snippets of your work and grow an audience for it. Joining a writing community Now that you've put together your manuscript consider taking the next step by joining a writing community. This move will connect you with other poets who are eager to share their experiences and writing pieces. Together, you can give and receive feedback, making each poem stronger and more vibrant. Becoming part of a poetry group offers more than just critiques; it's a chance to find your tribe. You'll be inspired by different styles and techniques that can broaden your poetic horizon. A community provides support as you voice your work aloud, helping to build confidence in your craft. Plus, learning from seasoned poets can propel your journey forward as they share insights only gained through practice and dedication. Seeking guidance from published poets Talking to published poets opens doors you didn't know existed. They've walked the path and can share shortcuts and pitfalls. Picture a mentor shedding light on the mysteries of poetry—this could be that poet for you. Their experience is like a treasure map to better writing. Join a workshop or reach out online, but get their insights! Learn how they craft words into emotion and thought. Listen closely as they talk about rhythm, sound, and the dance of verses on paper. Their advice might make your following poem something people want to read again and again. Continuously practicing and refining your craft. Keep writing and revising your poem to get better. Read the full article

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greyknightsblog · 2 years ago

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The Forms of Poetry

Hello Everyone, I’ll be focusing this week’s blog post on five poetry terms found in Babette Deutsch’s Poetry Handbook: A Dictionary of Terms and exemplify them to some famous poetry. Here we go!

Epic: an epic is a long, usually book-length, narrative work of poetry that is typically about the heroic deeds of an extraordinary hero during their mighty adventures.

Example: Beowulf - Anonymous

“Your fame is renowned wherever men journey, my dear friend Beowulf, among all the peoples. You hold power with balance, with wisdom of mind. Now I shall fulfill our friendship as we earlier agreed. And you shall bring peace to your people for a long time to come, a source of strength to the heroes.”

Explanation: This excerpt is taken from the epic poem Beowulf, it’s the speech made by the Danish King, Hrothgar, delivered to the mighty and heroic Geat, Beowulf, who had just defeated the second monster that inflicted death and desolation to the Danish people. Beowulf, along with his Thanes, journey across the sea to aid the Danish King from the evil cursing his people, his long adventures throughout the poem are noble and epic that follow this heroic code that eventually gains him power, fame and wealth.

Ballad: a ballad is an anonymous short narrative poem that was traditionally composed to be a song. They are story tales that are sung from generation to generation before being recorded in writing.

Example: “Lord Randal” - Anonymous

“‘O I fear ye are poison’d, Lord Randal, my son!

I fear ye are poison’d, my handsome young man!’

“O yes! I am poison’d; mother, make my bed soon,

For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down.’”

Explanation:This particular poem is a short conversation between a mother and her son who went hunting with his “bloodhounds” and had an unexpected dinner with a special lady who had fed him eels in broth that poisoned his dogs and himself. It’s a Scottish folk ballad, if you aren’t aware of the deep Scottish accent, that wasn’t meant for being written but serves as a moral lesson of true-love and betrayal.

Sonnet: a poetic form of fourteen lines written in iambic pentameter that employs several rhyming patterns that deals in a single thought or feeling. The sonnet had originally derived from Italy and spread beyond Europe during the Renaissance.

Example: “Sonnet LXXIII” - William Shakespeare

“In me thou see’st the twilight of such day

As after sunset fadeth in the west;

Which by and by black night doth take away,

Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.”

Explanation: Shakespeare’s poem consists of fourteen lines with a particular rhyming pattern essentially about characterizing the nature of old age. Furthermore, sonnet seventy-three is one giant metaphor that compares nature to growing old. In the quatrain gladly given, Shakespeare says that his age is like the late twilight where the sun slowly fades in the west and darkness begins to grow around, almost like sleeping but in this case, dying.

Free Verse: is a form of poetry that does not abide by the rules of metrical verse. In other words, there’s no rhythmic structure or rhyming patterns involved but rather tends to follow the natural rhythm of speech.

Example: “A Noiseless Patient Spider” - Walt Whitman

“A noiseless patient spider,

I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated, [...]

And you O my soul where you stand,

Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,”

Explanation: Walt Whitman’s “A Noiseless Patient Spider” is a free verse poem that has no rhythmic structure but feels like a running train of thought without the rails. The poem is metaphorical because it compares the spider to a soul learning the ways of the world.

Blank Verse: is a literary term that refers to poetry written in unrhymed metered lines.

Example: “The Second Coming” - William Butler Yeats

“Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi”

Explanation: Yeats’ poem demonstrates blank verses that contain no rhythmic patterns and ultimately describe this apocalyptic nightmare he’s attempting to warn the reader about.

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anjelynbarrera · 4 years ago

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BLOG POST #6

-Lil' Angel-

1. POET'S BACKGROUND

What inspires you to come up with your original poem?

- Honestly, when I was planning to start writing a poem, I didn’t have any idea what emotion should I put in my work. I was holding a pen but my mind has gone blank like a piece of paper that does not have any written on it. Until such time, all the memories of him awaken my feelings and I started to express it through writing. In spite of the fact that he is no longer part of my life but he always has a special place in my heart. I think my feelings I have for him will never be forgotten because I can still remember the time we spent together like it happened yesterday. Even though the promise of him and I was never fulfilled to make our story have a happy ending but I am still beyond blessed that I have a chance to met an amazing person like him. The destiny is so cruel that here I am reminiscing a lot of memories with him while he is spending his time with another girl but you know what is more cruel? I wrote a poem hoping that he can read it so that, he will know that my love had never changed and I think it will never be.

2. THEME/CENTRAL MESSAGE OF YOUR PIECE

-There will be a time that you think your beauty is not enough to make someone fall for you but here is my poem to let you remind that there is still someone hoping to get your attention. Do not think negatively and create stereotypes in your mind that every person is looking for an almost perfect and ideal man or woman. Maybe, your other half is still out there waiting for a chance to make you notice his/her pure attention towards you. If there will be an opportunity to knock on your door and destiny will let you meet your soul mate then, do not hesitate to open up your heart or you will regret it. Once you meet the love of your life, do not let a small misunderstanding or even a serious argument can affect your relationship because you are stronger than the challenges you face as a couple. It is you and him/her against the problem not the both of you are fighting and opposing each other.

3. POEM ANALYSIS

- Rhyme Scheme

My poem is consisting of coupled rhyme such as AABB CCDD and so on. In another word, it is called a couplet. For me, it is easy to make a poem with this kind of rhyme scheme because every two lines of a stanza have the same rhyming words.

- Rhythm

I used IAMB as my rhythm in my poem. It is consists of one unstressed syllable and followed by one stressed syllable. It is iambic pentameter, five iambs per line. For example, in the first line, the word one, loves, day, prays and night are all accented syllable.

- Structure and Form

The structures of my poem are consisting of rhyme, rhyme scheme, and rhythm. I used end rhyme in which the rhyming words are occurring in the last word of every two lines. The rhyme scheme I used is coupled rhyme like AABB and so on. The last one is rhythm, the type of rhythm I used is IAMB which consists of one unstressed syllable and followed by one stressed syllable. Also, the form of my poem is free verse but it has four lines in every stanza with rhyming words at the end of every two lines.

- Tone/Voice

The tone/voice in my poem that I have written is appreciative, cheerful, and optimistic. It was just like an appreciation for my soul mate in which he makes me feel that I am worth it. The second one is cheerful in which it shows how I am happy that I met him. The last one is optimistic for the reason that how I looked at the possibility if we face a lot of challenges along the way and I know for sure that we can do this as long as I am with him.

- Imagery

In the second stanza, the first line was written there about how I describe the beauty of a sunset. I used a sense of sight or visual imagery to represent what I witnessed with my eyes. In the third line in the same stanza, I described how smooth and sweet the taste of cantaloupe. I used a sense of taste or the gustatory imagery to make the reader imagine what I had taste.

- Figurative Language

In the first stanza, in the second line, I wrote there the “eyes twinkled that bright” describes how an eye lit up as if it was amazed by a certain thing. Another one, in the last stanza, in the first line it was written there “the storm will come as if it is trying to break us apart”. It means some challenges will come into our way and hope or a rainbow will show up to remind us that another chapter will begin to start. This figurative language I used is a metaphor.

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jessicakmatt · 5 years ago

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How to Write Better Lyrics in Your Songs

How to Write Better Lyrics in Your Songs: via LANDR Blog

Lyric writing is often romanticized by songwriters.

Some believe that unless you live your life, collect memories and let the words come to you in moments of bursting inspiration, your songs won’t come out true.

Experienced songwriters don’t sit around and wait for those moments, because they know better: learning how to play a musical instrument requires plenty of practice. The same is true for the skill of lyric writing.

In my years of writing, co-writing and teaching songwriting to others, I’ve compiled a list of strategies that seem to stand the test of time, regardless of skill-level and genre.

Turns out, there is a way to prevent writer’s block, after all!

1. Keep a lyrics journal.

If you’re on a mission to improve your lyric writing skills, the biggest favor you can do for yourself is to keep a lyrics journal, and carry it with you everywhere you go.

If you’re on a mission to improve your lyric writing skills, the biggest favor you can do for yourself is to keep a lyrics journal.

Sometimes, even writing down your most mundane thoughts in prose form can help you put together lines you would have never thought of otherwise.

2. Write down anything and everything.

Nobody has to witness your thought process, not even in co-write sessions. Face the facts: unless you let yourself scribble away, you might be staring down at your paper and playing with your pen for a long time.

Writer’s block usually stems from creativity-related insecurities, and many songwriters believe that it’s just a phase. In reality, it’s no different than spiralling down when you’re in a bad place.

As is the case in most situations, confronting your feelings and ideas head on is the most productive way to handle it.

3. Free write and highlight.

Free writing is such a great exercise to get your creative juices flowing. Some of your best lines might come from free writes, and fit into your songs as perfectly as puzzle pieces.

You can select anything from a special memento like a necklace to an emotion like melancholy or joy to focus on each time you sit down to brainstorm in this manner.

Usually, picking a very specific item or theme will help you come up with unique ideas each and every time. Try this as a daily or weekly exercise, and give yourself 20-30 minutes to see what comes out!

When you’re done, read what you put on paper, and highlight your favorite sentences. Those are the gems that will come in handy when you’re ready to write your next song.

4. Get a rhyme dictionary.

Rhyme dictionaries can be immensely helpful when you’re searching for the words to continue a rhyme scheme in your song.

Reaching for a rhyme dictionary instead of trying to figure it all out on your own in moments like these can lead to some happy surprises too!

Writer’s block usually stems from creativity-related insecurities.

Sometimes, the initial word you want to end your line with, even though it doesn’t quite fit in your verse, can be replaced with a better rhyming choice that will give a whole new meaning to your story.

5. Map out your song structure once you have a section to work with.

Determining your song structure ahead of time can help you see the bigger picture from the get-go.

You have the lyrics for a potential Chorus in your hands? Start thinking about what comes before and after it.

Do you think it’s going to be a Verse / Chorus / Verse / Chorus / Bridge / Chorus type of song? How many measures do you think you’ll spend on each section? Write it down, and fill in the blanks!

You don’t have to stick to all the decisions you make—this is just another practical method to streamline your writing process.

6. Pick a theme, story or scene to focus on.

Staying focused on a cohesive theme is one of the biggest challenges for lyric writers.

Once you have one section figured out, you should contemplate its main message and think about how else you can expand on it, instead of introducing a new story or a new theme in the other sections.

7. Let your Chorus, Hook or Refrain do the work.

There’s a reason why Chorus sections tend to repeat, often word for word. The Chorus is where the summary or the conclusion of the story and the main message of the song is expressed.

Even if you feel the need to say more go with a short and sweet approach.

Remember: in any genre, the repetitive lines in every song are supposed to be the most memorable and catchy. In a lot of situations, even two or three lines repeating throughout the Chorus may be just the thing you need.

Here’s an example of how Selena Gomez uses this strategy in the Chorus sections of her new single, “Lose You To Love Me”. The title of the song is so concise and well-thought-out that it deserves its proper moment to shine.

When you listen to the song as a whole, you still get the opportunity to find clues about what transpired between these two lovers in the Verse, Pre Chorus and Bridge sections. But the Chorus just highlights the theme of the song without trying too hard.

8. Paint a picture with your words.

Literary devices such as imagery, simile and metaphor aren’t just for Folk and Country writers.

Sometimes, you can sum up what you want to say in a few lines and may not know where else to go from there.

If you’re writing about a memory, you can use imagery to explain the details of it. Is it about a warm day on the beach? Tell your listener how the ocean smelled that day, or how the warmth of the sunlight made you feel.

Or, if you’re a more abstract writer, you can vividly describe your emotions via devices such as analogy and metaphor.

Want some inspiration? Look no further than Sia’s collaboration with David Guetta, “Titanium“. The song gets its title from the chorus that’s built around a very unique and iconic metaphor: “I am titanium.”

You can even reference a well-known fictional character in bits and pieces and build your song around it, like Rihanna does in “Consideration”.

She opens the song with the lines “I came fluttering in from Neverland / Time can never stop me, no, no, no, no”, referencing J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan series, and even takes it one step further by juxtaposing that very notion she put forward with the line “Why you ain’t ever let me grow?”

9. Make it your own.

Adding a line or two that’s unique to your life story will not only add dimension to your songs, but also take it to a level where no one else can touch it.

Kacey Musgraves sings, “Grandma cried when I pierced my nose” in “Slow Burn”, and no one else can ever write such a line because it’s a part of her own life story.

When incorporated seamlessly, these kind of snippets can become the most appealing and precious parts of your songs.

10. Take the number of syllables into account

Perhaps you have amazing ideas accumulating in your brain, but you’re inclined to write them in prose and having a hard time when it comes to putting them into a song structure.

If this is the case for you, taking the number of syllables into account might be just the constraint you need to create more singable lines.

Start thinking like a lyric writer instead of a prose writer.

Now, this doesn’t mean all the lines in your song have to contain the same number of syllables, of course; it just means that you can follow a formulaic approach.

For example, if you listen back to Rihanna’s “Consideration”, you’ll notice that the Chorus lyrics can be broken down into a lyrical formula that looks like this:

Chorus (8 measures) Line 1: 8 syllables Line 2: 7 syllables Line 3: 8 syllables Line 4: 7 syllables

If you choose to follow a similar strategy, remember—you can edit where necessary and break the formula when it feels right.

This is just another way to fill in the blanks instead of staring at a blank piece of paper for an hour straight.

Even if some of the lines you’ll come up with turn out to be placeholders it’ll still be great practice to start thinking like a lyric writer instead of a prose writer.

Don’t be afraid to break your routine.

Even if you have a few strategies that never fail you, unless you challenge yourself, you’ll run the risk of repeating yourself.

Refreshing your perspective can help you tap into a whole new pool of creativity that you didn’t even know was there.

The post How to Write Better Lyrics in Your Songs appeared first on LANDR Blog.

from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/write-better-lyrics/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from Steve Hart https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/188814187294

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hardtostudy · 7 years ago

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lit.

1) Give the definition of onomatopoeia and classify it within the system of literary figures. (2)

-- Onomatopoeia is a word or group of words imitating a real sound of an animal or a thing. It belong to system of literary figures of sound.

2) Explain the syncretic concept of poetry. (2)

— oldest concept of poetry, denoted: a) artistic creation as such b) the whole field of artistic literature, or literary works of art (or creative writing), covering epic, lyric, and dramatic works. unproblematic concept of poetry was enabled by the lack of a sharp distinction between artistic and factual literature, or fiction and non-fiction.

3) Give the definition of anaphora and classify it within the system of literary figures. (2)

— It belongs to sound literary figures and it is deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve artistic effect.

4) Give the definition of simile, put down its constituents. (3)

A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison using word “like” or “as” which makes it a direct comparison. Has 3 constituents: a) COMPARANDUM - the one which is compared b) COMPARANTUM - the one being compared to c) TERTIUM COMPARATIONIS - the element common for both of them —rhetorical figure that compares two diff things by connecting them with like, than, as... (cold as ice, my love is like a red, red rose)

5) Give the definition of sustained metaphor. (1)

— It is an extended metaphor that is usually constructed of more sentences. Comparison continues throughout the paragraph or lines in a poet.

6) Explain the concept of irony, define verbal vs. dramatic irony. (1)

Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that ends up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between appearance and reality.

A) Verbal irony = Verbal irony involves what one does not mean. For example, when in response to a foolish idea, we say, “What a great idea!” This is verbal irony. B) Dramatic irony = Dramatic irony is frequently employed by writers in their works. In dramatic irony, the characters are oblivious of the situation, but the audience is not. For example, in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, we know well before the characters that they are going to die.

7) Explain the term and concept of inversion and put down all of instances. (8)

— Inversion is known as anastrophe and it is a literary technique in which the normal order of words is reversed in order to achieve an effect of emphasis or meter. Inversion techniques • Placing an adjective after the noun e.g. the soldier strong • Placing a verb before its subject e.g. shouts the policeman • Placing a noun before its preposition e.g. worlds between /The Hyperbaton, the enallage, the dialysis, the hysteron proteron, the anastrophe, the tmesis/

8) Give the definition of syncope. (1)

— It’s a contraction by omitting sounds, syllables or letters from the middle of the word. It can also be defined as the dropping of the unstressed vowels.

9) Classify the anacoluthon within the system of literary figures. (1)

— It belongs to rhetorical figures -- STYLISIC ELIPTICAL GRAMATICALLY INCORRECT CONSTRUCTIONS FIGURES

10) Classify poems by type. (1)

— narrative — lyric — dramatic

11) Give the definition and explain the concept of lyric poetry and name its types. (17)

— Non-narrative, non-dramatic poetry, which was originally sung or recited with a musical instrument, called a lyre. It’s about the poet’s feelings and personal views. Types : the ode, elegy, epitaph, epigram, eclogue, epistle, ballad, folk song, song, romance, nonsense, psalm, idyll, pastoral poem, story in verse, aubade -- SELF-REPRESENTATIVE, REPRESENTATIVE, DESCRIPTIVE, REFLEXIVE, MEDITATIVE, CREATIVE, DIDACTIC, POLITICAL, CIVIC

12) Give the definition of epic poetry and put down its types. (5)

— It’s long, narrative poem and usually about heroic deeds and events that are significant to the culture of the writer. They were common in the ancient world to tell tales. Types: - the fable, epic, chronicle, historical song, ballade

13) Explain the term of hypermetrical verse. (3)

— a verse which contains a syllable more than the ordinary measure

14) Give the definition of rhyme, name the instances of perfect rhymes. (8)

- The basic definition of rhyme is two words that sound alike. Rhyme is a repetition of similar sounding words, occurring at the end of lines in poems or songs. A rhyme brings rhythm or musicality to poems.

PERFECT RHYMES = rhyme in which the stressed vowels and following consonants of the rhyming words correspond, but preceding consonants do not (Ex.: make, take). A) Half-rhyme occurs when only the final consonant-sounds of the rhyming words are identical. The stressed vowel sounds as well as the initial consonant-sounds differ. e.g. soul-oil, mirth-fourth B) Eyerhyme is in fact no rhyme, it just looks like rhyme. e.g. cough-bough-rough. C) Masculine rhyme occurs when final syllables are stressed and are identical in sound after their differing initial consonant sounds, e.g. stark-mark, support-report. D) Feminine rhyme (double rhyme) occurs when stressed rhyming syllables are followed by identical unstressed syllables. e.g. revival-survival. E) Triple rhyme a kind of feminine rhyme in which identical stressed vowel sounds are followed by two identical unstressed syllables, e.g. tenderly-slenderly. F) End rhyme (terminal rhyme) has the rhyming word at the end of the line. G) Internal rhyme contains at least one rhyming word within the line. Poets may choose to write imperfectly for effect.

15) Name individual types of formula poems (7)

— the ballade, the roundel, the rondeau, the roundel, the sestina, the triolet, the villanelle

16) What is the pattern of free verse based on? (2)

Free verse — has no fixed metrical foot, and often no fixed number of feet per verse. -- The pattern is often based on repetition and parallel grammatical structure. Nonmetrical, nonrhyming lines that closely follow the natural rhythms of speech.

17) Name and explain the basic elements of the novel. (3)

— The plot - what happens in the story, — setting - where does the story take place, — point of view - from what angle do the readers see the action ( perspective from which you tell the story ) — development of characters - how do characters evolve and interact — theme: central topic or idea explored in a text.

18) Name the stages of the development of action in the novel. (5)

A) Exposition which consists in introducing the setting and the characters, B) Rising Action during which we encounter first conflict(s) and the relations among the characters, C) previously introduced conflicts develop into a climax, D) Anticlimax solves the major conflict of the climax, E) The major conflict is solved in the resolution or denouement.

19) Give the definition of the novelette and its typical characteristics. (4)

= a short novel, typically one that is light and romantic or sentimental in character. A novelette is longer than a short story, but shorter than a novella. 3 typical characteristics: a) the number of characters is limited, usually there are no more than four-five of them, b) only one event is rendered, and should there be a digression from the central line of narration, it is only for the sake of making a thematic contrast or creating a parallel plot, c) everyday life is depicted with no special claims on extraordinariness.

20) Name the types of novels classified according to their function. (4)

A) The didactic novel — to instruct and to educate. The artistic form of literature is used to instruct, making use of the principles of morals and religion to meet the practical requirements of the day. B) The tendentious novel — tendentiousness may be enforced in a hidden, illusionary or in a direct, anti-illusionary method, the latter containing explicit author’s comments. Tendentious novel is more explicit, however, if the reader is identified with the presented ideology. C) The bildungsroman — newer variant of didactic novel, it portrays the inner formation of a person in relation to his/her cultural and personal environment.

D) The philosophical novel — if its ideational message is significant.

PART B

21) What questions should be asked in our trying to make the analysis of prosody? (10)

Diction/language/tone Images/metaphors/symbols Phonetic figures of speech (sound) alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia Rhyme and meter of the poem, kind of pauses Verse forms and stanza forms Major theme of the poem Substitutions Rectitation Elisons and expansions 22) What questions should be asked before the analysis of structure? (10)

Genre -- poetry/drama/epic Form Emotional aspect Theme Rhyme/Assonance/alliteration Characters Theme Plot Composition Space - fictional/real Time - duration/order/beginning/ending 23) Give the definition of synecdoche and classify it within the system of literary figures. (2)

= in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in ten sail for ten ships or a Croesus for a rich man.

— The rhetorical or metaphorical substitution of a part for whole, or vice versa. It belongs to figures of speech - tropes.

24) Explain the differential concept of poetry. (2)

= increasing importance of artistic prose which was becoming a counterpart to poetry, so the need arose to define poetry in opposition to prose. Individual conceptions of poetry then depart from the: a) formal criteria, b) evaluative criteria, and c) semantic criteria. Depending on the character of the underlying poetic and aesthetic systems. — Later conception of poetry which arose to define poetry in opposition to prose- artistic prose was becoming a counterpart to poetry

25) Give the definition of catachresis and classify it within the system of literary figures. (3)

FIGURES OF SPEECH—> Figures of contradictory meaning. = misuse or strained use of words, as in a mixed metaphor, occurring either in error or for rhetorical effect.

— use of the wrong word for the context

— use of a forced and especially paradoxical figure of speech (such as blind mouths)

26) Give the definition of allusion. (2)

= an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference. = Allusion is a figure of speech, in which one refers covertly or indirectly to an object or circumstance from an external context. It is left to the audience to make the connection.

27) Explain the concept of sarcasm in opposition to irony. (2)

As the highest form of bitter irony —> sarcasm. While irony may still be considered a friendly, at least harmless, comment and tone, what dominates in sarcasm is hatred or cynicism and the author makes hardly any effort to hide his true feelings.

28) Give the definition of periphrasis. (2) the word for “bee” in a different language and instead say, “a yellow and black thing that makes honey.”

— It is a stylistic device that can be defined as the use of excessive and longer words to convey a meaning which could have been conveyed with a shorter expression, or in a few words.

29) Classify the palilogy. (3)

"That answer is wrong, wrong, wrong!!!" — Stylistic figure of figures of simple repetition. It’s a repetition of words for emphasis.

30) What makes lyric poetry static? (3)

— plotlessness, motif, subjectivity

31) Give the definition and explain the concept of epic poetry and name its types. (6)

32) Give the definition of dramatic poetry. (2)

= Has elements that closely relate it to drama, either because it is written in some kind of dramatic form, or uses a dramatic technique. May also suggest a story, but there is more emphasis on character rather than on the narrative. - Work that both tells a story and connects the reader to the audience through emotions or behavior. A form of narrative closely related to acting, it usually is performed physically and can be either spoken or sung.

33) Give the definition of sonnet, name its types and structures. (14)

— A lyric poem of 14 lines. There are 2 common species of sonnet distinguished by their rhyme scheme:| The Italian (Petrarchan) = sonnet can be broken into 2 parts, the octave (8 lines) and the sestet (6 lines) The Shakespearean (English) = sonnet consists of 3 quatrains and 1 couplet

34) Define the song and give its types. (7)

= a short metrical composition intended or adapted for singing, especially one in rhymed stanzas; a lyric; a ballad. = literary technique that is lyrical in nature, but not very lengthy

The sacred song or hymn, The patriotic and war song, The love song, The convivial song, Political song, Comic song

35) Explain possible arrangement of rhymes. (4)

Arrangement of rhymes in verses seems dependent on the kinds of poetry to which their introduction is suitable and/or necessary. A) consecutively in couplets and rarely in triplets, B) alternately, as in the elegiac stanza and ballad metre, C) at irregular intervals, or crossed. Internal rhyme - functions within a line of poetry End rhyme - occurs at the end of the line of some other line, usually within the same stanza Eye rhyme - a similarity between words in spelling but not in pronunciation

36) Give the three typical characteristics of the novelette. (4)

3 typical characteristics: a) the number of characters is limited, usually there are no more than four-five of them, b) only one event is rendered, and should there be a digression from the central line of narration, it is only for the sake of making a thematic contrast or creating a parallel plot, c) everyday life is depicted with no special claims on extraordinariness.

37) Give the definition of the existential novel and its themes. (5)

Existential novel makes extensive use of monologues to manifest the protagonist’s growing awareness of his human condition. It is thought rather than action which dominates in this type of novels. The themes of existentialist novels are depersonalization, alienation from society, the belief in divinity, and an individual search for identity.

38) Give the types of novels classified according to the elaboration of theme. (4)

A) The humorous novel B) The satirical novel C) The experimental novel D) The journalistic novel

39) What questions should be asked for the analysis of structure? (10)

1. What happens in the story, play, or poem?

2. What kind(s) of conflict do you see in the work of literature?

3. What do the different parts of the literature contribute to the whole structure?

40) Give the definition of syntactic ambiguity and classify it within the system of literary figures. (2)

FIGURES OF INCREMENTAL REPETITION

= Stylistic figure. The opposite to syntactic ambiguity is a pun, i.e. verbal ambiguity. It is one of the most effective ways of achieving the multivalence (or multiple significance) of a good piece of literature. Syntactic ambiguity demonstrates a confusion in the meaning of a sentence. If there is more than one possible meaning then the sentence is syntactically ambiguous. E.x. Toilet Out of Order. Please Use Floor Below

41) Give the definition of oxymoron and classify it within the system of literary figures. (3)

FIGURES OF CONTRADICTORY MEANING = Oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. The common oxymoron phrase is a combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting meanings, such as “cruel kindness,” or “living death”. Belongs to tropes.

42) Give the definition of alliteration. (1)

It is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series. Ex: But a better butter makes a batter better.

43) Give the definition of diaeresis and classify it within the system of literary figures. (2)

Figures of thought —> Rhetorical figures = is the separation of a diphthong into two sounds, as is occasionally found in older poets, such as regarding the endings -tion, -sion, and words like hire, dire as disyllables,. = the mark ¨, in writing placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to indicate that it is to be pronounced separately rather than forming a diphthong with the first, as in some spellings of coöperate, naïve, etc.

= a pause in a line of verse occurring when the end of a foot coincides with the end of a word. — A sign put over the second of two vowels to indicate that they are pronounced separately. — Separation of a diphthong into two sounds

44) Explain the concept of anastrophe. (2)

= kind of hysteron proteron limited on the inversion of a two-word group, e.g. happy is he who… instead of he is happy who… — inversion of the typical word order in a sentence to bring attention to specific concept

45) Give the definition of amplification. (2)

— writer embellishes the sentence by adding more information to it in order to increase its worth and understandability

46) Classify the hendiadys. (3) “to look with eyes and envy” instead of “with envious eyes.”.

— the expression of a single idea by two words connected with 'and'

47) Give the definition of epic poetry. (2)

Epics usually operate on a large scale, both in length and topic, such as the founding of a nation or the beginning of world history, they tend to use an elevated style of language and supernatural beings take part in the action. It’s long, narrative poem and usually about heroic deeds and events that are significant to the culture of the writer.

48) Define the comedy of manners and give its types. (7)

— is a form of comedy that satirizes the manners and affectations of contemporary society and questions societal standards. types = Comedy of characters, comedy of morals.

49) Name and explain the basic types of an essay. (6)

A) Literary essay B) Personal essay C) Philosophical essay D) Religious essay E) Scholarly essay F) Scientific essay

50) Give the types of novels classified according to the milieu (3)

the family novel, the novel of the soil

PART B

51) What questions should be asked in our trying to make the analysis of imagery? (10)

how the poem’s figurative language functions within the poem? why is the imagery literally appropriate? - how does it relate to what is actually being described? (often this centres on appearance - think about size, shape, colour etc.) what is being suggested by the metaphorical use of language? - how does it relate to the overall

ideas / themes of the text? sounds/tastes/smells/moves = straight imagery metaphor/simile = figurative language tone, mood, theme

52) What questions should be asked for the analysis of character and conflict? (10)

When does my character live? Past, present or future? Where does my character live? In the country, the city, the suburbs...? What is the socioeconomic background of my character? Does my character work? If so, at what? Who lives with my character and what are their relationships? Who else heavily influences my character? What is my character’s biggest life goal? Does my character have a hidden agenda or a deep secret? What is my character’s greatest fear? What kind of self-esteem does my character have? How does my character’s motivation change from the beginning of the play to the end?

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