Write a Poem With Me From Scratch

I’ve been asked many times to share my writing process and how I write a poem from scratch. I’ve finally filmed a video and in that you’ll see some moments where just like you, I am staring at a predominantly empty space, waiting for work to jump out at me. A lot of the writing process is spent waiting for inspiration but the most you can have creating comes from actively pursuing inspiration. You’ll see this valued and practiced skill at work when I decide to muse over a book during my writing process as well as utilizing my own slush pile of notes to help push me through “writer’s block.”

In the video, you’ll also notice that I didn’t heed my own advice regarding line breaks or wormhole techniques for example, but this is because this was a video simply about creating. It’s very important to separate creating from revising, one can become too judgy if they try to do both at the same time and it can hurt the writer’s creative process. 

It’s important to note that what was created wasn’t even close to what I was thinking about writing. The only idea that carried over from my incubation to articulation stage was the original theme— I even dropped the idea of my one “trigger” word. This is totally normal. It is important to allow the poem to write itself. So many beginner/ emerging writers hold themselves back while drafting a poem because they’re trying to force an idea to live in the poem. If your work takes a sharp left or veers right, follow those thoughts. I promise you’ll be impressed with what you write. 

Lastly, since the poem was written, it has already gone through several drafted versions. I’m sure that even after I submit it for publication I’ll find more ways to change it. Nevertheless, when the poem is picked up, whether by the desired anthology or elsewhere, make sure to check back and see how much it changed from draft one!