How to Write a Stanza Poem?

Writing a Stanza Poem

Before starting on with your stanza poem, it would not be a bad idea to get an understanding of  what is a stanza and what it makes it an essential element in poem writing.

Next, you need to decide on what type of stanza poem you want to write about. Prior knowledge about each stanza type is essential for drafting a proper poem.

• How to write a rhyming poem?
• How to write a two stanza poem?
• How to write a three stanza poem?
• How to write a six stanza poem?

Briefly explaining, a stanza is similar to a paragraph in an essay so selecting a stanza type for your poem means that you are limiting yourself to a particular set of rules of poetry writing; number of lines, rhyming structure and meter.

Select a Theme

1. Poem writing is basically “a word dance” where you need to choreograph words, phrases and sentences and set them to a particular style of rhyming structure.
2. Before beginning with your word dance, you need to set up a theme to follow.
3. A theme is akin to a central idea around which a poem is built. It could be an object (tree, cloud, room etc.) or a concept (a love poem or dark poetry etc.)

Decide Your Style and Form

1. Knowledge about a haiku or a sonnet is not mandatory for drafting a good poem. A person, totally clueless about different forms of poetry might be able to pen down a master piece if he or she knows how to manage the flow of words, acquired from inspiration.
2. Select the rhyming structure that suits you best.
3. Try to format a few sentence on the basis of your rhyming structure.
4. Lock it in.

Collect and Pen Down Your Random Thoughts

1. Note down the abstract verses, words and small tits and bits as they come.
2. Jot down and play around by adjusting and readjusting your letters.
3. Let loose of your imagination and you will form new ideas as you work with your sentences.

Filter, Select and Modify  Words

1. Find synonyms and related words by making use of dictionary, thesaurus and a synonyms dictionary for your existing words.
2. Insert them in your verses or make readjustments for them to fit in.
3. Rephrase your verses so they form a better pattern.

Edit and Re-Edit

1. Edit, edit and edit your poem.
2. Omit words and phrases that do not fit in with your central idea or rhyming structure.
3. Read aloud your poem to yourself and look for loose ends or instances where the flow doesn’t sound right.
4. Make corrections.

Get Feedback

1. Get a friend, teacher or family member to listen to your poem.
2. Ask them to tell you the good and bad spots.
3. Improvise on those spots.