Imagine for one second that you are asked by someone with a keen, but fledgling, interest in starting to write poetry for advice. As someone probably more experienced and knowledgeable, what one piece of guidance or wisdom would you give them to help them on their way?

I would tell them that becoming a poet changes their life forever. Every moment, private and public becomes fodder for poetry. It shouldn't be that way but it just happens. You start to see your life and life experiences in words/images/allegories. It can become like torture when you have lots of ideas you want to express and no time to express them - when you want to switch the tap off but you can't. It can turn you into a zombie - consumed by your own musings....

That all sounds rather negative - there are up-sides, I suppose. It is very satisfying being able to express yourself in that way - it fulfills a need to communicate.

You are probably looking for more concrete advice than that Anthony. I would suggest that new poets read other people's poetry - a variety of different styles, to give them more idea of what can be achieved. We invariably start of writing so so poetry and it gets better the more we read and mature. I suppose reading books like 'The Ode less Travelled' would help if we are looking to write in a formal style.

Can't think of anything else off hand but things will probably come to me as the thread develops. It's an interesting question.

1. Always have a pen and paper on you (or nearby)

2. Put stuff away for a while - at least a week, ideally longer. Don't think about it. Then pull it out, read it afresh and be honest about it. Good for becoming one's own strongest critic

Putting stuff away for that long wouldn't always work for me - I lose the momentum - other poems come along and nothing would get finished. It would be ok if you'd completed the bulk of it and it was just a question of tidying up.

I find that I can only write poetry at a screen now. I jot odd lines down - but the putting it all together is just too laborious by hand - I change things around too much.

I suppose all poets find the way that works well for them.

Read and better still, speak aloud different poems.Feel the tempo and rhythm and write anything,feel the pen/pencil embrace the paper and follow your feelings, ideas opinions whatever,but write them down.And as Dave suggested carry paper and pen around with you and jot ideas down. Go back to it,time an time again, and it will begin to form. A Rhyming dictionary may help.

A) Read read and read again...it is not possible to read too much!

B) I would also say that only by writing the bad/average, can the good be achieved. This is especially true at the start of the journey, but might be a universal truism in a relative sense at all times.

If you wait for the perfect poem to arrive in the mind, you will wait so long that your mind will seize up. And the poetic mind is like a muscle in the sense that; the more it is used (within reason) the more it is capable. The reverse is also relatively true; the less it is used, the more it will shrink/atrophy.

Write the indifferent or even the bad if need be- embrace it!!!!

By writing your language will become more fluid; you will hit your own personal high water marks at the most unexpected times.

Never think that you are in control of your poetic mind or the best of you- it controls you not the other way around!

It will decide when you come to write the best poem you ever come to write.

C) You just need to be there with a pen to note it down and edit with intelligence Haha.

keep an active mind and pen, accept that you will relatively write the bad and indifferent and you will consequently relatively write the good.

You never know when your mind will produce the best thing you will ever be capable of. :)

On that note....paper and pencil/pen and keep it near the bed as dreams may decide ideas or offer lines.

Study of form is a great thing and for later, not for the start of the journey.

Did I say read?

A) Read read and read again!

Write about what you know.

Write as though you are painting a picture.

1) Write what you don't know at the same as write about what you know. That way, there's always a surprise and a discovery.

2) Listen to the sound of words, look at their shapes. Revel in the sound words make.

3) Learn to play with language. It doesn't have to make the same kind of sense as a newspaper report does.

4) Get yourself a good anthology of contemporary poetry and try and write in the same way as your favourites in that book do, without copying their subject matter.

5) Write as if you are composing music.

6) Don't preach. If you want to send a message, write a letter to the Guardian or something.

Ask yourself what you really want from poetry. Read an anthology of modern poetry. Don't discard the discarded poets of earlier centuries. List the themes you want to write about in poetry. Read poets work on these themes. Discipline yourself with Form. Don't believe those who say freeverse is everything.

After all that. Write a poem. Read it to someone who is neither a sycophant or a cruel cynic. Write another one. Find your voice.

Don't be pushed into the poetry cul-de-sac by the soporific in-crowd.

DO measure the quality of your writing with those published poets you admire.

Go to The Poetry School.

Grow a thick skin.

Seek professional help with a view to a small collection.

Ignore all the above and just write whatever YOU think is good, never read anyone else's poetry and gig your material. Everyone else is!

Do not expect to make money from poetry but just have a journey of self discovery and try and leave the poetry world with something more than it had before you began.

My advice is: never take advice. Or give it.

Try brain surgery. It's easier.

More seriously, write, write, write withour worrying about form, spelling anything except getting the ideas out, the feelings, that stuff.

Then, EDIT, reshape, what if? how about? I wonder... I'll just try...

As Val says, read it out loud. put it away, come back to it, worry at it, ask for comments but make your own mind up.

Then edit again, rehearse it and get out to one of the hundreds of places on the gig guide where you will be well received - or even try Wigan. Publish and be damned!

that's my ONE piece of advice.

READ W-I-D-E-L-Y with alert passion.

ALWAYS make MUSIC with your words.

Especially at first, NEVER consider the 'READER'. Write only for yourself as if you were imprisoned in a solitary dungeon forever. That way you are forced to entertain yourself, to understand what you are writing about, and to be your own effective critic as to how well you have really expressed your idea/s. Honest people never fool themselves. With increased skill, you can choose to target a theme and an audience.

always be honest

Look for inspiration in everything. Quite often the strangest thing will strike a chord. Don't publish too early and resist advice to change your words. they are your own and keep them safe. Consider the advice given for your next work.

I'm finding other people's contributions interesting and so at odds with my own way of thinking. Perhaps Julian is right about never taking advice - just going with your own flow...

I don't think I could possibly write poetry that wasn't honest. Do you mean pretentious/unpretentious Steve? I do occasionally see poetry that is trying too hard - for me, at any rate.

I don't mind changing a piece after a bit of advice either but only if it doesn't involve major overhaul and I agree with it.

Have fun, keep writing. Simple :)

I'm the same as Steve Garside be honest, but would add in addition write for yourself first of all, and if other people like - it's a massive bonus!

Not sure I would agree with ALL the advice given so far?

Usually the sentiment behind our words is what fuels our poetry. Changing near synonymous words for our original word thoughts or notions can often smooth out the bumps in some poetry. I usually write what comes into my head first before then bending down to feed the quacking ducks of word synonymy. There are often better and more suited words than our original inspirations. It depends how much time and effort you want to put into a piece, I guess? Every word in the English language should be challenging for a coveted spot in our work. Learn the meaning of words. Their etymology. Their cognates. Treat words like you would a lady. Only fondle them in the privacy of your own audience.

And if you're writing for yourself - leave that work in a Journal.

All bad poetry is sincere.

If you're going to lie, tell a big lie not a small one.

Jump into the playground of language and play with it.

Rules are guidelines for stupid people. (That one's not mine, it's Canadian poet Derek Beaulieu's)

What a wonderful discussion!
In the film The Paleface, Bob Hope, as 'Painless' Peter Potter, is challenged to a draw with a gunslinger. As he steps up the street to draw, different bystanders give him conflicting advice: there's a wind from the east so shoot to the west; he leans to the right so aim to the left, etc. Naturally, he ends up so confused he cannot shoot straight.
False friends, perhaps, like so many cognates.
Now, what's another word for 'cognate'?

Things I have learned from this discussion:

1. Poets have difficulty with both reading and counting.

2. Poets seldom agree - on anything!

3. Poets are keen to give advice (but usually rubbish at taking it!)

4."Beaulieu's rule" was a new one on me.

Some sage advice given here; most of which I agree with - some that I don't. (Not telling!)

Thanks for all your thoughts,

Regards,
A.E.