How to Begin Writing Poetry—Rachel Donahue

How to Write Poetry Series

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If you’re reading this article, I’m going to take it for granted that you’re already reading poetry (considering that this entire Substack is dedicated to it), but what about writing some of your own? Have you ever had a twinge of desire to try the craft yourself? If so, take heart.

All you need to begin with are the two simple practices of attention and imitation.

Step One: Attention

In her poem “Instructions for Living a Life,” Mary Oliver succinctly outlines a way of living that’s also some of the best advice I’ve heard on writing poetry: 

Pay attention. 
Be astonished. 
Tell about it.

Poets pay close attention to the world around us, and as a result, we often notice things that others miss, seeing below the surface or making new and surprising connections. Poetry is simply our way of telling about the astonishing things we’ve seen. So the first step toward writing poetry isn’t writing at all—it’s paying attention. 

“Fine,” you may say, “but how in this noisy world does one know what to pay attention to?”