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  • The Many Different Types of Poetry

    The Many Different Types of Poetry

    There are so many different forms of poetry, with their different ways of expression and style limitations. Poetry is a fantastic way to open up and let the creative juices flow, to release emotions and thoughts and to train yourself to become better at writing and expression. It is a great idea to write down thoughts and lines throughout the day—whenever they come to you—and then use a poetic method to turn your thoughts into a completed piece of work. Now poetry is meant to be fun and enjoyable and if you don’t want constrictions and rules you don’t have to use them. But some styles and rules of poetry are so easy and fun to use you will get great results. Here are a few basics; classics but goodies, these poetry styles are perfect for the beginner poet:

    Ballad

    A poem that tells a story, a ballad is a rhyming poem that usually lends itself best to a love story. Originally ballads were folk songs, and you can see a lot of their influence in today’s music. This is a long-form poem, so take your time with these and think about characters and feelings and rhyming words.

    Freeverse

    Don’t want to be limited to meter and rhyming? Do you just want to go with the flow and spit out words? Free verse has no limitations and is open to any length. It’s nice to have some inner rhymes and alliteration etc. to add poetic merit to the poem, but have fun with this one and create a poem on your own terms.

    Couplet

    Look up poet Robert Frost because he was a master at this one. A couplet is short and sweet, using two rhyming lines in one verse. These lines will be the same in length and meter and need to form a complete thought. This is a great one to do on the go. For example, next time you are on the bus come up with two lines that rhyme and tell the reader a fact or thought, and you’ve got a couplet!

    Haiku

    Everyone writes a haiku at one point or another. It is a major form of Japanese poetry and is three lines in length and seventeen syllables in total. The first line needs to be five syllables, the second needs to be seven, and the third must be five again.  Haikus can talk about anything and everything but always look the same in length.

    Lyric

    Lyric poems can be many different lengths and rhythms, but they are usually song-like in sound and emotional and romantic in theme. Often the vibe of a lyric poem will be dramatic and narrative-heavy so feel free to tell a descriptive story with this type of poem.

  • Making a Living in Poetry

    Making a Living in Poetry

    If you read about the lives of famous poets like John Milton and William Shakespeare, you might notice something they had in common. They wrote great poetry which is still popular hundreds of years later, but they also had other jobs. William Shakespeare made only eight pounds for writing each of his plays and even less for his sonnets. He had to work as an actor to make a living. John Milton wrote political pamphlets to help pay his bills. Marianne Moore, a twentieth-century poet, worked as a librarian. Making a living as a poet has never been easy, but is it possible?

    Working as any kind of writer can be difficult. Novelists often have to go through many rejections before they can get their books published. Even then, making a living through writing can be hard to make much money. It can be even harder for poets. Their work is often less popular than novels and other types of writing, and they are often unable to sell many copies of their work. Often, they must teach classes or find some other way to make a living while writing poetry on the side. The Manitoba poet Sarah Klassen, for example, taught English for many years while she was writing and publishing.

    Being flexible and inventive can help poets make money through their writing. The traditional method of publishing books of poetry is likely to be difficult, but poets can make money in other ways. Magazines in print or online often include a few poems, and literary contests can also be good places for new poets to get their work published. In some cases, poets can even get fulltime work in advertising, producing greeting cards, or other fields where the skills of a poet are useful.

    Being able to communicate is an important part of being a poet. Some poets are good at telling stories and others are better at showing emotions. However, all poets learn to use language in new ways. Poetry is a very brief and sparse way of communicating. Often, a few words have to communicate complete thoughts in poetry, and poets have to choose their words carefully.  Even in narrative poems that tell stories, using the fewest words possible can be the most effective. Developing good writing skills is an essential part of becoming a poet. The first step is often to read a lot, learning from poets of the past and present. Courses in English literature or in writing techniques can help new writers develop their skills.

    Poets also need to develop their own styles. Some poets like to use complete sentences in their work. Others like to use as few words as possible to say what they mean. Another important factor is what publishers and readers want. Different styles of poetry appeal to different types of people, and publishers’ guidelines can give you a good idea of what works best in each situation. Learning to adapt your writing style will help you become successful as a poet.

  • Can I Turn Poetry Into a Career?

    Can I Turn Poetry Into a Career?

    If you’re passionate about poetry, you may be wondering if there’s any way to turn it into a career.  Nowadays, there are very few people who simply write poetry and sell it to eager readers. It’s unfortunate but it’s the harsh reality.  Does that mean you should abandon your love for poetry and settle for a job that holds no appeal for you? Absolutely not! There are thousands of people who make money off of poetry; they’re just doing it in ways that you wouldn’t expect!

    Consider songs, which are often filled with poetic verses and beautifully flowing stanzas.  Lyricists are people who write the words for songs that have a lyrical component and they have the opportunity to write poetry on a regular basis. They may not have any vocal talents but they still make a living off of doing what they love best- writing poetry! Lyricists even get the added bonus of hearing their poetry come to life when the song is finally produced.

    Copywriters often deal with poetry in their line of work too. Copywriters spend a great deal of time writing the text components that you often find on advertisements and product labels.  When you come across a catchy phrase or an enticing description on the cover of a product, you’re looking at the work of a copywriter!    They often make use of poetic language to encourage customers to purchase their products or services. With your poetic talent, you could easily stand out to employers who are looking for someone who has a clever way with words!

    There are plenty of other people who get the unique opportunity to encounter poetry while working. Think of university professors who teach courses on poetry and other forms of creative writing. They get to write, teach, share, and explore poetry while making money to support themselves. There are also authors of children’s books who often incorporate poetic techniques into their work to make it more appealing to younger audiences. The list of people who make money off of poetry goes on and on. If you’re serious about the art, you can add yourself to that list too! You can also explore other unconventional methods such as creating a poetry blog and making money off of advertisements. For this, you would need to have enough people coming to your blog regularly so that advertisers would be willing to pay you for exposure. This option is noticeably riskier than some of the others but it’s still something that could be done as secondary source of income.

    If poetry is genuinely something you want to infuse into your career, you need to be willing to make the effort to find a job that allows you to deal with poetry on a regular basis. You need to think outside of the box and look for opportunities that you wouldn’t normally consider. It may take a bit of time and effort, but it’ll definitely be worth it when you’re doing what you love, day after day.

  • Do Poets Make Money?

    Do Poets Make Money?

    Oscar Wilde wrote, “The best work in literature is always done by those who do not depend on it for their daily bread and the highest form of literature, poetry, brings no wealth to the singer.”

    For those of you who aren’t familiar with Mr. Wilde, he was an Irish writer. He wrote plays (The Importance of Being Earnest is one of his most famous), poetry and one novel (The Picture of Dorian Gray). He was born in 1854 and died in 1900. Although he enjoyed much success during his lifetime, he died alone and destitute (poor) in France at the age of 46.

    Oscar Wilde is just one example of the many “tortured artists,” whose works failed to financially sustain them during their lifetime, but live on as celebrated classic pieces of literature to this day. William Blake, Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost were all great poets who were mostly unrecognized for their talents during their lifetime.

    Emily Dickinson, who is arguably one of the best female poets of all-time, was a recluse who only published 7 poems while she was alive. After her death it was discovered she had written over a thousand pieces.

    In today’s society there are some successful writers who make a living as poets: Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Robert Munsch and Margaret Atwood to name a few. But for the most part, the words Oscar Wilde wrote over a century ago remain true. Most people write poetry not for the money, but for the enjoyment it gives them. Some writers say they “need to write,” while others use it as a tool to express their true emotions. Poetry enriches the human experience by passing on knowledge and insight that may otherwise go unnoticed.

    There are a number of jobs available for people who enjoy reading and writing poetry:

    – Teaching is a great way to encourage others to develop a respect for poetry and to encourage others to write themselves. You could teach an English class at a high school, which would give you the opportunity to teach poetry as well as fiction and grammar. A job at a college or university would allow you to teach a more specified class in your chosen field. You could also make some extra money by offering your services as a poetry tutor.

    – If you simply love poetry because you love to write, a career in journalism may be an option. You could write stories for the local newspaper or look into freelance writing for specific types of magazines or online blogs that interest you.

    – You could work as an editor of a poetry magazine or for a publishing company that publishes books of poetry – or even write for a greeting card company.

    – You could work at a bookstore, open up your own independent book shop with a large poetry section or work as a librarian at your local library. One of the perks of working at a library or bookstore is that you can arrange for poetry readings and book signings by local authors. You could also organize writing seminars and book groups.

    Despite what career path you decide to take, keep writing even while knowing it may never make you rich. It will, however, enrich your life with the insight and perspective it provides. And who knows? Maybe someday you’ll prove Mr. Wilde wrong and become one of the lucky few who have long, successful careers selling thousands of poems or maybe you will become a Noble laureate in literature and win a gold medal, a diploma and a sum of money (which is currently around $1,100,000 U.S.).

  • Anti-Bullying Viral Video!

    Anti-Bullying Viral Video!

    We recently came across this video by poet Shane Koyczan and just had to share. It has gone viral in the past few weeks due to its powerful anti-bullying message. Shane was bullied growing up, too, so his message is even more powerful. As he told The Globe and Mail in 2011, “I got bullied a lot when I was a kid, and because of that I thought for the most part that I didn’t really have a childhood – I had to grow up so quick and there was no real enjoyment in that for me.”

    Unfortunately, bullying is still a major problem in schools all around the world. We can all make a difference by pledging to not bully and to speak up when you see that someone is.

    According to Wired Magazine, Shane kneads his experiences into powerful poetry. His piece about bullying is now a short animation. It rises above the bruises left by words and the hiding places pills can’t provide, all the way up to a place of beauty. The video is a collaborative piece, created using 20 second segments contributed by animators and artists. It will surely prompt reflection and discussion. It also promotes more formal anti-bullying efforts.

    In terms of what he hopes people take away from his video, Shane told the Huffington Post, “Just that sense of connectivity. As much as you may feel alone in this, you’re really not. There’s people who go through this every day. In a lot of ways, there’s more of us than there are of them.”

    Shane, born in Yellowknife and raised in Penticton, was even a part of the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010! We love to see Canadians making a difference in the world. Watch this video and share it with your friends.