Writing a Poem!
Hello (again?)
If you've got to this page, we've most like met at one of my workshops where I help people begin, or improve, writing poems!
WELCOME to my little patch on the internet!
Below there are links, the pdf of my Funrir booklet (aimed at 9 to 12 year olds) on how to write a poem and a few things to think about when writing a poem.
This is going to be added to lots in the next few months as I go around the country, running more workshops and helping more people write poetry!
If YOU (or your teachers / adults at home) have any good suggestions on how I can make my workshops better, or want me to run a workshop for you/your group, please click this link:
My name is Funrir - and I help younger people come up with poetry ideas!
If you've seen me before, click me to get another copy of your booklet!
As well as poems about weird and wonderful pets, you can write about anything you like! Some starter ideas for you:
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When did you last laugh really loud? What was it about?
Many poems are funny, and/or about funny things. The one that makes Paul laugh (about the elephant and the telephone) is called Eletelephony and is found here: https://poets.org/poem/eletelephony
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What does your name mean? Paul, for example, means SMALL (even though he is 6'1" tall!).
Click here for one website where you can find out your name meaning and then write some words about what your name means (or perhaps the people who look after you know already and you can ask them!)
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Emotional 'stuff'...
Poems about emotions are everywhere, and in all cultures - and always have been!
Writing can be hard when you're in the middle of an emotion but the writer Michael Rosen has done a great video that helps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHuZHLrZ2EA
Think about an emotion that you might want to express in words. It might be making you feel a bit angry, upset, sad, happy, confused, excited, weird or even nothing at all right now, or you might want to write about one you have experienced before now.
It really helps us process/work through our thoughts and our emotions when we put them down in words (this applies to everyone of ALL ages!).
Remember though your poems don't have to be for anyone else. However, if you are not feeling so great, try to talk to an adult you can trust to help make things better.
Other Links:
Sometimes you might just want to write with nothing in mind at all - this is a great thing to do, letting your mind wander - one my other poet friends calls them mind doodles!
Start with a word and find a synonym (similar word) for it. Then find one for that and keep going until you end up with a word that is a bit different to the starting word! Can you link the two ends with a poem?
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Prompt sheets from National Poetry competition entrants and winners
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3D thesaurus here - free to use at first - but great for thinking of words in different ways (fantastic tool for writers, educators and anyone stuck on an idea!)