07/17/04

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39 Years old. Married for 7 years. Father of two wonderful boys.

I have been writing poetry for the last 24 years. It's what has kept me sane. I try to write from the heart. Which is where we should all write from. Words alone do not make poetry. Poetry is feeling, emotion, painting a picture with the meanings of words.

Too often I see poetry that has no meaning. Here is my secret to writing good poetry. Re-write a poem as many times as it takes to make it YOUR masterpiece. That is the art of writing good poetry.

Here are my rules for writing poetry.

1) Write for yourself. If it makes you happy... If it helps you cope with life... Good poetry comes from inspiration. Hard work and determination are what makes a poem great.

2) A good poet never thinks a poem is completely done, only that it cannot be perfected any more.

3) Always carry a pen & paper, you never know when the next idea is going to strike you. Even if it is only one line, one little idea... write it down.

4) A good poet is their own worst critic. Read it as if someone else was reading it for the first time. If it sounds like crap... if it sounds like cosmic bullshit... it is.

5) *Very important. Never criticize someone else's poetry, unless your criticism was expressly asked for. Compliment good poetry, never destroy someone else's work for the sake of "Teaching them a lesson." Find something good about the poem. Even if it is crap. Be gentle, peoples feelings are in their writings.

6) Poetry needs to be understood. The more you stretch it... the more obscure you get... the less likely people will be able to understand it. Some "Poets" think that using big words makes a poem great. Bullshit. Only use a big word if: a) you can't use anything else. b) it fits. The greatest idea in the world will be lost in big words.

7) Poems are your children, raise them well.

8) *It's worth repeating. Words alone do not make a poem.

So, this is my poetry wisdom. I hope they help you. By the way, how did you like my poetry? Would you by it as a book? Let me know.

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Thank you for taking your time to read my work.

Alexander McDonald