Crafting Poetry

Everyone with a love of words can write a poem, and Crafting Poetry is designed to show how it can be done, and to take the mystique out of the art. Its advice is basic and practical, taking the writer from the first spark of an idea to its final revision. On the way it considers nurturing the developing idea, word choice and imagery, rhyme and metre, set forms and free verse, and the all-important business of revision. The book offers plenty of ideas and exercises, providing inspiration for extending your imagination as well as your skills. The exercises have been created in a way that means you can return to them time and again and produce a new poem. There is advice on the best procedures for submitting your poems to print and on-line magazines, and about sharing your work in anthologies, collections and readings. Advice is offered on poetry competitions and about how to access further help with your work. The final chapter touches on using your poetry in a craft context.