How to Write More Powerful Poetry

Ppdigital Writing More Powerful Poetry

Often, the more one consciously tries to write a poem, the more diminished the poem becomes. This article is about how to "write into the unknown," according to Keats' definition of negative capability.  In other words, it's about letting the poem emerge without the poet exerting his will on it.

It can be discomforting to follow where the poem wants to go rather than leading it. But the reward is work that creates a spark of recognition, delight, or surprise in the writer, and the reader as well.

The article below suggests specific writing exercises that can help you do just that.

Poetry and the Art of Keats' Negative Capability