Poetry Resources to Help You Hone Your Skills

For poets and creative writers looking to polish their voice and their work.

You don’t have to sign up at your local college to take a poetry course, although that is a lot of fun. These days, poets are looking for something a bit more remote and self-guided. There are many free courses you can take from the beginner level up through collegiate level learning. If you find yourself knee-deep in a course and feel you aren’t getting much out of it, perhaps a different teaching style or course material would be better suited to your learning style. The most important thing is to make a commitment to growing your skill, honing your poetic voice, and to continue learning and developing your craft.

As Mary Oliver discussed in the intro of her wonderful poetry companion A Poetry Handbook,

Everyone knows that poets are born and not made in school. This is also true also of painters, sculptors, and musicians. Something that is essential can’t be taught; it can only be given, or earned, or formulated in a manner too mysterious to be picked apart and redesigned for the next person. Still, painters, sculptors, and musicians require a lively acquaintance with the history of their particular field and with past as well as current theories and techniques. And the same is true of poets. Whatever can’t be taught, there is a great deal that can, and must, be learned.” — Mary Oliver, A Poetry Handbook

Which brings me to the point of today’s article; dear poets, there are things we must be studious about. We cannot fall merely upon the laurels of our gift. We must learn the the foundational elements of our craft or else we risk writing ourselves into a rut, a pattern, a “norm” that does not allow our work to grow and expand into something greater. We poets need to press ourselves toward greatness, always. We owe that to this craft.

I work as a freelance writer but also as a poetry editor. I am the first to tell you that what I have in gift is equally balanced by how much I feel I still have to learn. Recently I began a collegiate-level course on Open Learn and I have scheduled two Udemy courses to begin soon. I also have a stack of poetry learning materials here by my recliner, patiently waiting for my attention. I love to learn.

Perhaps you do too? Are you willing to invest your time, efforts, and mind into learning about your skill, improving your craft, and stretching yourself creatively? Here are some resources to help you do just that.

Poetry Resources for the Poet Who Wants to Learn & Grow

Resource: Open Learn Cost: Free Description: There are a variety of Open Learn free courses for poets. They are in-depth and work at your own pace. Please refer to the above link for full course descriptions. Here are a few examples.

• Approaching poetry: Develop poetic analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary texts, learn about rhythm, alliteration, rhyme, poetic inversion, voice and line lengths and endings. Examine poems that do not rhyme and learn how to compare and contrast poetry.
• What is poetry?: Illustrates the techniques behind both the traditional forms of poetry and free verse. Helps poets translate experience into imaginative writing and poetry.
• Writing Poetry : This is an older course with audiovisuals that may not have workable links in the coursework — but still, free materials on the artform of writing poetry.

Resource: Udemy Cost: Varies widely based on class instructor and content. Some start at about $11.99. Description: Each class features an instructor and class online class materials. Please refer to the above link for full course descriptions. Here are a few examples. (Descriptions quoted from the class tagline on the website.)

• Poetry Primer — Survey of Poetic Writing Styles and Projects: “The verse writing techniques and terms you need to write poems in various styles and become the poet you want to be.”
• Writing Poetry: Zero to Hero: “Overcome your problems! Let’s make you the poet you didn’t think you could be.”
• The Essential Poet’s Toolbox for Readers and Writers: “Learn to recognise and appreciate the techniques that lie at the heart of modern English poetry.”

You can find educational materials, poems, and information about many poets on websites dedicated to the master work of poets, both traditional and modern:

• The Poetry Foundation
• Poetry 180 (Library of Congress)
• Poets.org
• NCTE Poetry
• Library of Congress Poet Laureate

Poetry books and handbooks are many, but a few of these rise to the top of my list.

• Mary Oliver — A Poetry Handbook
• The Practice of Poetry : Writing Exercises from Poets Who Teach
• Bird by Bird — Annie Lammot
• The Daily Poet: Day-By-Day Prompts For Your Writing Practice’ by Kelli Russell Agodon and Martha Silano

And a creative writing resource every poet needs to read: Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury.

Getting Started

You will go down a rabbit hole. You will make a huge list of all the things you want to learn, classes you want to take and books you want to read. But as most poets, when overwhelmed, we shut down, right?

So pick One class. One book. One focus. If you can narrow down where you’d like to start, or what you know the absolute least about, you can press yourself in a new direction at a speed that won’t send you right off the rails. Start slow, a little each day, and make learning a habit.

For me, I have to set aside the time. I have to schedule learning time in the mornings when I am normally working on client orders or editing poetry books. One hour. I push client orders aside for ONE HOUR and I give myself that time to learn and grow. When I do that, I keep my skillset expanding, my mind expanding, and my propensity for doing creative work increases. I can’t do it every day, but I can have it as a goal for myself. One hour. That’s my goal. If I reach that goal a few times a week, I feel pleased at this progress and it makes me want to do more. Perhaps if you can commit to a smaller goal, you can also do this for yourself.

Thank you for reading today and I wish you the best on your poetic journey. If you’d like to follow my work you are welcome to hit that follow button and stay in touch.

Other resources you may enjoy:

Skillshare Free Online Poetry Courses

And resources by Yours Truly:

Fiddleheads & Floss Poetry Fiddleheads & Floss Writing Services

Tips for Writing Traditional Japanese Haiku The 12-Point Checklist for Poetry Editing Make Your Poetry Sing