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To do good job at anything,
you have to prepare yourself for the job.
One important aspect of any job, is having the correct tools to work with.
With that said, I
could drone on and on about the way I personally think poetry should be written
- but that would just be my opinion. For example, I personally do not like
poetry that rhymes - AT ALL! IT sounds hokey to me. But most of the world prefers
rhyming verse. So you see... one opinion, philosophy or viewpoint gives you a
very limited perspective. However - books are
reference tools anyone can benefit from. Often written by collaborating writers,
or at least an author who will try to explain and detail the many aspects of the
topic.
I have assembled
many excellent resources for you to learn how to write better poetry - or if you
are a poet already, to polish your and advance your skills to new heights.
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The
BEST "How to write BETTER poetry" books |
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Merriam
Webster's Collegiate
Dictionary (10th Edition)
| America's
best-selling dictionary! A
special oversized,
deluxe-bound version featuring
over 1,000 color
illustrations, 160,000
authoritative entries, clear definitions
and an enhanced coverage of
synonyms and word histories. |
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Random
House Webster's Unabridged
Dictionary on CD-ROM: Version
3.0 for Windows 95/98 and
Above-Plus
| Random
House Webster's most
complete
dictionary--now
packaged with a fully
updated CD-ROM Version
3.0 complete with
audio pronunciations.
Based on a new search
engine for better
flexibility and ease
of use with Windows 95
and later versions,
the updated CD
includes graphics and
recorded
pronunciations. 2400
maps and illustrations |
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How
to Write a Poem (Speak Out,
Write On! Book,)
by
Margaret Ryan
| "There
is no one way to write
a poem," author
and published poet
Ryan begins, as she
then goes on to
describe all the
unique and personal
aspects that
characterize the
writing of poetry. The
next several chapters
offer suggestions and
activities designed to
get the young writer
from the idea and
concept stage to that
first line, rough
draft, and revision,
along with the
imagery, form, rhythm,
and meter matters that
go with poetry. The
final chapter
discusses going
public--entering
contests,
participating in
public readings, and
submitting for
publication. The
breezy tone of the
text is engaging,
personal, and
motivating, while
always respectful of
the audience. Poetry
fans and aspiring
poets will appreciate
the advice. Teachers
may find the book
useful for the writing
ideas and examples of
poems that illustrate
various aspects of
poetry.
Black-and-white
photos; bibliography. Anne
O'Malley |
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How
to Write Poetry (Scholastic
Guides)
by
Paul B. Janeczko
| Award-winning
poet Paul B. Janeczko
shares advice and
instructions for
writing poetry--from
keeping a journal to
developing an actual
poem. The book also
includes a detailed
glossary of poetry
terms and a
bibliography of great
poetry books. |
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Pearls
of Love : How to Write Love
Letters and Love Poems
by
Ara John Movsesian
| "Pearls
of Love...is a fun,
yet sincere effort to
help those of us
clumsy of rhyme and
prose pose wondrous
declarations of love
to those close to the
heart. Pearls of
Love...truly does
deserve a home on the
shelf with the
thesaurus and
dictionary." --Rebecca
Teagarden --Columbus
Citizen-Journal |
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Haiku
Handbook : How to Write,
Share, and Teach Haiku
by
William J. Higginson, Penny
Harter
| "Haiku
Handbook" is the
standard for getting a
handle on this
difficult yet
beautiful way of
making poems.
Higginson makes it
clear that haiku is
much more than a form;
it is a positive way
of experiencing poetry
in the world around
us. The scholarship is
there but it never
deceives or confuses.
Harter's contribution
shows that haiku is
best taught in a
holistic embrace of
teacher, student &
the creative process. Reviewer:
djrix |
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The
Practice of Writing
by David Lodge
| When
it comes to the craft
of writing, best
selling novelist David
Lodge finds much to
celebrate, analyze,
and confess. In this
absorbing collection
of seventeen essays he
ponders the work of
writers he
particularly admires,
current and past
trends in literary
style, and the
mechanics of the craft
itself. Revealing,
enlightening pieces on
Graham Greene, James
Joyce, Kingsley Amis
and Anthony Burgess
are interspersed with
personal reflections
on Lodge's own
artistic and technical
struggles. |
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How
to Write a Poem
by
Kathleen Christopher Null
| Very
useful and helpful
book in writing and
understanding the art
of writing a poem. |
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How
to Write Poetry (3rd Ed)
by
Nancy Bogen
| A
very thin,
unpretentious book
that gives you tools,
practice, and examples
in the craft of poetry
without getting
extremely
analytical...Practical
exercises are dotted
liberally throughout
the book. No theory is
introduced without
lots and lots of
hands-on
application...It makes
a valuable starter
book, a valuable
reference book (for
forms, meter, etc.),
and a valuable
exercise book for
ongoing poetry
calisthenics. Anitra
Dancing, Speakeasy
website |
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How
to Write, Recite, and Delight
in All Kinds of Poetry
by Joy N. Hulme, Donna W.
Guthrie
| This
book is great for both
teachers and students.
It includes everything
you need to teach,
write, and enjoy
poetry. I teach 6th
grade and would love
to have a class set of
this book! Great
reference! |
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The
How to Write Book: A
Step-By-Step Guide to Writing
Friendly Letters and Business
Letters, Book Reports, Formal
Reports, Essays, Poetry an
by Judy Mitchell |
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The
Modern Rhyming Dictionary :
How to Write Lyrics : A
Practical Guide to Lyric
Writing for Songwriters and
Poets
by
Gene Lees |
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Writing
Poetry : Where Poems Come from
and How to Write Them
by
David K. Kirby
| Just as any other art, poetry can be taught, and Kirby's "little green book" as we called in back in my undergrad days is absolutely the best book out there on the subject. Kirby teaches the way a dance instructor might teach dancers: he gives you the nuts and bolts, and when his instructions are used as a springboard for ideas, the results can be nothing short of amazing.
Reviewer: J. L. Newberry |
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Successful
Writing
by
Maxine C. Hairston
| Practical,
concise advice for
advanced writers who
want to further
strengthen and polish
their writing. In
straightforward and
vigorous language,
Successful Writing
offers expert help,
whether students are
writing within their
college major or they
are preparing to write
on the job. |
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Ways of Reading : An Anthology for Writers
by Bartholomae, Anthony Petrosky, Tony Petrosky, David Bartholomae
| This
book contains great
argumentative writing
in it. We used this
book when I was a
freshman in college
for my argumentative
class at the University
of Florida. It has
classic scenarios of
critics and advocates
of movements
expressing themselves
in essay form. This
book contains
arguments about real
life events that occurred
recently and discusses
them in a very
intellectual level.
One of the best things
about this book is
that you can compare
the essays within with
other essays in the
book. Sometimes the
essays are foils of
one another and
through this you can
see their subjective
viewpoint more
clearly. Most of the
time the essays do
compliment one another
and intensify the
other's argument
tenfold. |
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I hope these books help you become a better writer. Remember, no
matter how much you know already, there is always room for
improvement.
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