Writing Tip #2: Don’t Feel “Confined” by a Form or Genre

Genres and poetic forms are great ways to stretch your writing muscle and to try something new. For example, writing a villanelle or ghazal can force you to think “out of the box” as you attempt to work within the limits of the form. This can push you to play with language in a way you might not otherwise do. However, it’s important not to feel “restricted” by the rules of the form you are using. The best writing is born from unexpected places and often, that means breaking the rules. So while sticking to a form or genre can serve as a great launching pad, know that the sky is your limit!

Suggested reading: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/1639292/ars-poetica-ambulthiyal-abecedarian

Photo Credit: Marinho, Regia. “Absurdism in Life and Art, Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Others.” Medium, 23 Mar. 2023, https://regia-marinho.medium.com/absurdism-in-life-and-art-salvador-dal%C3%AD-ren%C3%A9-magritte-and-others-5e485f1e4bcb.