Poetry Inspiration: Resources at your Fingertips
We’ve all been there. We’re driving down the road or in the middle of a warm shower when an idea pops into our heads. We’re giddy with excitement: This is collection material and, darn it, it’s going to be a masterpiece. However, when it comes time to write, that idea is stuck somewhere in our subconscious.
“It’s okay,” we think. “I’ve thought it before, I can certainly think it again.”
So, we sit down in front of our computer or with an open notebook on our lap – we start to write but nothing comes out.
What now?
Finding yourself in a poetry writing rut is not only normal but encouraged. We’re allowed to have these moments of uncertainty and stillness.
I like to think of our minds like rivers. Our ideas are constantly flowing like the water, gently moving forward ready to spill out into a larger home – in this case, our blank document.
However, once in a while, a colony of beavers decides to build a dam and, well, you know what happens next. The water slows, sometimes growing stagnant until it rains and it gets the force it needs to keep on flowing.
The ruts we find ourselves in aren’t permanent; they’re dams, simple blockages. In a river, they’re there because that’s what beavers do. And ruts? They’re just what writers get. It’s just a part of life and we accept that. But, soon enough, you’ll find the right source of inspiration – the rain in my silly analogy – and your ideas will continue to flow.
At least that’s what I tell myself every time I fall into a writing slump – so far, it’s been working.
When it comes to finding the inspiration we need to get out of a slump, there are many valuable resources right at our fingertips.
Here are some of my favorites:
Music. Music is a popular, established form of inspiration when it comes to writing of all styles, as it has a direct influence on both our moods and mindsets. Before you sit down to write, create your own poetry playlist and let the music move you.
From rock’n’roll to classical, rap to instrumental, whether it’s a specific song or an entire genre, if it helps you find your motivation, turn the volume up.
Other poets… Use your favorite poets as inspiration – we’re all on the same team, after all. Get in their heads, adopt their emotions, and use that to move your pen. If you want to create a poetry collection about love, read pieces by the romantics. Penning about self-love, confidence, and being who you are? Dive into Amanda Lovelace’s work.
Additionally, do some research to meet some new poets. Learning their different styles and tones may be exactly what you need to get the words out of your head and onto paper.
Here are 14 new poetry collections from this season that are filled with inspiration.
…And their advice, too. If you look deep into a poet's work or read some of their interviews, you may find a bit of advice that will speak to you.
Artists, not just poets but creators too, such as E. E. Cummings, Margaret Atwood, and even Taylor Swift, are filled with experience and wisdom that can help pull the most unmotivated writer out of their slump.
Lit mags. Our friend the internet is home to hundreds of lit mags available for your reading pleasure. Scroll deep into the pages of these magazines – or pick up some physical copies at the library – and get to learnin’.
Throughout the pages of a lit mag, or a literary magazine to the newbies, you’ll find endless poetry resources. Sometimes something as simple as reading a new genre might release a flurry of ideas that would have otherwise been stuck inside that head of yours.
Social media. Yes, really. In this day and age, you can find any subgenre on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. From inspirational graphics to snippets of poems, creators are continuously sharing glimpses into their writing lives with the world.
And, guess what? There’s no harm in looking.
Follow a specific hashtag like #poetsofinstagram or a few of your favorite artists. Every time you scroll, because you know you’ll be doing it anyway, you’ll be enhancing your craft and finding inspiration with each swipe.
Here are 10 Instagram accounts to follow for endless inspiration.
Inspiration is always out there. Where will you find it?
