If you think about 'poetry', generally what comes to mind is rhyming poetry. But there are actually many styles of poetry, and each one is unique. Acrostic poetry is a style of poetry that doesn't necessarily rhyme. This article will teach you what an acrostic is and how to write a good acrostic poem.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Before Writing Acrostic Poetry
Step 1. Decide on the material to use
Some people enjoy writing on a computer, while others do better with a pencil and a piece of paper. Both have good and bad sides, so consider which one is more right for you. If you're not sure, try both methods and see which one is more comfortable for you.
- Using a computer will allow you to delete and edit more easily as well as undo mistakes and save several different drafts with ease.
- Using a pencil and paper can slow down and make you really think about what to write on the paper. Research also shows that handwriting can strengthen the brain.
Step 2. Know how the acrostic works
Acrostic may sound complicated, but it's not! You only have to remember the first letter of each line, which, when read vertically, spells out the topic of the poem. Topics are generally one word, but can be more if you prefer. Take a look at this example of an acrostic poem about the sun.
- Remember that the word you choose as the first letter of each line will determine the length of your acrostic poem. Choose a word that matches the length of the poem you want to write.
- If the word you want to write is too long or short, try opening a thesaurus to find synonyms for the word. For example, if the word “love” is too short, you can try “love”, “friendship”, “admiration”, “loyalty” and so on.
- Remember that you can use more than one word for the theme of your choice. This is an easy way to extend a poem.
Step 3. Brainstorm ideas
What do you want to write? Decide on a topic that you can talk about endlessly and that should leave room for writing with visually engaging images, as well as creative language. Some brainstorming activities may include:
- Have a notebook to jot down the things you want to write down.
- Make a list of the characteristics of the things you want to write about, for example: your mother's personality, her appearance, your favorite memories of her, her voice, the smell of her perfume, etc.
- Take a walk and jot down the sights you see in your notebook.
- Seek inspiration from works of art. How do you feel about your favorite song or painting?
- Write about yourself! Who will know you better than yourself?
Part 2 of 2: Writing Acrostic Poetry
Step 1. Write your topic word vertically
Since each line must begin with the letter of the topic word, you should always start by writing that word. That way, you can visualize the poem and start anticipating how your lines will come together.
Generally, the first word of each line is capitalized, making it easier to see the spelled word
Step 2. Fill in the lines in your poem
You may be tempted to start from the first line, but it doesn't have to be that way. See all the letters you have to work with. What is the most interesting thing that comes to your mind that starts with one of these letters? Start there so you know there's at least one line you really like.
- You can fill in lines by writing end-stopped lines; which means that each line ends with a punctuation mark or with a logical grammatical ending.
- You can also write lines leading to the end of the line enjambed, meaning they can be truncated whenever you need them, regardless of punctuation or grammar.
Step 3. Focus on the five senses
Involvement of the five senses is the use of language that is rooted in the five senses, namely the senses of sight, hearing, taste, taste and smell. Your readers can understand abstract concepts like “love” or “hope” better if they can imagine specific details through their bodies.
For example, instead of saying you love your mother, try to describe how you like the smell of onions that clings to her body after cooking dinner
Step 4. Try using similes and metaphors
Simile is a comparison that uses words such as “like” or “as”: Red is like a rose. Metaphors also make comparisons, but instead of saying something resembles something else, metaphor goes a step further and says that two things are compared as one and the same thing: Clouds are cotton balls in the sky.
Step 5. Use creative language
Avoid clichés (words that are too common to be familiar to everyone). For example, saying something "red as a rose" or comparing clouds to cotton. Instead, try to be creative as possible! Try to come up with descriptions, descriptions, comparisons that you've never heard of before.
Step 6. Revise your poem
Just because you've finished filling in the lines of an acrostic poem doesn't mean you're done! After completing the first draft, reread it and think about how you can make it even better.
- Make abstract language more concrete. Abstract language like “hope” and “love” may sound pretty, but it doesn't say much compared to the words we can feel on our bodies using our five senses.
- Reinforce your word choice. Circle the words that can be made more interesting. Try looking up synonyms in the thesaurus to make them stand out more, but don't pick a word just because it's long.
- Stick to the topic. Make sure that each line of your poem says something about your topic word.
Step 7. Edit your poem for grammar and spelling improvements
Once you've made the poem as interesting and creative as possible, try rereading it and editing it for language errors. Make sure your readers can understand your poem by clarifying any confusing words. This is the last thing you should do.
Tips
- Creative! Acrostic poems don't need to rhyme, but you can always try to make them rhyme.
- Vocabulary books and thesaurus can be very helpful if you can't find a word that expresses how you feel or that you need to change but don't know how. Use it if you really need it.
- If you have difficulty or lack of inspiration, start with a short title.
- If writing on paper, use a pencil, then bold the first letter of each line with a marker to make the topic word stand out.
