Rules for Writing the Poet

To quote one of the contributors Kent Handfield to the Poems, Prose and Verse anthology The Life of a Writer, “I am a poet, I just didn’t know it.”

Well, I’m a poet, and I know it. But I am not this type of poet, I assure you.

Rules for Writing the Poet by Erin Hylands

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5 tips for writing a poet

1. Being a poet is different than writing about a poem. You can write amazing poetry but write about a poet in a horrible way.

2. Please don’t make your poet a sadistic hippie: it’s overdone. On second thought, for stereotypes, do this,

3. Do give your poet dreadlocks. For some reason this is very poetic.

4. They need to be a starving artist. As in, eat breadcrumbs and live in an attic while writing their poetry.

5. If they write poetry, they can’t write novels. It’s not poetic to write novels. That’s what authors do.

And yet, I’m a poet and a novelist and none of these things…

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See what I mean? LOL. Who’s your favorite poet and why? Comment below!