Marielle Ignacio DeTorres

Writing is an incredibly healing and freeing activity. In principle, writing is the simple task of putting words into paper. However, it can be a difficult and heartrending process especially to the unprepared. Writing can take you places within yourself that you never knew existed.

My Writing Journey

I started writing poetry in college. At the time, it was like a hiding place or a safe spot for me whenever I feel stressed from academic work. I eventually graduated from business school and started working in corporate. By then, the poetry evolved into a refuge for emotions that I didn’t fully understand at the time. I wrote about loneliness, anxieties, fears, and most of all, I wrote about love. These topics are particularly hard to talk about in person because they take different shapes and forms throughout our life. The writing helps lend form to the internal chaos. Writing validates our inner reality and makes it accessible for others to see.

Writing turned into a way of connecting with the world. When I started sharing my poetry on Instagram, I found a deeper sense of connection with people. My friends would send me messages about how they were able to relate to what I was writing. Some would even request for dedicated poems. I also made new friends along the way, and people were very open about their stories of struggle, heartbreak, and loss. I try my best to listen and condense the essence of their stories into my writing. At the moment, I am particularly fascinated by heartbreak: It is amazing how people rise up and transform pain into a form of rebirth, a new beginning.

How To Write Poetry

The short answer to the question on how to write poetry is to just try and write one. Once you are able to overcome that initial fear, it becomes relatively easier to experiment with writing. You will need to practice often, and try to find ways to enjoy it every time.

For those who need a little more detail on how to start writing creatively, I’ve listed below some of the most helpful tips that I can share. Be it through prose or poetry, you can use below to guide you in your journey.

Start with either (1) an intention or (2) an inspiration.

• Intention: I usually begin to write with a specific person in mind. I like to visualise a scene in my head and I try to put myself in the shoes of one of the characters. Some stories are best told coming from a specific point of view: either that of the first person experiencing emotions, a second person who is on the receiving end of the emotion or event, or that of a detached third person observer. I personally like writing “open letter” type of poems because of the great emotional impact that these can deliver.
• Inspiration: Sometimes, I just let my imagination run wild. I start with either a single word, an image, a sound, or an experience that inspires me. If I’m thinking of a word like “love”, I try to personify the word. I tell the story of what would happen if I meet that person, any distinct personality and quirks, and create a monologue of how I will address him/her. If I’m feeling inspired by a memory, I enter into the scene and pay attention to what I can gather with my senses (see, hear, touch, etc). 

Play with language.

• Word Selection: When writing, I try to choose words that give justice to the emotion or mood that I want to capture. Just like how painters and photographers play with light and color, I select and lay out different words until I find the ones that fit just right. I don’t like using complicated words because sometimes they can be confusing to the reader. I try to stick with simple words that pack a punch.
• Structure: Free verse poetry doesn’t follow a particular meter, rhythm, or rhyme. This is why in terms of structure, you can get as creative as you like. I try to use different lengths to my phrases and sentences to keep things interesting. It helps to read the poem out loud as you write it and even as you edit, so you can check if the words sound right.
• Repetition: I also like to experiment with repetition. I choose words that I can play with in terms of their meanings and how they are used in a line. The smart use of repetition can infuse a sense of structure into a free verse poem. It can also provide emphasis on key points. I often enjoy creating plot twists that I incorporate in the middle portion of the poems, wherein I try to use the same key words and flip the meaning (positive to a negative, or vice versa) just by varying how the keywords are used.

Write with what you have, when you can.

• Note app: When I write my poems, I use Evernote or Writer Plus as my note-taking apps of choice. I use a free account in Evernote which syncs up to 3 devices, so I can easily edit either from my phone or my laptop and pick up right where I left off. Writer Plus is available on Android devices. It has a very simple interface, which is good for focused writing on mobile. However, I like to use a bluetooth keyboard when I write using my phone. I prefer this method over writing on paper because it is faster for me to type than to physically write. A lot of my ideas come and go, so it often feels like I am chasing after ideas before they disappear or I forget them. I use a Alcatroz Trilium BTR 1 which is my default keyboard, but I also have a cute Infinix XBK-01 keyboard which feels like a typewriter. I also find the keyboard of my old trusty Macbook Pro 2012 to be very comfortable to use such that I almost forget that I am typing. Apart from the convenience of using note-taking apps, it is a nice way to reduce paper usage and become more environmentally sustainable.
• Pen and paper: I use my journal and my planner primarily for recording life events and listing out goals and tasks, but I find these useful in writing poems as well. Whenever I would write on my journal, I would sometimes get a flash of inspiration so I like to record them as writing prompts. When I have free time, I revisit my notes and start expounding on the ideas I have written down. My favorite is the unlined Limelight journal, and it’s available in National Book Store. I love the texture and the thickness of the paper they used. For my planner, I use a minimalist dotted weekly schedule from Veco Paper. I have a collection of pens that I like to use, but my favorites include gel pens from Miniso, M&G, Pilot, and Dong A.  My writing is quite big and I like these pens for the thicker strokes.

Write regularly.

• Why: I am putting this first because this is probably the hardest question to answer when you are establishing a writing routine. However, this question is essential because the answer needs to be strong enough to keep you writing even when you don’t feel like it. Why do you write?  You can choose to write for a variety of reasons. I have written more about this in another article which you can access here. But for the purpose of writing regularly, my tip is this: Whatever your specific ‘why’ will be, make it something that is authentic, custom-fit, and uniquely yours. It doesn’t have to sound nice. It just needs to be clear to you. Writing is a journey, and your ‘why’ will evolve over time. It helps to start where you are: Why are you writing in this very moment? It is important to know your ‘why’, but be careful not to get stuck on this one in the beginning. Writing for yourself is a valid ‘why’. Writing, simply because you enjoy it, is also a valid ‘why’. Writing to make sense of the world is also a valid ‘why’. There are no right or wrong answers here.
• What: Once you know your ‘why’, I highly recommend writing about what speaks to you personally. What keeps you up at night? What makes you happy? What makes you excited? What makes you fall in love? What makes you afraid? What makes you irritated? What makes you angry? What are the things in your life now that are standing out to you? Write about those. As a poet, I like to write in free verse precisely because of the freedom it lends. There are no rules to follow nor break. It is just me and the blank page. I am free to roam, explore, and imagine. I am free to write whatever I want.
• Who: Writing is a present activity only, therefore it can be an effective form of mindfulness. So when you plan to write, bring your whole self. No distractions. No other task but to write. Show up for you. James Clear recommends leaving your phone in another room to help you focus. In my case, I like to write on my phone / laptop so it helps me to turn off all notifications and put my phone in silent mode. When using my laptop, I write on Evernote via web so I keep my open tabs to a minimum.
• When: For optimal habit and routine building, experts recommend to set a regular time for writing. You can get a lot done in 15-20 minutes everyday, which you can do as a discipline. In my case, I know that I have days of extreme productivity wherein I can start and finish multiple poems a day. There are also lull days in between where I like to rest my mind, watch TV, and focus on other non-writing tasks I have to accomplish. My advice is to take the pressure off especially in the beginning, just practice writing first. Observe, and find the right routine that works for you. It might be a few minutes everyday or a few hours per day but only three times a week.
• Where: Set up a usual spot, like a table or a sofa, reserved for writing. I prefer using a table because I like to type on a keyboard. For maximum happiness while writing, I bought myself a bluetooth keyboard that is comfortable and with just the right amount of rebounding of the keys. You can try out different keyboards to find one that fits your way of typing. Apart from your usual spot, be flexible enough to write anywhere when inspiration strikes. Just use your mobile phone to take notes.
• How: Writing is inherently enjoyable and fulfilling, but for the result to be good, it will involve learning how to sit with yourself, be alone for long periods of time, and be okay about being uncomfortable. It is especially difficult to write about things that hit close to home (heartbreak, love, loss). To write well, one must be in a state of focused attention. It takes a while to enter this state of flow, but learning to embrace the present moment is a fruit of writing. By writing regularly, you will begin to make space for quiet moments in your day. You will become more open to feeling deeply, and become more accepting of difficult emotions. By writing constantly, you will learn to find peace within yourself. The only thing that poetry asks of you is that you learn to be open to experience. It asks you to say Yes. Most of all, it asks you to start.

And that’s it. Thanks for reading all the way to the end. I hope that you can use some these tips as you get started. If you have any more questions, or if you just want to drop by and say Hi, send me an email via mariellemarvels@gmail.com. I would love to get in touch.