So you sit down, ready to write.
Maybe you had the idea the night before. Maybe you even felt inspired. But now that you’re actually staring at the page, nothing comes. You don’t know what to write about, where to start, or how to turn the thoughts in your head into a poem.
Writer’s block happens often to writers. And that’s where poetry writing prompts come in.
Why Poetry Writing Prompts Actually Help
Sometimes the hardest part of writing isn’t the writing itself. It’s starting.
A prompt gives you something to work with immediately. Instead of staring at a blank page, you already have a direction. And once you start, ideas tend to follow.
Prompts also push you to write about things you might not normally think about. You end up exploring new themes, new emotions, and new perspectives without even trying too hard.
When Nothing Comes to Mind
There are days when writing just doesn’t happen. You sit there, thinking, waiting, trying to force something out, and nothing comes. It can be frustrating, especially when you want to write but can’t seem to find the words.
That doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It’s part of the process.
Instead of forcing it, using a prompt can help you ease back into writing. And you don’t have to come up with something perfect, so don’t be hard on yourself.
Let’s Get Into It
Here are 10 poetry writing prompts you can start with. Pick one, keep it simple, and see where it takes you.
1. Write about how we often hide our true selves from others because we don’t want them to see us as vulnerable, weak or imperfect, and how that vulnerability is actually a strength
2. Write a poem where every line starts with “I wish.”
3. Write a poem about how much time has passed since a last heartbreak.
4. Write a poem about what it means to be human.
5. Write a poem about self love, in the form of a conversation with yourself, convincing yourself that you are worth loving.
6. Write a poem about feeling lonely in the midst of large crowds of people.
7. Write a poem about adulthood, comparing the fantasies, during childhood, of adulthood, and how different it is today.
8. Write a poem about a moment when you walked passed someone you once loved who never loved you back.
9. Write a poem based on a scene of a woman sitting on the floor and crying in the dark.
10. Write a love poem from the perspective of nature
Start Writing
Pick a prompt, start with a line, and build from there. You can also come back to the same prompt later and write something completely different. Your perspective will change, and so will your words. The important thing is to keep writing. All the best!
