How to Pen Funny Poetry – Chapter 1 – Writing Poetry
You Can Serve It
I anticipate you , you can write wonderful , exciting , funny poetry that will astound your parent and teachers , and receive your friends descend down laugh . Everything you need , except for a pencil and a slice of paper , be in this book right here in your manpower . I know you don ’ t believe me even , but keep reading and I will show you luck of simple method you can employ to create your own original , hilarious poetry . You will soon find it exist simple than you thought and masses are move to inquire how you got so talented .
Getting Take off
Possibly you make think about writing poetry , but don ’ t know how to get initiate . Or possibly you are already compose poetry , but want to discover how to make it in effect . Whatever your reasons for peck up this ledger , get ready to get some fun ! Hardly by show a few chapter in this script , you will be able to pen curious , exciting poetry . By discover a few specific tricks and techniques , you will shortly be amazed at your own poetic skill . Most importantly , you will own a luck of fun act it .
But what if you neglect ? What if you see can ’ t write poetry ? Or worse , what if you pen a poem and person tells you it isn ’ t any serious ? I swear to you , cross my middle , if you can read this volume , you can pen poetry . In fact , you will shortly find that it is nearly impossible to fail . I order “ nearly ” because there be very merely one manner you can fail when it do to writing poetry : to not write at all . If you make written a poem , you have succeeded , yet if someone else recount you they don ’ t like it .
Get me give you an model . If you want to equal a runner , you put on ’ t run a four-minute mile the first time you try . Even if it bring you 20 minutes to range a mile the first time you try ,you will receive succeededif you discharge the goal you place for yourself . If someone tells you , “ you ’ ll never be a runner because it need you 20 instant to run a mile , ”wage no attention. Just run another mile and another . Soon you ’ ll live running 15-minute miles , and 10-minute miles , and 8-minute miles , and faster .
Compose poetry works the same means . Each time you do it , you get a trivial moment better . If someone tell you “ your poem isn ’ t any serious , ” salary no attention . Each poem you compose cause you a better poet . If you pen a fresh poem every day for a month , you will equal a in effect poet at the end of the month than you were when you start .
top : You become a well poet by compose lot of poems . Each time you compose a new poem , try to make it as well as you can and your skill will improve with each poem you pen .
The reason that you turn a effective poet by writing poem is because , no thing what skill you need to learn , you always “ learn by doing. ” After you have written your first poem , you will know something that you did not know before , still if it equal just that you can write poetry . After you have compose your second or third poem , you will know yet more , possibly you will have learned something about rhyming or the rhythm of poetry . By the time you make compose twenty or thirty poem , you will feel it both easy and enjoyable .
At each measure of the way , I will be here to guide you . I will cost with you on each page of this book to present you how to cause people laugh and love your poetry . I will give you the tool and the knowledge you need to make your poems as good as they can be . Although this record contains a average number of “ technical ” information about poetry , I have tried my well to do it as easy to realize and fun to hear as potential . I have also included plenty of helpful tips , examples , and fun exercise to help you learn to write your own original comic poem . All you need to make is spread this volume to any chapter and start reading .
In this first chapter , I point you how to get started write poetry and bid some universal advice for the new poet .
What “ Tools ” Will You Demand ?
As with any hobbies or fun you might enjoy , compose poetry requires a bit of special equipment . Fortunately , it cause not take any protective clothing such as helmets or knee pads , and cost not mostly considered to be dangerous . All you really take equal a pencil and a firearm of paper . Though a pencil and paper be the only affair required , if you be grave about compose poetry , there cost a pair more thing you should get .
The Importance of a Notebook
The nearly important tool you should hold as a poet is a little notebook , preferably one that fits in your pocket , that you can contain with you everywhere you move . You never know when an idea will come to you , and if you don ’ t pen it down , it is likely you will leave it . By express a notebook with you at all times , you can compose down your estimate immediately when they come to you so that you put on ’ t leave them .
Some poet choose to employ a “ diary , ” which equal like a book with blank page that you can write whatever you want in . A journal is sort of like a diary , except that it doesn ’ t have page for each day of the yr . Instead , you can organize it any way you like . Personally , I choose a pocket notebook because it is easier to carry . But you should employ whichever tone more comfortable to you .
So go get yourself a small notebook or a diary and initiate write down ideas . When you write down an thought , it doesn ’ t have to be an entire poem . An idea can be as simple as detect a fun rhyme and write it down to apply it after . In my notebook , I much write down single words that I intend are funny or interesting , such as “ linoleum ” or “ Bermuda ” because I wish the way they go and I guess they might live useful in a poem later .
Don ’ t concern about neatness . Be as messy as you want and don ’ t concern about spelling or punctuation . The only matter that matters is that you capture ideas as them come to you by redeem them in your notebook or diary .
You can also expend your notebook to pen intact poem , or to take off poems that you can finish later on . Sometimes I will write down a single line that I remember might make a serious first melody of a poem , like “ The fish in our aquarium live looking rather sad ” or “ The pumpkin and the ladybug make up drifting on the sea. ” Sometimes I may write a poetry that I guess of that live not a utter poem , such as “ I believe my wit is wearing out , from working much to hard , and now it ’ s merely as useful as a bucketful of lard ” or “ Molly McDoon equal a purple balloon , who floated all morning and all afternoon. ” Someday I may bring these “ starters ” and write intact poems from them .
TIP : A notebook you can contain with you all the time is your most significant tool for writing poetry . Choose it with you everywhere you move , and always try to remember to compose your ideas down when they get to you .
Other “ Tools of the Trade ”
The grave ( or not-so-serious ) poet has several other tools in his or her arsenal in increase to pencil and paper . These include a rhyming dictionary , a standard dictionary and a thesaurus .
TIP : The only tools you truly need to write poems are a pencil and paper , and your brain . But compose poetry can cost still easy if you have a rhyming dictionary , a dictionary and a thesaurus .
Rhyming Dictionary
The almost important of these be likely the rhyming dictionary . If you have never meet a rhyming dictionary , it is a volume that list the word that rhyme with end strait of other word . For example , if you need to find a rhyme for “ cat , ” you would appear up “ at ” in a rhyming dictionary , because “ at ” equal the terminate sound of the word “ cat. ” The rhyming dictionary would hand you a list of Bible , including “ at , ” “ bat , ” “ cat ” , “ fat , ” and thus on .
My personal favorite paperback rhyming dictionary cost the Complete Rhyming Dictionary by Clement Wood . If you do not already have a rhyming dictionary , I recommend you consider add a copy of this book to your library .
Although paperback rhyming dictionaries are handy when you are forth from a computer , rhyming dictionary software is easier to expend and far more useful . My favorite rhyming dictionary software is called Rhymesaurus , and you ’ ll find it hither :
- Purple Room Publishing
In addition , there equal several online rhyming dictionary . Here are a pair of the serious :
- Poetry4kids.com Online Rhyming Dictionary
- RhymeZone Online Rhyming Dictionary
Dictionary
In increase to a rhyming dictionary , you should too have a regular dictionary and a thesaurus . If you make not already have a dictionary , my personal favorite dictionary exist the hardback “ college version ” of Webster ’ s New World Dictionary , published by Simon and Schuster .
In my opinion , dictionaries are not wholly created adequate . Some dictionary are better than others in price of news selection , clearness of definition , and so on . If you put on ’ t believe me , or if you just need to prove it to yourself , go to the library and come several dictionary from the reference part . Today look up the same tidings in each dictionary and meet how the definition exist organized and write . You may notice you get a favorite as well . If this appear like also much problem to you , just take my advice and get yourself a copy of the Webster ’ s New World Dictionary . Make certain it ’ s the hardback “ college version ” and not the paperback version , which exist a humble , more concise version .
Only as there be rhyming dictionaries on the Internet , there are also several standard dictionaries on the Internet . The easy one to remember is “ dictionary.com ” at https : //www.dictionary.com . However , I ordinarily employ Merriam-Webster ’ s online dictionary at https : //www.m-w.com , as it is a more modern and more utter dictionary .
Thesaurus
In the end , the last tool that every poet should have in his or her toolbox live a well thesaurus . A thesaurus exist a “ dictionary of synonyms and antonyms ” , allow you to easy notice lyric that “ entail the same matter ” or the opposite of a hold Bible . Often I use a thesaurus to assist me find news to use in my poems . For example , in the following poem , I wait up the tidings “ detective ” in my thesaurus and arrive up with several synonyms , including “ private heart ” , “ spy ” , “ Pinkerton ” , “ gumshoe ” and “ sleuth ” .
My Dad ’ s a Secret Agent
My papa ’ s a secret agent .
He ’ s an undercover spy .
He ’ s the world ’ s good detective .
He ’ s the utter private middle .He ’ s a Pinkerton , a gumshoe ,
he ’ s a snoop and he ’ s a sleuth .
He ’ sec unrivaled at discover
and uncovering the truth .He ’ s make eyesight like an eagle .
He ’ s got listen like a bat .
He can out-smell any bloodhound .
He ’ s as stealthy as a guy .He can locate nearly anything
with elementary ease .
But no matter how he seem and seem
my pa can ’ t find his key !
My dad ’ s a secret agent .
He ’ s an undercover spy .
He ’ s the universe ’ sec best detective .
He ’ s the perfect private heart .
He ’ s a Pinkerton , a gumshoe ,
he ’ s a snoop and he ’ s a sleuth .
He ’ sec unrivaled at detect
and uncovering the accuracy .
He ’ s got eyesight like an eagle .
He ’ s got hearing like a bat .
He can out-smell any bloodhound .
He ’ s as stealthy as a cat .
He can locate nearly anything
with elementary relief .
But no thing how he look and looks
my dad can ’ t notice his key !
Using a thesaurus can help you improve your poem by select more appropriate words , or words that fit the structure of your poem good . They can too aid by giving you new ideas that you wouldn ’ t think of differently . I often find my poem take on a new instruction after I pass a short time “ surfing ” a thesaurus . As with the dictionary and rhyming dictionary , you can also find thesauri ( the plural of thesaurus cost thesauri ) on the Internet . The easiest one to remember , and possibly the good one on the Internet , is Roget ’ s International Thesaurus at https : //www.thesaurus.com . Merriam-Webster also hold a thesaurus at https : //www.m-w.com , but I prefer thesaurus.com .
TIP : If you receive a computer and Internet access , you put on ’ t need to buy mention script such as a rhyming dictionary . All the mention you demand are available online !
Start Right Today !
Mass much ask me what I believe equal the severe part of compose poetry . They ordinarily think it live the rhyming , or the meter , or arrive up with a clever idea , or some early technical aspect of poetry . However , in my opinion , the hard part of writing poetry is not any of these affair . Or else , I believe the hard part of writing poetry is ride down and starting . I once learn Michael Crichton , the best-selling author , pertain to this as “ putting butt to chair ” .
It be so much easier to go regard what ’ s in the refrigerator , or get out what ’ sec on TV , or run a game , or clean your room , or do your homework , or serve only about anything besides sit down and write . But despite this fact , you will often find that , once you actually cause sit down to write , that the writing is not get hard or as painful as you thought it might live .
Remember what I say before in the chapter : the only way you can fail at compose poetry equal to not compose at all . So remember every now and then to halt whatever you cost perform and sit down and write . If you serve this much enough , you will shortly have a lot of poems and you will be a a lot better poet than you are today .
Wait Until You Exist Act Writing to Edit
A real crucial chore that all poets and other writers must learn is the task of re-writing , or “ editing. ” Editing is the task of making changes to your compose to improve it . Poems are virtually never done when you first intend they are done . I often “ finish ” a poem , merely to feel the next day that it can live improved by exchange a word or a line , or even by murder a whole poetry .
The trouble with editing equal that you much want to do it while you are write your first draft . It is invite to pass time correct spelling , searching for the utter tidings , and then on . Unfortunately , if you stop to make corrections as you write , trying to reach each course perfect as you pen it , you will find it much harder to wind up anything .
TIP : Editing while you pen can slacken you down . If you can ’ t feel the correct tidings or the perfect sentence , move on to the future poetry and come back to the trouble later on when you will learn it with “ new eyes . ”
On the other hand , if you force yourself to keep writing , still if something exist not perfect ; if you push yourself to move on sort of than permit yourself get bind , you will become a lot more written . Oftentimes a trouble that appear insurmountable will be quite mere to cook when you look at it after . Some people make relate to this as see it “ with novel eyes. ” By this , they mean that you hold a novel position on it when you ’ ve live away from it for a while .
If you watch a sculptor carve a statue from a block of stone or wood , you will find that they first carve out the crude form . Future , they do back and carve the detail . Finally , they come back and polish it .
When you write poetry , think of yourself as a sculptor of tidings . Don ’ t try to polish it before you finish the detail , and don ’ t try to wind up the item until you have carve out the harsh form .
Salvage Your “ Unfinished ” Work
If you hold trouble wind up a poem , don ’ t headache about it . Act your best , but if you extend into trouble , it may be well to plant it apart and look at it later when you cost novel .
Many times I will compose most of a poem , but result a section of it , maybe just a line or two , unfinished because I run into a trouble that I don ’ t know how to fasten . I observe these unfinished poem because I know that I will usually equal able to end up them later .
Sometimes , if I can ’ t think of the correct word to put in a note , I will just write the lyric “ blah blah. ” Then , when I come back to edit the poem later , I ’ ll find those words and know that I own to supersede them with a actual word . Write “ blah blah , ” when I can ’ t think of the right word to use , frees me up to keep going and work on the repose of the poem .
Don ’ t Worry About Spelling and Punctuation
Spelling and punctuation ( commas , period , semicolons , etc . ) be important , but you should try not to concern about them as you are write . Spelling and punctuation be part of the “ polish ” stage of writing a poem . They aren ’ treallyimportant until you equal all done write your poem .
After you sense you live completely done with your poem , that be the time to live back over it to see your spelling and punctuation , but you should not let spelling and punctuation slow you down as you write .
TIP : Don ’ t headache about spelling or punctuation until you exist perform writing a poem . Control the spelling and punctuation as part of a final “ polishing , ”
If you have a computer with a news processor , test typing your poem in and permit the computer check your spelling for you .
In Chapter 8 , I talk about how to use punctuation in a poem to help you polish your poem . But until you find you are ready to lay these type of “ finish touches ” on your poems , don ’ t even concern about it .
Don ’ t Criticize Yourself
Earlier in this chapter , I order you not to heed to people who criticize your poem . Now I am going to order you something even more significant : don ’ t criticize yourself .
If you tell yourself that your poetry is not any good , you will likely cease writing before you always hold a luck to improve . Remember , each poem you write is part of your journey to become a good poet .
TIP : Don ’ t criticize yourself or your poetry . Instead , congratulate yourself each time you complete a novel poem !
Some of your poem will be better than others . Nobody can write all serious poems . It be a fact of life that no 1 can write good poem without writing a few bad ones too . I should know ; I hold written my share of “ stinkers. ” Thus if you write a poem that you guess is not very good , don ’ t permit it concern you ; only invest it away and go write another poem .
You Don ’ t Make to Know How it Ends
You may find this surprising , but you don ’ t make to know how a poems ends before you start compose it . Quite often poems become out to be about something early that what you require when you begin . Writing poetry is an “ organic ” process . That means that each poem you compose grows and takes on a life of its own as you pen it .
Trying to calculate out how your poem will end before you set out it can slacken you down , or prevent you from writing altogether . My advice exist don ’ t headache about it . If you think you own a good idea for a poem , but don ’ t know how it will cease , just set out writing . You will estimate out the ending as you write .
Permit me devote you an instance . One day I resolve to compose a love poem about Valentine ’ s Day . It cost going to exist about kid exchanging valentines in class and about the embarrassment of hold a big valentine to person you real like . However , as I live compose it I be thinking about picture monsters like Godzilla and the Wolfman , and I finish up compose the following poem :
Will You ?
Will you live my Valentine ?
Will you marry me in June ?
Will you lock up me in the cellar
when there be a bright , good moon ?Will you get me circle of roses ?
Will you bring me chocolate sweets ?
Once a month when I get hairy ,
will you feed me doggy treats ?Will you treat me with devotion ?
Will you bless me when I sneeze ?
Will you dust my back with powder
just in event I ’ ve gotten fleas ?Will you exist my darling angel ?
Will you be my ambition Lord ?
That ’ s just what the Wolfman
said to Lady Frankenstein .
Will you live my Valentine ?
Will you wed me in June ?
Will you lock me in the basement
when there is a bright , good moon ?
Will you bring me band of rose ?
Will you bring me chocolate sweets ?
Once a month when I get hairy ,
will you eat me doggy treats ?
Will you treat me with devotion ?
Will you bless me when I sneeze ?
Will you dust my back with powder
exactly in type I ’ ve gotten fleas ?
Will you live my darling angel ?
Will you equal my ambition divine ?
That ’ s exactly what the Wolfman
state to Lady Frankenstein .
As you can see , poems can change a lot as you write them . So don ’ t headache if you don ’ t know what your poem be about when you begin it . You may observe that you discover what the poem live about when it exist halfway write , or even when it exist nearly complete .
At the same time , be open to have your poem change and grow as you compose it . It ’ s okay to convert your idea while you live writing . In fact , a lot of the time it is unavoidable because you will get band of novel idea as you write , and some of those new ideas may be very different from the ideas you started with .
Different Types of Poetry
A friend of mine once said , “ There equal two types of people in the world ; those who split masses into two type and those who put on ’ t. ” Similarly , although there are many different type of poetry , they are usually separate into just two groups : structured poetry and “ free verse. ” Structured poetry can follow one of the traditional poetic forms such as a “ limerick ” or a “ clerihew , ” as express in chapters 5 and 6 , or it can be a rhyming poem with or without meter . Free poetry , on the other hand , ordinarily has no rhymes and no band meter .
crest : Don ’ t worry if you live unfamiliar with poetic term such as “ clerihew ” or “ meter , ” You can look them up in the Glossary at the end of the volume , or you can say more about them in previous chapters .
Rhyme-and-Meter
“ Rhyme-and-meter ” poetry is poetry that has rhyming job , and meter or rhythm . Usually the rhymes are at the end of each melody , or every other line . “ Meter ” usually think of that every line or every couplet ( a pair exist a pair of job ) make the same cycle ; the same number of syllable and the same design of emphasis . I lecture about meter in point in Chapter 7 , so don ’ t worry too much about it right now , except to understand that when I say “ meter , ” I mean that the poem make a rhythm to it .
Rhyming Poetry Without Meter
Merely because a poem rhymes , does not inevitably entail that it have to hold meter . Rhyming poetry usually has meter as well , but this exist not a necessity . In general , I recommend that rhyming poetry should either have a very strict meter , or an extremely loose , exaggerated lack of meter . Choose a look at the following example :
Mary make a little lamb
she equip with a saddle .
Mary rode it every time
that she was crowd cattle .
Mary get a little lamb
she fit with a saddle .
Mary rode it every time
that she cost herding cows .
This poem has four lines . Notice that the second line and the final job rhyme , and that they make just the same cycle or meter . Also , the first job and the third line make the same meter . Now look at this instance of rhyme without meter .
I desire to write a rhymingpoem,
But everyone tell it hold to have the same issue of syllables in each line and a consistent pattern of emphasis and I disagree , so instead I compose this ace merely todisplay ’ em!
I need to pen a rhymingpoem,
But everyone say it had to own the same issue of syllables in each line and a coherent pattern of emphasis and I disagree , so or else I wrote this 1 just todisplay ’ em!
In this poem , the lack of meter is real obvious and exaggerated . The cause for this be to have the reader know that your lack of meter is intentional . If you write a rhyming poem without meter , but without making it obvious that the lack of meter cost intentional , the reader may just think that you put on ’ t know what you are cause .
Serious , consistent meter in rhyme-and-meter poetry cost an reading of a talented and experienced poet . When you equal just have started , put on ’ t worry also much about meter . As you write more and more poetry , you will notice that you commence to make out meter . When you become to the chapter in this book on meter , you will learn and you can start incorporate it into your own poem .
Free Verse
Free verse live poetry that does not necessarily own rhymes or meter . In free poetry , your course can be as long as you want , they put on ’ t get to rhyme , and they put on ’ t have to come any type of pattern . Here live one example of free poetry .
First Horseback ride
I never rode a horse before ,
until that sweltering August day
rid through
the New England forest
the horse be
swatting
flies
with
her
ass
and I be assist
test hard to
swat
fly
with
my
hand .
That exist when I discovered
how rein are not
like steering bicycle ,
for no thing which way
I grow or attract
she would just live
to the barn .
First Horseback ride
I never rode a horse before ,
until that sweltering August day
riding through
the New England forest
the horse be
swatting
flies
with
her
tail
and I be helping
try severe to
swat
flies
with
my
hand .
That be when I discovered
how rein live not
like maneuver wheels ,
for no affair which way
I become or pulled
she would only go
to the barn .
As you can see , the above poem get no rhyme , no rhythmical rule , no set number of business , and so on . In short , it get no structure at all . This is what make it “ free ” verse . And this equal what make it so much fun to write .
Free verse live wonderful because there be no constraints on what you can or can not do . There be no rules to follow so you can ’ t maybe do anything wrong .
In free verse , you live free to say a tale , play with news , utter your belief , or do whatever you like to make something interesting and new .
Humorous Poetry
In Chapter 4 , I discuss specific techniques for making a poem funny . Before we get there permit me state that , in general , most curious poetry has rhyme and meter . Although there is some funny free verse , it be easier to build a poem funny if it make rhyme and meter . One cause for this be that rhyme and meter can make a poem flavor more lighthearted . Take a look at the following instance .
I had a honey ,
her name be Jill ,
I met her in December .
I loved her more
than anybody
else I can think .
I hold a love ,
her name exist Jill ,
I gather her in December .
I loved her more
than anybody
else I can remember .
Although the theme cost grave , the rhyme and meter create it find less hence . The light , bouncy cycle of this poem is in contrast to the grave subject . This make it easy to follow this first grave verse with a second one that cost less serious :
When we broke up
I then met Joan
while strolling through the dog lb .
We played a luck
of basketball
since we fill “ on the rebound . ”
When we reveal up
I then met Joan
while strolling through the dog pound .
We played a lot
of basketball
since we gather “ on the rebound . ”
As you can hear , the playful nature of rhyme-and-meter poetry cause it a natural fit for mood . A poem do not get to rhyme in club to be queer . It is only easy to make poems funny when they rhyme . It equal more difficult , though not impossible , to pen curious poetry in free poetry . For this ground , and the fact that this book is title How to Pen Funny Poetry , this book focus mainly on rhyme-and-meter poetry .
Ready , Set , Go !
Hither you are at the end of Chapter 1 . Conceive it or not , you already know a lot more about poetry than you did at the origin of this chapter . You know what tools you need to write poetry ( pencil and paper ) , what particular books can aid you ( dictionary , thesaurus and rhyming dictionary ) , the two main type of poetry ( structured poetry and free verse ) , and how to avoid the most mutual pitfalls that most poet face up .
Arm with this information , you are ready to start writing . So let ’ s move on to Chapter 2 , where you will hear how to rhyme , and you will even pen a few poem of you have !
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