Looking for something to write about?

I know what it's like some times. You want to write a poem, but can't think of anything to write about. The itch to write is there, bugging you, but your brain can't come up with anything to focus on.

I have lots of poem starters, and I'd love to share them with you. Try this one first - borrow a book about art from the library, (one with pictures). Sit and look at the painting, with a blank piece of paper and a pen or pencil nearby. Write down anything that pops into your mind, no thinking, just write it all down. Do this for a set time - ten minutes or five minutes,whatever suits you, but keep on writing until the time is up.

At the end of your time, look at what you've written. Does anything, a phrase, a sentence jump out at you? If it does, write that down on a new piece of paper, and write down anything that you think of. It doesn't have to make sense, in fact it's better if it doesn't make sense. That's for later.

Next, see if you have any theme or themes happening - can you see any coherence in what you've written? If you can, that's great, take that line and run with it - new piece of paper, follow on the path that has suggested itself to you.

If you can't see anything coming together, that's still great - you still have an open field to play in. If you like the painting, write down about twenty words, phrases or short sentences about what you like about the painting. If you don't like the painting, write twenty things about what you don't like about it.

Next, write a name for the painting, whatever you think suits it - this is the title of your poem. Then write out the words, phrases or sentences, each one on a new line. Continue until you have twenty lines. Voila! You have written a poem! It's that simple, or that deep, depending on your point of view. Put the new poem into a folder, and do it again tomorrow, with the next painting, you'll have a nice collection of work if you keep at it for a week. You are a poet!