8 Great Tips for Writing Poems About Hope

Writers write for various reasons. Some have a lot they wish to express, and the best way to do it is through some artful ink-slinging. Others use their pen as a mighty sword in the fight against injustice. Some, and these are often most rare and most needed, just want to inspire the world. There is a reason such poets perform their verses for the world to see at presidential inaugurations, memorials for the famous, and major events that unite the globe – people need their spirits refreshed. Upliftment, encouragement, and empowerment are what these writers wish to evoke in their readers, and their written pieces and poems about hope are a guiding star on a dark night.

If you see yourself as a writer destined to change the world through your poems about hope, then we have a few tips to get you in the right headspace.

1. Inspire Yourself First

Whether it is for poetry or any other type of writing, reading a lot will help you improve your skills. Make sure that you read the masters: William Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath, Maya Angelou, Ingrid Jonker, and Elisabeth Eybers. There is a fiery passion for words and how to use them that will rub off on you.

2. Set Your Intention Beforehand

Before you choose your topic or poetry style, set your intention about what kind of hope you wish to inspire. Is it a hope for a better tomorrow? Something to uplift the youth or the suffering? Writing with a clear intention from the outset will give you much direction throughout the process.

3. Get a Feel for Other Writers’ Styles

It is easy to get stuck in the same style of writing when you do it often enough, and this repetition might dampen the magic in your creativity. One way to mix things up is to read poems from other writers and pay careful attention to how they wield language to their advantage.

4. Experiment with Relevant Poetic Devices

Hope is an abstract idea – it is not an object one can describe. Utilising poetic devices when writing poems about such a conceptual topic can give the reader a better grasp of what you are communicating. Using imagery, metaphors, similes, and personification, you can bring to life the idea of something without a heartbeat.

5. Try Out Challenging Topics and Prompts

It would become tiresome to only write poems about hope as a flying dove, a beacon of light, or a silver lining in the clouds. Working with a topic, such as mental health, bereavement, or human failure adds weight to your words. To ignite your creativity in this department, you could explore various art forms like photography, paintings, and even music to find prompts that give your piece direction.

6. Write from Your Experiences

Nothing is as inspiring as someone who has been through a dark tunnel and comes out on the other end stronger. If you have ever before been at a place where you desperately clung to hope, then you will know what it might take to keep others pushing forward too. Writing from your own experiences is often far more relatable than an imagined scenario.

7. Edit, Streamline, and Refine

Professional writers will tell you that your first draft is where you get to test out ideas and have fun, and the second draft is where you make the piece look like you knew what you were doing all along. Edit, edit, and then edit some more, until all the questions are answered, the loose threads are tied into neat bows, and your final version is seamless and polished.

8. Do not Be Afraid to Play

Many writers experience a hesitance before they begin, and it may even turn into writer’s block or an inability to just start writing. It is important to remember that the paper will not bite – it exists solely to serve your freedom to play. So write, experiment, and then come back and fix those mistakes later.

Lastly, being yourself is the best way to exercise your voice. When writing poems, who you are is already valid and distinct enough to create a masterful work of worded art. And, if you ever need any extra inspiration, you can just have a look at our library of poems here at The AVBOB Poetry Project.