Learn how to write and publish poems in this free online course that provides creative tools and poetic devices.

Poetry is the practice of creating artwork using language. Poets are interested in exploring experiences, which often include dreams and fantasies, via the written word. Poets transform their experiences into art through language and capture brief and eternal moments, from the taste of a peach to a world with imaginary inhabitants to the full moon transfiguring a winter sky. This poetry writing course explores the creative art of constructing compelling verse.

We first lay out the various types of poetry written over the years. We examine sixteen poetic forms that are used in poetry writing. We also explain why people write poetry and discuss the value of keeping a poetry journal. We study the most effective approaches to reading poetry and provide the right tools used to interpret other people’s work. We also describe the tone of voice used to read different poems and establish the importance of pausing for effect. The course explains how to activate your muse, choose a subject matter, beat writer's block and write an inspiring poem.

The course shows you how to use concrete nouns, verbs and grammar tricks to appeal to the reader’s senses. We also demonstrate the beauty of poetic language and how to use word choice, word order, figures of speech and repetition to embellish your writing style and make your work impactful. The course explores the musical character of poetry and covers rhythm and metre, including the classes of consonants, vowels and rhymes. We establish the importance of using images, similes and metaphors in poetic verse. This course has no prerequisites and suits anyone who wants to unleash their passion for language. Mastering poetic writing improves your ability to use language in any context so sign up to add this versatile skill to your skillset.