How To Polish a Poem
A practical checklist for getting your poems to shine
Hi friends,
I separate my writing from my editing. To me, they just feel different. I usually write in the mornings and edit in the afternoons. I have found that sometimes, feelings of resistance come up when we try to mix these two. Generative energy and revisional energy are related but different. In my experience, generative energy wants to feel free and separate from the constraints of revisional energy.
Two weeks ago, I showed you how to start writing a poem when it’s just not coming. Many of you messaged me saying the last prompt in that post seriously unlocked an excellent poem or even a few lines for you. (Yay!) This is generative energy at its finest. We created, even from a place that felt stuck.
We’re shifting gears this week into revisional energy and polishing up the poems we wrote last week. If you’re nervous about perhaps prodding at your poems, think of it like this: editing a poem is the opportunity to give it another life. We are simply imagining a different version of the poem.
This December, I’ll be hosting an in-depth 90-minute live workshop titled “How to Polish a Poem,” where you’ll start with a rough draft and leave with a shining, polished poem. I’ll teach you my tried and true method for getting a poem shining, and we’ll also have a live discussion with peer feedback. You can grab a ticket here. There are seven left.
But for now, here is a 7-step polishing checklist for your rough draft. This is not a comprehensive list, but it provides a good starting point for understanding how to look at your poems in the spirit of revisional energy.
How to Polish A Poem (A Practical 7-Step Checklist)
Start with your title. Does it provide context, inspiration, or intrigue? If you used the prompt from last week, your poem likely has a contextual title.
So, for example, if your poem explores memories of a family dinner, your title could be "The Last Living Room Meal Before the Storm"—this title not only gives us context but also invites curiosity. Make sure the location or setting isn't repeated in the poem itself. If the title already tells us where the poem takes place, avoid repeating it within the body to prevent redundancy. Let the title do the heavy lifting. It can handle it.
Check your POVs. Switching between POVs—first person (“I”), second person (“you”), and third person (“they”)—can create complexity, but it may also cause confusion if it’s unintentional. Shifts in POV without a clear purpose can make it difficult for the reader to follow who the speaker is and whom they are addressing. Maintaining a single, consistent POV often enhances clarity, allowing the reader to stay grounded in the poem’s voice.
To identify unintentional POV shifts, underline each pronoun in your poem and check for transitions between “I,” “you,” and “they.” If there’s a shift, ask if it serves the poem’s purpose. Sometimes, a direct address to the reader (“you”) can add intimacy, while a first-person focus (“I”) offers a personal perspective. Stick with one POV unless you’re intentionally creating distance or inviting the reader into the experience.
Example of Unintentional POV Shift:
"I remember the way the sky buttoned
with colors you would never forget.
They say memories are fleeting,
but your hands still fight the light of that day."
Revised for Consistency:
Option 1: First person: "I remember the way the sky buttoned / with colors I could never forget. / I know memories are fleeting, / but my hands still fight the light of that day."
Option 2: Second person: "You remember the way the sky buttoned / with colors you could never forget. / They say memories are fleeting, / but your hands still fight the light of that day."
Poet, below are the remaining 5 steps and an in-depth video guiding you through the process.
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