THE POET'S TOOLBOX

In any profession, having the right tools to work with makes the difference between doing a good job or a not so good job. It's hard to create or repair anything without the right tools. So like any other craftsmen, the poet must have a well-stocked toolbox.

The poet's toolbox will not contain hammers or nails, but an assortment of writing materials: pen, pencil, notebook/journal, laptop, tablet, digital recorder, something to write or record on.

This toolbox will also contain words, imagination, and ideas for how to make a poem live and breathe. These three (3) elements are the building blocks of all good poetry writing. Before you begin writing it is important to develop ideas to write about. A poem often expresses ideas in language that does not sound like everyday speech.

So make good use of your toolbox, and fill your notebook/journal and other devices with words, word images, phrases, sentences,  and fragments of sentences, always exploring the possibilities of words, capturing ideas, and continuously keeping an eye out for possible poems.

"POEM IDEAS ARE EVERYWHERE. YOU HAVE TO LISTEN AND WATCH FOR THEM.    -Patricia Hubbell-