Introduction
Do you ever stare at a blank page, your mind as empty as the white screen in front of you? As a writer, I’ve been there too—frustrated, stuck, and convinced my creativity had packed its bags and left town. But here’s the secret: writer’s block is just a temporary visitor.
In this post, I’ll share 10 poetry prompts that have rescued me from creative droughts time and time again. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or a curious beginner, these prompts will help you craft verses that sing, scream, or whisper straight from the soul. Let’s dive in!
1. The "Unsent Letter" Poem
Write a poem addressed to someone you’ll never send it to—a lost friend, a childhood version of yourself, or even a fictional character. Let the words flow without censoring your emotions.
Example Starter:
"Dear the girl who loved fireflies,
I still see your shadow in the jar’s glow…"
2. Borrow a Line from Your Favorite Song
Grab a lyric that haunts you ("Is there room for one more sun?" – Aurora) and use it as your opening or closing line. Let the rhythm of the music inspire your meter.
3. The "Five Senses" Challenge
Describe a memory (real or imagined) using all five senses. How did the rain smell? What color was the silence?
Example:
"The train station tasted of burnt coffee and unspoken goodbyes…"
4. Rewrite a Fairy Tale in 10 Lines
Give Cinderella a skateboard, turn the Big Bad Wolf into a misunderstood hipster, or let Rapunzel cut her own hair. Subvert expectations!
5. The "Google Autocomplete" Poem
Type "Why do poets…" into Google and use the autocomplete suggestions as your prompts:
Why do poets die young?
Why do poets use metaphors?
Why do poets love the moon?
6. Write a Poem Without Adjectives
Challenge yourself to create vivid imagery using only nouns and verbs.
Example:
"Walls crack. Clocks swallow hours. Tea cools."
7. The "Photo Memory" Poem
Find an old photo (or a random one from Unsplashed) and write about the story behind it—even if you have to invent the details.
8. Erasure Poetry
Grab a newspaper article or a book page and black out words to create a new poem from the text left behind.
9. The "Six-Word" Haiku
Condense a big emotion into six words:
"Winter bones; spring’s whisper melts me."
10. Write a Poem to Your Future Self
Where do you hope to be in 5 years? What would you say to the person you’re becoming?
