Good, Better, Best

Goal Setting Steps to Write Poems

To share the emotion of an idea, a poem brings thoughts into focus.

The inspiration for the writing starts with a feeling inside the mind of a writer.

The writing process starts with the collection of notes gathered over time, but the revisions are the most important step. It takes time for inspiration to become a collection of rhymes or themes.

I consider the steps of songwriting to be another way to approach the art of poetry, so listen to a favorite artist for the images the words inspire.

In the process of creating memorable song lyrics, the story telling is an important theme, but in poems the emotional core leads to a good writing.

The Good, Better, Best steps are a thought exercise with simple steps to reach a creative goal.

1. Good
The ideas for a poem should be written in a notebook and not with digital media. The start of a the poem might inspire an internet search for the rhymes or structure, but try to avoid searching for phrases and rhymes. The pen-to-paper action will bring the poem into the world, instead of keeping the ideas in a computer where the original inspiration could be lost. The endless revision of a poem without a goal in mind should be avoided. In time, the notebook of ideas will lead to a collection of poems.

The ABBA style is one example, with the first and fourth lines matched and the second and third lines matched. The first words on a page will spark the inspiration to complete the poem in a familiar rhyming pattern. The pen-to-paper revisions will find the emotional core.

2. Better
The emotional theme should be decided for a collection of poems. The editing process is a series of revisions to find the emotional core. The revisions of a poem will be ideas you feel will improve the writing, even if the changes are not a perfect rhyme or match a recognized poetry style.

3. Best
The best poems will continue to look like works in progress through your eyes, but consider posting the writing you feel ready to share. I gathered poems into online collections and shared the ideas with readers. The search for a website to post your writing is not a search for the best platform.

The writing and editing process leads to more inspiration when the audience is considered.


The simple Good, Better, Best steps for writing can inspire an emotional feeling through words on the page. The emotional core of the poem will have the potential to change the way a reader views the world. However, in my opinion, revising until the words are balanced and perfect phrases is a song, not a poem.

© J. Bateman

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