I recently did a poetry workshop and found it both practical and inspiring. We looked at famous poems and the advice of great poets, and then applied these lessons to writing exercises inspired by our own lives.

While there’s not much call for rhyming couplets or nature-based metaphors in my role at Yardstick, the lessons of great poets can still teach us a lot about good writing and building a successful creative practice.

So, here are some words of wisdom from some well-known wordsmiths to help improve your writing.

“Tell all the Truth but tell it slant” – Emily Dickinson

The best writing presents us with truths in a fresh new way by using a unique angle, approach, or treatment of familiar issues.

One way to do this is to think about what unique life experiences, professional expertise, or unexpected insight you are bringing to your chosen topic. For example, I’ve always been obsessed with books, stories, and language, and have a BA and MA in English Literature to show for it. This expertise now informs everything I do.

As Dickinson suggests, approaching familiar material from an unfamiliar angle could lead to some surprising new ideas and work that connects with your audience.

“Each writer has her or his secret path to the muse” – Maya Angelou

Angelou recommends that every writer has to find the best environment for them to “get to a very quiet place inside yourself” so that your writing can flourish.

But this doesn’t necessarily mean you need a remote cabin in the mountains, completely cut off from all noise and distraction.

As she says, “I know some people who put jazz on, loudly, to write. […] I’m told one writer stands for six hours with a typewriter on a podium. […] And I know a woman who has her computer in a closet and she goes in, closes the door, and, with her back to the door and her face to the wall, she writes.”

I definitely fall in the camp of needing loud, overwhelming music to quiet my inner chatter and get down to write. So, what works for you might be unbearable for another writer. The important thing is to not get too invested in copying the routines of famous writers and instead discover what works best for you.

Writing is “a routine like any other” – Philip Larkin

While inspiration and curiosity are crucial to good writing, the truth is that finding an afternoon or evening when you’re not only inspired to write but also have no other plans or commitments is tough.

When interviewed about his previous poetry collections by The Paris Review in 1982, Larkin explained how he got around this challenge:

“When I did write them, well, it was in the evenings, after work, after washing up (I’m sorry: you would call this ‘doing the dishes’). It was a routine like any other.”

Rather than waiting for a free slot to appear in your busy schedule or relying on inspiration to strike, it might be more productive and effective to make writing a non-negotiable, fixed part of your schedule. Not every writing session will be great, but your work will slowly and surely be nudged forward until it’s ready to share.

“I never go near social media” – Gillian Clarke

To clarify, Clarke is not against the internet or social media. As she goes on, “I have a website, where people, including students of my work, can ask me questions.” But the important thing is that when it comes to writing, she prefers to avoid distractions.

Diving down an internet rabbit hole sparked by a random Wikipedia search can be tempting when you’re faced with the discomfort of the “blank page”. And if you have a curious mind, then internet searches can lead to a lot of wasted time that would be better spent actually writing.

So, during dedicated writing periods, why not put your phone on silent in a drawer, mute all notifications, and disconnect from the internet for a short break?

Because, as most experienced writers also know, the worst part is starting. By removing all excuses and online distractions, you can get that first step over with quickly, and enjoy the creative flow state that’s on the other side.

Get in touch

If you’re looking for high-quality, error-free copy delivered to deadline, or need help telling your dactyls from your diphthongs, we can help.

Email hi@theyardstickagency.co.uk or call 0115 8965 300 to learn more.