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How To Make A Poem

Martin Kratz, Helen Mort, Michael Symmons Roberts, Kim Moore, Andrew Forster, Natalie Burdett, Betty Doyle, and Niall (Neil) Campbell

On this course we will be asking questions such as: We will also be considering different poetic forms such as found poetry, the cento, sonnets, free verse, ghazal, as well as things to help you make formal choices such as line breaks, metre, rhyme, and rhythm. As well a developing your writing skills we will think about developing your inner editor and how to support others in writing their work in a poetry workshop. Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for anyone who wants to write poetry, you don’t need any past experience. You can use the hashtag #FLmakeapoem to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

What is poetry and what is a poet?
What choices go into writing a poem?
What is the difference between craft and technique?

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Reviews summary

Inspiring first steps in poetry

According to students, "How To Make A Poem" is a largely positive experience, especially for those new to creative writing. Learners highlight its accessible approach to poetry, making it easy to start writing without intimidation. The course is praised for its ability to spark creativity and for introducing a diverse range of poetic forms, including found poetry, sonnets, and free verse, along with essential formal choices like line breaks and rhythm. While highly regarded as a strong foundational course, some more experienced learners may find the depth of coverage on certain advanced techniques or forms somewhat basic. The concepts of developing an 'inner editor' and participating in a 'poetry workshop' are noted as particularly beneficial.

Mixed feedback on the efficacy of the poetry workshop.

"The 'poetry workshop' concept was fantastic, offering a supportive environment for feedback."

"Disappointed with the lack of detailed feedback. The 'poetry workshop' idea sounds good on paper, but without direct instructor feedback or more structured peer review, it felt a bit aimless."

Introduces various forms and techniques effectively.

"It covers a good range of forms and techniques, from sonnets to free verse. The explanations of 'metre and rhyme' were clear."

"I especially loved the sections on 'found poetry' and 'line breaks'."

"I found the segments on 'sonnets' and 'cento' particularly illuminating."

An excellent, non-intimidating start to poetry writing.

"This course was truly inspiring! I've always wanted to write poetry but felt intimidated. The instructors made it so approachable..."

"Absolutely brilliant! As a complete novice, I found this course incredibly empowering."

"Fantastic for sparking creativity! The course really encourages experimentation and removes the fear of writing 'bad' poetry."

May lack depth for those with prior experience.

"While it's great for beginners, I, as someone with some prior writing experience, found some parts a bit basic."

"It's a good introductory course, but don't expect to become a master poet."

"If you're serious, you'll need to supplement this with other resources."

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The Poems of John Keats