Poetry is a tough sell for many people of all backgrounds. Students hate writing and analyzing it, while adults just don’t pay much attention to it. Still, there are plenty of individuals who enjoy writing and reading poetry. On that note, the sonnet is one of the oldest forms of poetry. There are various forms of sonnets, but the best-known might just be the Shakespearean sonnet. So then, how do you write one?
Step 1: The Form
The Shakespearean sonnet follows a very strict form. First of all, sonnets are 14 line poems with a specific rhyme scheme broken into 3 quatrains and 1 couplet. Each line must be written with 10 syllables in iambic pentameter – it’s Shakespeare! Also, the rhyme scheme runs as a-b-a-b for the first quatrain, c-d-c-d for the second, e-f-e-f for the third, and g-g for the ending couplet. The rules for the Shakespearean sonnet are very specific, so you might write a sonnet only to find that you have erred with one of the rules.
Step 2: Writing the Sonnet
To start out, you need to have something to write about in your poem. It could be something as simple as a small story or a telling of your deepest emotions. Either way, you have to continually remember the iambic pentameter and the rhyme scheme. The great thing about a Shakespearean sonnet is that iambic pentameter already sounds poetic, so it will help your sonnet if you aren’t the world’s greatest poet. Still, you will have to do some work to ensure that the poem sounds good, follows the rules, and ends up a worthwhile read.
There isn’t much pre-planning involved with writing a sonnet, as long as you have a general idea of what you want to write. In fact, you will probably go from line to line writing the poem, picking and choosing your words carefully to fit the iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme. For your first poem, you should probably stick to something basic just to get some practice in.
Step 3: Revising the Sonnet
After writing your Shakespearean sonnet, you will have to go over and edit it if there are any issues. The biggest problems you will run into will revolve around proper iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme. You should get rid of any weak sounding lines too. Basically, you should fish out and fix any major problems with your sonnet, but this shouldn’t be too difficult. Don’t be too picky about your revisions though, as long as the iambic pentameter, rhyme scheme, and other things are in order.
Step 4: Try It a Few Times
Finally, you should practice writing Shakespearean sonnets a few times to ensure that you know what you’re doing. You are bound to get better at whatever you practice often and that is no different with poetry and sonnets. Writing a great sonnet takes a lot of skill and practice, so you shouldn’t expect to create a masterpiece right away. After quite a few sonnets though, you will be writing them without a problem. You won’t need to think too much about iambic pentameter, rhyme scheme, or any other mechanical issues – it will all be second nature.
Go and Write a Sonnet!
You might never create a Shakespearean sonnet that can match those that the actual Shakespeare wrote, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t produce a respectable and enjoyable sonnet yourself. Of course, there are a lot of amateur poets that won’t ever get famous with their poetry. Still, that shouldn’t stop any aspiring poets from giving it a try. Write those Shakespearean sonnets and be proud of them!
For more information, visit Overview of the Shakespearean Sonnet.
