Write an outline of what you want to say. For example, if you want to create a poem comparing coming of age with butterflies bursting from cocoons in the spring, plan each segment of the action in a different stanza. Stanzas one and two could depict the waiting cocoon, while stanzas three and four could describe the hatching of the butterfly and stanzas five and six could make relatable connections to the human experience.
Jot down ideas of specific lines, words or phrases you want to include in your poem. Don’t worry about forming complete thoughts at this point. Examine the words or sentences you have written down and consider whether or not rhyming would compliment your content.
Choose a rhyme scheme that suits your poem if you decide rhyming is a good option. For example, follow an ab ab ab rhyme scheme, in which the final words of every other line rhyme. Another option is the abc abc abc rhyme scheme, in which the last word of every third line rhymes.
Consider the syllable counts of the words or sentences you have written down to decide whether you wish to regulate how many syllables each line contains. If you decide to regulate syllables, try formats such as writing every line with the same number of syllables. You can also give every other line the same number of syllables, similar to the ab ab ab rhyme scheme.
Write a draft of your poem, adhering to the rhyme or syllable regulations you decided on. If you would rather write a free-form poem, ignore these restrictions. Divide your poem into stanzas according to the outline you wrote, adding additional breaks between stanzas whenever a natural pause or change in subject occurs.
Read your poem aloud to yourself and make necessary adjustments with wording, rhymes, stanza division or syllable count until you are satisfied. Reading aloud helps you hear potential awkwardness in your words and makes it easier to catch typos.