Choose a theme and tone for your poem. Determine the topic of the poem, such as whether it will be humorous or serious or meant for youth or adults. Make these decisions before you begin writing any poem.
Select a style of poetry for your poem. Onomatopoeia can be suitable for use in many styles of poetry. Some examples include the limerick, the sonnet or the free verse. The style you choose determines the rhyme or rhythm of your poem. The use of onomatopoeia reflects the types of words you use within the poem.
Write down as many words as you can think of that are onomatopoetic. To clarify again, an onomatopoeia is a word that is used to describe a sound. For example, the word ring can be used to describe the sound you hear when a bell or a phone rings. Whether or not you think the word can be used in your poem, write it down anyway; you may find yourself in need of inspiration when you begin writing.
Start writing your poem. As you write, decide how often you want to use one of your onomatopoeia words. Many are options available. You can set a goal to simply include as many as you can, or you can place your onomatopoeia strategically, for instance, in every other line or at the end of each verse.
Review your poem and make revisions. Double-check whether the words you choose are true onomatopoeia words. Some words have more than one meaning, like the word "ring." If used to describe the sound of a bell, "ring" is an onomatopoeia. However, if the word ring is used to describe a piece of jewelry, it is not onomatopoeia. When revising, also ensure that your spelling is correct. Some onomatopoeia words have definite spellings, like the word ring. Others have multiple, sometimes nontraditional spellings, like the word "buzz," which also can be written as "bzzzz."