I’m not a poet but sometimes I like to practice writing poetry.  I used to think that poetry was useless to me because I write fiction.  Why would I want my story to rhyme?  As I gained more experience with writing and read the works of other writers I began to see that really good writing has a natural rhythm even if it’s not poetry. 

I know that all poetry doesn’t have to rhyme but if you read it aloud or slowly in your head, you can still hear a rhythm.  Getting this natural rhythm or flow in your writing is very difficult to achieve.  It takes practice, practice, and more practice.

Poetry is not only for cool cats that hang out in cafés drinking coffee.  Poets understand rhythm and flow.  They know how to make their words dance.  Writers of fiction and non-fiction also need to recognize how to make their words flow naturally.   So take a few minutes to read some poetry and if you’re really brave try to write your own poem.  It will improve the quality of your writing. 

For all you talented poets out there be careful of poetry.com, it’s a really big scam.  Howard Ely is the supposed editor. Don’t send them any money!  Once you’ve submitted your poem they will email you saying that you have won this Editor’s Choice Award and that you need to pay them for membership and plaque.  They will also tell you that your poem has moved on to the next level of judging for the $10,000 award.  This Google Search will show you the many angry people that were duped by this despicable way of thievery. 

A clever investigator submitted a ridiculous poem called Pie is so Good to poetry.com just to see what would happen.   The result of his investigation is hilarious.  You have to read this…