hii 💖 I know this is gonna be pretty weird and I don’t know where to start but uhm... I love poetry, both reading and writing -at least trying to write some haha- but I usually feel so discouraged because when I finish writing the draft I believe it’s not enough, like I can’t find the right words and the whole thing ends up being so basic. Since English is not my mother language I find this situation pretty normal but I feel bad about it anyways :/ Are there some tips you’d like to give? Every single time I write something I get discouraged as I said before and give up; some time later I give it another try and give up again... It gets into a vicious circle which I don’t like. I love your perspective and everything you write so much and they encourage me the whole time so just wanted to ask for help. Thanks in advance and sorry for this looong question!
hiiii !!! this isn't weird at all, tysm for asking!!
i'm a very casual writer, i never even really thought of myself as one, so my advice may be bad advise but i hope some of it is useful!
i don't know if you do this already but you should absolutely write poetry in your mother language as well. i'm sure it will be beautiful, and it will also help your poetry in english too. it will help you think of new ideas, ways of expressing things, and it'll encourage you as a writer and your writing in general (i hope that makes sense)
some of the best poetry is simple. i think some of my worst writing is when i try to make things sound more complex than they should. a lot of people go to writing to feel understood and that usually doesn't come by using 15 words that could be 1 word or burying it in metaphor -- don't underestimate simple.
also don't force yourself into a certain style of writing. just write ideas and thoughts and sentences and words you like and then you can turn all that into a poem later if you want or you can just write a paragraph you love with no form. or you can just write one really good line and leave it at just a line -- all writing counts and all writing will help your future writing.
also i don't know what your writing process is but when i sit down to write i usually can't, it helps me to always just be writing thoughts down (a really good sentence or word or idea) and then eventually i turn it into something bigger --- some people need to plan times to write though, everyone's different, but it's something to think about!
last, it doesn't have to be perfect for you to show people. i don't think most of the things i write are "finished" or "perfect" ---i always want to change something. but i think putting things out into the world (in some form) will encourage you, it makes you take that leap and then it's less scary the next time you know?
thank you so much for the kind words, it means a lot to hear and I really hope some of this helped !!! sending love!