How to Write A Blackout Poem

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By WritingNag
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An Example of a Blackout Poem

Blackout poetry is a form of "found" poetry that allows the poet to use someone else's words to write a poem. Used as a form of creative writing, this poetry exercise challenges the poet to come up with phrases, words or sentences that form a poem. Because the poem is someone else's words blackout poems are usually not published in a conventional form but great ideas for poems are often discovered while using this fun and challenging creative poetry prompt. Blackout poetry is also called erasure poetry where words are erased instead of blacked out.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Sharpie or other permanent black marker
Newspaper or magazine
Imagination
Creativity

Step 1

Find a periodical. You can use a contemporary newspaper, magazine, advertising brochure, or catalog. Using vintage magazines or newspapers that can be found at a flea market or garage sale is often fun because of the unique dated writing style.
Step 2

Cover your work surface with newspaper because permanent markers as the name suggests can stain. Take your periodical and using your marker cross out the words you don't want to use leaving the words you like. When you are finished the words that are left should form a poem.
Step 3

A Blackout Poem

Be careful in choosing which words to cross off you can't go back and change it. Try to write a serious poem or a humorous poem. Share your poem with your friends and family.