How to Write a Depressing Poem

Writing a depressing poem can be harder than writing other poetry.

Writing a depressing poem can be a challenging experience and you can face many hurdles along the way. You may find it hard to find inspiration or to decide what language to use. It can be hard to concentrate when writing poetry, and getting into the right frame of mind to write a depressing poem can be difficult. However, by following a few simple steps you will soon be able to find your inspiration, and confidently write your own depressing poem.

Instructions

How to Write a Depressing Poem

1. To write any type of poetry you will need to be able to concentrate. Find a quiet place, this could be a quiet room in your house or a favorite park bench. Choose some place that has sad memories for you, this will help you get in the right emotional state of mind to begin writing your depressing poem.

2. Choose your subject matter. To make your poem depressing you will need to choose a dark subject matter. You might decide to write about death, tragedy, lost love, negative thoughts, depression or fear. Choosing a lighter subject matter won't create the same effect unless you have particular negative memories about it. For example, it would be hard to write a depressing poem about a car, unless it belonged to a deceased family member.

3. Draw inspiration from real life experiences. If you want the reader to believe the words and emotions you will convey through your poem then it will have to come from the heart. Drawing from life experiences can be a powerful way to add a personal feel or insight to the poem. This will make it much more believable and will help the reader connect with your words.

4. Use negative language. The language you use in a poem is the most important factor after you have chosen your subject. Language is the tool you will be using to paint an image and since you want this image to be a depressing one it makes sense to use depressing language. Before you begin, write a list of depressing words or phrases, use a thesaurus to find alternatives, use this list as you write your poem to help describe events and feelings.

5. Concentrate on the mood of the poem.Try not to become confused between depressing and gory. To write a more effective poem you should try to avoid writing about blood and gore altogether unless it is absolutely necessary. After all, depression is a feeling and state of mind, and you should try to focus on this in your poem.

6. Research tragic events in history or read over other depressing poems. If you are struggling for inspiration from your own life then try looking through history books for some ideas. Try placing yourself in a position of great tragedy and writing from that perspective. Try reading over poems by writers like Sylvia Plath and Edgar Allen Poe who are famous for writing depressing material.

Tips & Warnings

• Try not to dwell too long on negative thoughts, as this may lead to depression, focus on your inspiration long enough to get started then try to move on.

References

• Surviving Depression: Depressing Poetry
• Poetry Magic: Writing Poetry: Approaches