Hello, dear young poet. I know you might be wondering what to do with all those beautiful words you’ve saved on your phone or written in a book. Perhaps you’re wondering how to convey the thoughts in your mind into lines of poetry.

Poems are beautiful, audacious in their lines and adventurous in the themes they explore and it’s a delight to see that you are beginning to pen down some of your thoughts into lines and stanzas.

Before I dive into providing guidelines that have helped me publish a collection of my poems, I will start with this quote by one of my favourite poets, Maya Angelou:  The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.

As a young writer, I face fear, as do many other emerging or aspiring writers. Will my writing be acceptable? How will critics or heavy readers compare my work to that of others? Will people like my poems, or see the fraud I feel I am? These are questions we often ask ourselves.

All forms of writing require bravery, so courage is the first step to getting it right. When I started sharing my work with friends in 2015 I was afraid. However, to overcome my fears and get more insights into my work, I began sharing them on social media. I was worried about how people would perceive me and my writing; fear ate deep into my bones. But I kept writing and sharing and, over the years, became more confident. I’m not entirely fearless. Sometimes, there’s still doubt when I write, but what I’ve learnt from the few years of putting my poems online and in print is to accept fear and write regardless. Gradually, you begin to grow your confidence and learn from the criticisms.

In the words of  Louis L’Amour, American novelist and short story writer: Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on. I will add to this: you must write even when you’re afraid and even when you think you’re a fraud. You must continue to write and share your story, because no two stories or experiences are the same.

Confidence changed the way I view myself and my writing. It helped me to understand writing is a journey, one that doesn’t need to be rushed and every writer’s journey is different.

Confidence enabled me to trust the process: the input, and the outcome. When I compare myself to when I started writing in 2012, I can see how much has changed. Though I’m still learning and getting better, it’s impressive to see how much has changed in my old work in terms of the diction, syntax and my usage of the figure of speech in writing.

It’s also worth remembering that consistency is an excellent way to improve and get better. So don’t be lazy, or procrastinate with your writing; make time to write, because you can’t be a writer without writing. Even Nigerian writer and novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said: I just write. I have to write. I like to say that I didn’t choose writing, writing chose me. This may sound slightly mythical, but I sometimes feel as if my writing is something bigger than I am.

Secondly, learn to take criticism, both good and bad. While the good will help you appreciate the beauty of your work and what you aim to achieve, the bad  might point you in the direction of what you failed to achieve or include in your work. When my book was set for publishing in January of 2024, I was so scared. I’ve been writing and sharing my poems online for years but was never ready for the global consumption of my poems, with literary critics digging holes into them. I was used to the sharpened sword of my editor cutting through my work and giving me feedback, but when my book became available in several bookshops and online marketplaces, my anxiety heightened – everyone had access to it!

However, this didn’t deter me. To succeed and make an impact, we have to be brave and open-minded. Be willing to learn from strangers. I’m not saying to take everything at face value, but we must learn to see the truth in people’s feedback. Again, in the words of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Never pretend to know what you don’t know, otherwise you will never learn.

Also, always be willing to develop: hone your skills and stay curious. One thing that’s helped my writing no end  is reading other people’s work. Literary publishing sites are a good place to begin. Write on, through the Pen To Print site, for example, publishes poems, essays and writings from young and seasoned writers. It’s great to delve into the minds of other writers and see how they bring their thoughts and ideas to life.

In Susan Sontag’s words: A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world. So I will say, pay attention to not just your work, but also to that of others. All writing is important and none is greater than the other.

Last but not least, put yourself out there. Write and submit your poems and don’t wait for the right time. That time is now! You don’t necessarily need to publish your poems in hard copy. Many online literary magazines and journals put out calls for submissions. Find them, put your writing together and submit. Many of them are kind enough to offer beneficial feedback.

When I started writing, online literary magazines were one way I got my poems to engage with the world. Some rejections are painful but you won’t grow without them, so I advise you to write and share those poems wherever you can. Your writing and your story are important and, believe me, the world wants to read your work. If you’re in doubt, or think you may be repeating topics others have already written, find solace in these words by Nobel Prize awardee, Andrè Gide: Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.

On that note, I will end with Dylan Thomas: A good poem is a contribution to reality. The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it. A good poem helps to change the shape of the universe, helps to extend everyone’s knowledge of himself and the world around him.

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Amaka Felly Obioji is a Nigerian writer based in London. She is the author of Mother, Did You Call My Name? a collection of mindfulness poetry, delving into the depths of human experience, unravelling threads of joy, sadness, resilience and rebellion. Amaka is also co-founder and Managing Editor at Diaspora Africa, an independent media organisation that uses data, research and solutions journalism to highlight stories centring on the movement of Africans in Africa and the diaspora.

You can hear great new ideas, creative work and writing tips on Write On! Audio. Find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify. Type Pen to Print into your browser and look for our logo, or find us on Podcasters.Spotify.com.

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