I used to write poetry, and for some reason I stopped, i have close to about 30 that I wrote, and i just cant get back into it...any suggestions?

Do you have any of your work I can see?

One of the reasons why a lot of people stop writing is that it's difficult, very difficult and often very boring. I forget his name, but a man once said "I love writing before I start and when I finish, the rest of the time it's Hell." So when you stop it can be difficult to get your momentum back.

Another reason lots of people struggle is that they try to write before they've got their ideas sorted out. Most of my writing time is taken up by thinking and researching - knowledge is the seed of ideas. Perhaps instead of trying to write, you need to find something that you want to write about?

I hope that helps mate.

find what inspires you i guess

I am currntly in Iraq, most of my work is back home...its been almost 3 years since I last wrote...

Ah, OK, what's your access to literature like over there? Because there's a very good book by Stephen Fry called The Ode Less Travelled, which is to help people start writing poetry.

What style did you use and were there any writers who influenced you?

Well, I just found a new hobbie. Someone pointed out a poem format that I was not previously familiar with. They are called 'sestinas'.

You choose 6 words that are associated with the topic you'd like to write about. Then you write six stantza of six lines each with your words ending each line as follows. It actually works out pretty well if you pick words that are associated with what you want to write about.

There is a web site here that will produce a template for you.

http://dilute.net/sestinas/

You type in your six words and it will produce a template like the following:


one
two
three
four
five
six

six
one
five
two
four
three

three
six
four
one
two
five

five
three
two
six
one
four

four
five
one
three
six
two

two
four
six
five
three
one

...two...five
...four...three
...six...one

(These last three lines are called the "envoi" -- the only restriction is that each of them should include two keywords. You should feel free to change word order, and get rid of the '...')

Then you start writing whatever comes to mind about your theme, using these words at the end of each line in each stanza.

I just finished one here:

http://mingle2.com/topic/show/254634

Although mine is quite loquacious. The lines don't need to be long. They also have examples on the site that produces the template.

I'm finding these sestinas to be rather fun to play with.

since you are thinking about it...
write of something authentic in your life...
a place to start......the rest will come....
teasingbrunette

Whatever pop's into you thoughts, let it roll, don't herd it or pick the direction, let it be a road trip of thought from your mind. The rest will follow.