The Easiest Way of Writing Sonnets

Writing sonnets is probably one of the most exciting aspects of poetry. You see, a sonnet is a very structured poem which requires a good understanding of language and a keen mind. It is therefore true to say that a sonnet is a work of genius.

Now, now, this should not worry you an ounce. You should not shrink away from this venture, screaming:

“I am no genius, and I hardly have a good knowledge of the English Language!”

Let me tell you the truth; the clear, white truth about sonnet writing:

It is exciting.

It can be done.

A lot of people out there are doing it.

True, writing sonnets is a challenge, but that is what makes it exciting. After you are done with your sonnet, you have the privilege of showing it to your buddies with a bright, proud look about you. If you are a guy, you may even write one for that girl you fancy and see what she thinks of you. If you are a girl, well…

Let me make one thing clear. You should write a sonnet because you want to, and not because you have to. A lot of kids have to write sonnets as part of homework assignment and thus many of them find it a pure nightmare. But even for these, I am going to help them churn out sonnets with the least of pain and proudly set them on their teacher’s desk early next morning.

Okeydokey!

Let’s get started with writing sonnets, shall we?

Firstly, you must understand what a sonnet is.

For your convenience, I looked up the word in the oxford dictionary, and it states:

 

“A poem of 14 lines using any of a number of formal rhyme schemes, in English usu. having ten syllables per line.”

 

You got that, right?

The elements of a sonnet, therefore are:

• Fourteen lines
• A rhyme scheme
• Ten syllables in each line

 

When writing sonnets, I often like thinking of a sonnet as a story. It has got an introduction, a turning point, and a conclusion.

Yep.

Writing sonnets is more or less like writing stories. There is a structure to follow.

There are two major types of sonnets. There is the English sonnet, and the Italian or Petrachan poem, which I separately discussed in other articles.

Let me lay out to you how these two sonnets are formatted.

The English sonnet, also known as the Shakespearean sonnet, is the most famous form.

It consists of four verses or paragraphs. The first three verses contain four lines each. The last verse contains two lines.

So if you are telling your ‘story’ using the English Sonnet, here is how you will go about it.

In the introductory paragraph (verse) you introduce the topic, problem or conflict.

In the second paragraph, you expand your topic, problem or conflict.

In the third paragraph, you introduce a turning point, where your topic or conflict takes a turn in a new direction.

In the last paragraph, you make your memorable conclusion. 

The Italian Sonnet is the other way of telling the story. This one is more straight forward. It consists of two paragraphs or verses. The first paragraph contains eight lines. The second consists of six lines.

So if you are using the Italian Sonnet format, you introduce your topic, problem or conflict in the first paragraph.

In the second paragraph you expand on this conflict.

It’s as simple as that.

Yeah, writing sonnets is easy.

He, He.

Now, it is all up to you to choose the format you prefer.

Good. Let’s proceed.

Now you have to choose a metrical pattern. Check this article out about which metrical pattern you may want to choose:

 

Most likely, and appropriately, you will use the iambic pentameter.

The iambic pentameter means that each line consists of ten syllables written, alternating in weak-strong patterns.

For example, here is a line from Shakespeare’s sonnet number 29 which uses the iambic pentameter. Note the ten syllables and the stress pattern of the iambic pentameter.

 

When in dis/grace with for/tune and men’s eyes

 

Next thing you gotta do is decide on a rhyme scheme.

 

For the sake of example, I have chosen to use the English Sonnet, the iambic pentameter, and the following rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

We are quite ready to begin.

Here is the method I use when writing sonnets. I draw up a table like this:

With all this in place, it is time, it's time to get started with writing sonnets.

 

Step1: paragraph # 1:

 

Let us decide on a topic.

Emotions and love are the major theme of most sonnets. So our sonnet will be about this. We will write about my search for the love of my life. So here is how we start it.

Note we want to make sure it follows the ta-da pattern.

 

TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA
The	days	I	searched	and	sought	for	Thee	were	hard,	A
My	life	was	bligh	ted,	dark	ness	ruled	my	heart	B

 

Before we proceed, remember the rhyme scheme we are following. At this point, we must choose a word that rhymes with hard, and another which rhymes with heart.

 

TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA
De	void	of	joy	ous	friend	ship,	great	ly	starved	A
of	sun	light,	drenched	with	mi	sery,	done	and	faint.	B

 

Step 2: Expand the conflict

 

For the next verse, we expand the conflict. In the first verse, we have brought out how blighted I was as I searched for the love of my life. Now, we expand on that, describing my emotions in further detail.

 

TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA
As	I	lay	down	the	bed	of	mine	I	mourned;	C
Yet	ne	ver	did	I	once	at	all	know	why	D
This	great	sad	gloomi	ness	over	me	hung	like	Cloud;	C
Like	win	ter	trees	lack	leaves;	I	seemed	to	Die.	D

 

You will notice that some syllables seem to fall on the fence between stressed and unstressed, such as the word I.In this case, the best thing to do is use your better judgment and place them where you deem best.

It is not a must that you must follow the stress pattern perfectly, but you must try to stick to it as perfectly as you could.

 

Step 3: Turning Point

Now for the third verse.

 Remember, we bring about a turning point. Here goes:

 

 

TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA
But	when	my	eyes	were	laid	On	thy	fair	face;	E
The	clouds	lifted;	dark	ness	van	ished;	life	re	turned.	F
A	gain	my	blood	grew	warm,	no	more	dis	grace;	E
A	live	I	felt	this	great	first	time	in	deed.	F

 

Step 4: Conclusion

 

Now for the last two lines.

 Let’s conclude with a touching thought:

 

TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA	TA	DA
Com	plete	me	tru	ly	you	do	be	tter	Half;	G
I	lives	be	cause	I’ve	found	my	be	tter	Half.	G

 

Hey we have completed the sonnet!

 

Let us lay it out and read it as a single unit and see how it sounds:

 

The days I searched and sought for thee were hard,
My life was blighted; darkness ruled my heart;
Devoid of joyous friendship, greatly starved
Of sunlight; drenched with misery; done and faint.

As I lay down the bed of mine I mourned;
Yet never did I once at all know why
This great sad gloominess over me hung like cloud;
Like winter trees lack leaves; I seemed to die.

But when my eyes were laid on thy fair face;
The clouds lifted; darkness vanished; life returned
Again my blood grew warm, no more disgrace;
Alive I felt this great first time indeed.

Complete me truly you do better half;
 I lives because I’ve found my better half.

 

That was cool wasn’t it?

 

Do you now see how easy writing sonnets is using this format I’ve devised?
I managed to do this sonnet in about an hour.

Try it out and see if it works for you.

Please tell me if this method of writing sonnets has helped you.

Please comment it! on this article about writing sonnets.

P.S: I believe the Italian Sonnet my be easier or harder for you, depending on how your brain works. But the method I have used above for writing sonnets can be tailored for it as well.

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