For all the would-be wordsmiths out there, I've got nine books to read if you want to write poetry but don't know where to start. Pull out your favorite journal or note-taking app now and jot down a few lines — you have to begin somewhere, after all.
Being a writer is difficult, no matter what level of success you hope to achieve with your craft. If you've ever passed the writing reference section of your favorite bookstore, you know how overwhelming it can be to look at all the books on writing and wonder which ones you should get. Are there must-reads when it comes to crafting poetry and prose? Is it better to go it alone and without guidance?
The answer is that it's up to you. If you're happy with your work, then feel free to keep on keeping on. But if you feel like you need a friendly nudge in the right direction, or just want to know how other poets write, you can probably take a peek at a few of the books on the list below.
Check out the books I think you should read if you want to write poetry — some of them are poetry collections, some of them are guides, all of them will remind you why poetry is so magical: