To create blackout poetry, follow these key steps:
- Choose a Source Text
Select a page from a book, newspaper, or magazine that you don’t mind altering. This page will be the foundation for your poem
- Skim and Find Key Words
Quickly scan the page to find an "anchor word" or several words that catch your attention and suggest a theme or mood for your poem. Don’t read carefully at first-just spot words or phrases that stand out to you
- Circle Words or Phrases
Lightly circle the words or short phrases you want to keep using a pencil. These words should relate to your anchor word or theme and resonate with you. Avoid circling too many words to keep the poem concise
- Refine Your Selection
Write down the circled words in order on a separate paper. Read through them and cross out any that don’t fit. If needed, go back to the original text to find small connecting words like "a," "the," or "it" to help your poem flow
- Box and Blackout
Once you finalize your word selection, use a black marker, pen, or dark pencil to boldly box the words you want to keep. Then blackout all the other words on the page, leaving only your poem visible. Erase any pencil marks afterward
- Add Artistic Touches (Optional)
You can add sketches, symbols, or designs around your poem to enhance its visual appeal. This step is optional but can make your blackout poetry more expressive
- Read and Share
Read your finished poem aloud or write it out separately for display. Sharing your blackout poetry can inspire others and add to the creative experience
Tips:
- Blackout poetry is great for overcoming writer’s block.
- Have fun with the words and phrases that speak to you.
- The poem can be abstract or tell a story-there are no strict rules
This process transforms existing text by selectively revealing words to create new poetic meaning, blending visual art and literature
. This concise guide is based on detailed instructions from multiple sources on blackout poetry creation
