Young Writers Society

So how do you decide to break your lines in poetry? Is it whenever you "think" you should, whenever it "sounds right"? Or is there some... not rule, quite, but some strategy to use?

Whenever it sounds right but then, that's different for every writer is it not? I don't like to have really long lines so I always break before it's further than three quarters across the page and sometimes I'll have a really short line to create more impact but I find it hard to explain my 'rule' because it's automatic. When it feels right or looks right to start a new line, I do so and that's as precise and accurate an answer as you're going to get I'm afraid.

There again, sometimes I writer structured poetry, in which case I break after a certain number of syllables.

I operate along the lines of "sounding right". Wherever I think a line should be, that's where I put it. Sort of like writing poetry; I just write down the phrases that pop into my head. There's really no formula for it.

I say my poetry before I ever write it down, so I put in line breaks where I pause and/or breathe. Double line breaks usually indicate a longer pause (and a deeper breath). I also usually try to make sure the line breaks (and indents) look good, because I'm a geek like that.

I sound out my poetry when I write it. Actually I sound out everything I write, something I have always done. So I'm with Meep, I usually put line breaks when I pause, or when it looks proper on the page. I usually put stanza breaks when I change topic/idea or POV.

Ta,
Cal.

I do not put line breaks where I pause (unless the line breaks between sentences). That's what punctuation is for. See, when you read poetry aloud, you disregard the line breaks. You do not pause for them, unless, as I said, the punctuation begs it. Line breaks can put emphasis on words at the end of a line or words/phrases on individual or otherwise separated lines--this is because it does take extra time for the eye to move to them--and sometimes poets use this. I either use them for emphasis or at a natural break, such as at the end of a sentence or clause.

It depends on what kind of poem you're writing, of course!

This may be helpful.