Why and how to write “radio poems”
Quick, fun batches of poetry
Creativity boosting writing exercise
Spontaneous writing fun
Nan Patience with work in progress. Video made in YouTube shorts (link here: https://youtube.com/shorts/eD1QVLfLoQI)
Following my bliss one day, I sat down to write poems while listening to a favorite radio station. I low-key challenged myself to enjoy the writing, sit and do a solid session, and see what came out on the page.
It was a fun exercise, and I got a whole batch of short poems out of it, too.
Here’s how you can write a “radio poem” to have fun, boost creativity and churn out some work in a fun way.
Step 1: Turn on your favorite music or talk radio station.
Step 2: Get ready to write in the moment, without knowing what’s coming over the airwaves.
Step 3: Start! Listen and jot down random words, maybe not just from the radio, but other words that come to mind, your own feelings, experiences, people, sensory notes, instrumental notes, etc. Anything. Avoid unique turns of phrase of particular artists, original ideas and anything trademarked or copyrighted.
Step 4: Do a whole session, aiming for a batch of (short) poems. Smash out several pages of words and raw poetic notes.
Step 5: Turn off the music and edit, edit, edit. Group words and ideas, try different arrangements, draft titles, rephrase, add context, reword, omit words, add other words, try some rhymes if you want, etc. You have complete freedom.
You can do it anywhere. Here are two radio poems I wrote the other day on the fly when out and about…
Trouble Tonight
by NG Swett
if looks could kill
I’d be in trouble
so out of touch
in my own bubblethe dangerous type
what are you all about
shock me baby
let’s scream and shoutyou’re all I desire
don’t play dead
light my fire
you god among men
And another (below). I will say the two poems are nice and short and have an edge of passion that is wonderful for poetry.
Poem At Open Window
by NG Swett
I long to know you’re real
something I can feel
like an old typewriter key
clacking away here
words on a rag breeze
you breathe in and sneeze
“Oh bless you, Darling’!”
Once edited, my radio poems aren’t too far outside of the kinds of poems I’ve written before. One is on the racier side, one on the charming side. Both a little desperate haha!
They would fit into, for example, my first book of poems, HOLD ME TIGHT, a collection of 36 love poems about love and loss in modern times.
I’m working on a new collection of poems to be published by Labor Day, which will be a mix of poems with black and white photo collage illustrations (I think).
Give my radio poetry exercise method a try and see if YOU like it!