 Notice the title says: make new readers, not "attract" new readers, or "grow" new readers. We're done with all that. It's too much work for too little reward! Kidding aside, I'm going to offer another super-easy poetry tip today that will help you gain more readers. If you use it well, it may be the most important tip you ever stumble across. It's easy, but it can be a bit painful if you're not used to doing it. No, it's not about using double-entendres, although maybe I should blog on that sometime. No, this tip is much more basic. Here it is: Imagine that every time you read a new poem, you gain a new reader for your poems. Clearly, this isn't logistically the case, but it's most certainly the case in spirit. And here's why. Reading poetry is the single most effective (and necessary) way to improve as a poet. Period. Add to that most of us don't read nearly enough poems and you have a "magic" formula that's more true than anything that would stand up to a computer. Try it! But only imagine a new reader for yourself when you're reading a new poem, preferably by a poet you've never read. Each time you read and absorb a new poet, pretend you've gained a new reader for your work because what you learn by reading another poet will make your work stronger. Someone who's read ten thousand poems has an advantage in composition over someone who's only read ten. The tip works even better if you read both contemporary and classic poets. Don't be afraid of new poets. Love and crave them as you love and crave readers because one leads to the other. @BlackstonDan Categories All
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