Poetry Pastiche (writing in the style of another author's work)
- An ode -- see Gary Soto's "Ode to La Pinata" and writing tips for odes; also check out Soto's web site
- A definition -- listen to "I Believe" by Elizabeth Alexander, read some writing tips, and hear Elizabeth Alexander talk about being an inaugural poet
- A warning -- read "I am Patient," by songwriter Jewel Kilcher (known simply as Jewel, and popular in the 90s!)
- A lament -- learn about a lament and read David Wagoner's "Lament for the Non-Swimmers"; also read more about David Wagoner
- A poem about an age -- listen to "Fifteen" by William Stafford (read by Garrison Keillor), get some writing tips, and learn more about Stafford
- A pluralistic poem -- read "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" and read more about author Wallace Stevens
- An unconventional poem -- "i carry your heart with me" by the eccentric E.E. Cummings
- An insincere apology -- read "This is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams
- A poem in defense of someone -- celebrate someone you love, in the style of "Miss Rosie," by Lucille Clifton
- A rant -- read "MAN I THOUGHT YOU WAS TALKING ANOTHER LANGUAGE THAT DAY" by Victor Hernandez Cruz
- A news flash -- Turn a single sentence into a shape that represents that idea, as Arnold Adoff does in "Real World News Flash"
- A poem about origins and end points -- Read "From Blossoms" by Li-Young Lee
- A motto -- This short poem by Langston Hughes conveys a motto or short personal catch phrase
- A poem about nature -- see "winter poem" by Nikki Giovanni and read about the author