You've probably had to write a haiku for English sometime in your school career. You most likely found it boring, or difficult, or just plain stupid. I am going to try and show you a more fun way to write a haiku.
1. The Basics: What You Should Know
In case you don't know, a haiku is a Japanese poem that is only three lines long. It is usually taught that the syllables in each line should go 5-7-5. But really, as long as there are 17 syllables or less in the three lines, it's a haiku.
2. Write to Get a Reaction
When you write a haiku, you are aiming to get one of three reactions: Aaaahhh, aha!, or ha ha! For example...
Aaahhh: Laying in bed/dog next to me under blanket/my furry heater
Aha!: Life is too short to love people/who do not deserve/your whole heart
Ha ha!: I'm on the toilet/and my stomach drops/the roll is empty
3. Create an Image
In your writing, you want to create a new image in your readers mind with each line. Take my first haiku for example. I first talk about laying in bed. Then, I say there is a dog next to me under the blanket, so you picture a lump under the covers. In my last line, I call him a furry heater so you imagine a heater covered in fur. The image you create is more important than the syllables.
4. Performing
Lastly, you need to think about performing your haiku. As always, when you're speaking in front of a room of people, you need to project so the whole room can hear you and you need to make eye contact. Another thing to remember is the tone of your voice while you are saying your poem. Dramatic pauses can keep people on the edge of their seat, waiting for what you're going to say next. You also have to remember to be confident! And if you're not confident, fake it till you make it!
