S8E36 How to Write a Superior Poem

Poetry Pea - haiku and other English Language Japanese short forms

Welcome to Poetry Pea! In this episode, Patricia shares practical tips and writing exercises on how to write superior tanka poetry. Building on last week’s look at the ten styles of poetry, today we dive into Teika’s principles, examples of great tanka, and step-by-step challenges to help you improve your craft.

Whether you’re brand new to tanka, already writing haiku and senryū, or preparing to submit your work to poetry journals, this podcast will give you inspiration, structure, and confidence in your writing.

📌 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What makes a tanka “superior”
• Common mistakes to avoid when writing tanka
• Teika’s timeless advice on style, rhythm, and language
• Practical exercises (including a 15-day tanka challenge)
• How to get ready for submissions in October

Episode Show notes

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