Poetry is about images. Images are like mental photographs created by the writer. For this prompt we are going to lean into that by doing a story board for a poem.

Start by picking a topic. Then take out a piece of printer paper (it helps if it has no lines) or sketch paper. Divide it into no more than 8 blocks. You can do this by folding the paper at least two times. This will give you lines you can trace to make the blocks. Write your topic on the back for record keeping.

You want to think of the poem in moments. What scenes can you envision when thinking about this topic? Do the scenes make up one story, are they multiple aspects of one situation, or they multiple occurrences of the same thing? Capture 6 to 8 in one sentence or less. Then write one sentence per square on your paper.

Draw the scene. Stick figures are fine. Try to represent each scene as best as you can. Add any elements you want or feel the scene needs. You can even use colored pencils to color the block. Colors convey feelings and emotions as well.

Once you are done drawing you are ready to write. Think of each square as representing a stanza. You will write what’s going on in each scene on a separate sheet of paper. Skip a line between each scene/stanza. When you are done with all 6 or 8, then give it a title.

Now it is time to think about the transitions or clarifying lines needed for the stanzas to connect and relate to the original topic. This will guide you into through your revisions. Now you are building out the story that encapsulates each scene from your story board.

Use the storyboard to not only help you build the narrative, but to also help you remember infuse vivid imagery in your poem.