Spoken-Word Tips Part 2: On Concrete Language, Specificity, and Turning Ideas into Poems

Here is the second video in this series sharing strategies for anyone interested in writing and performing spoken-word and slam poetry. Here is part one if you missed it; more coming!

This video also mentions a few poems that I think demonstrate the power of concrete language really well. Here are links:

Ed Bok Lee’s “If in America”
Lauren Zuniga’s “World’s Tallest Hill”
Homeless Ryan K.’s “For Joseph”
Andrea Gibson’s “Letter to a Playground Bully”
Lupe Fiasco’s “Kick Push”

Finally, here is a list of other resources for aspiring spoken-word artists.