Expert shares tips on how to go viral on PoetryTok

First came #BookTok but now there’s a new TikTok community going viral – Poets

• TikTok videos featuring original poetry are getting billions of views from users, with #Poetry content viewed more than 67.5 billion times

• The most popular themes amongst spoken word videos on TikTok include identity and self exploration, social justice and activism, and mental health and wellbeing

• Poetry influencers Rupi Kaur, Amanda Gorman and Warsan Shire helped propel original poetry into the mainstream

• Users looking for information on “how to write a poem” see more than 47,700 Google searches every month, with searches up 12% in the past year

There has been a steady increase in interest in creative nonfiction in the last year, with poetry in particular now more popular than ever before.

Google searches for ‘how to write a poem’ now see more than 47,700 hits every month globally, and are up 12% in the last year in the UK alone as Brits turn to the internet to help them understand how to nail the classic art form.

Poetry is also particularly popular amongst TikTok users, as views on #Poetry videos amass more than 67.5 billion views from users with a shared love of the spoken word.

Now, experts at ExamPapersPlus.co.uk have analysed the most popular poetry videos on TikTok to understand what themes and influencers are resonating most with the younger generation, and share advice on how to write a poem that’s sure to go viral.

The Growing Popularity of #Poetry

Amongst the poetry-loving users of TikTok has spawned a number of sub communities of creatives, with one group cleverly coined “PoetryTok” racking up more than 3.7 billion views on content labelled with this hashtag.

With the #PoetryLover tag now with more than 5.1 billion views and the hashtag #PoetsOfTikTok also gaining in popularity (583.9 million views), there is no denying that the sharing of original poetry on TikTok is more popular than ever amongst online audiences.

But what makes poetry so popular on TikTok?

Contemporary poetry, and especially the poetry gaining widespread popularity on TikTok, tends to touch on a range of themes that reflect the diverse perspectives and experiences of our modern society. These poems delve into difficult topics and themes faced by minorities all over the world, and offer a unique perspective on what are often shared experiences all over the world.

TikTok’s Top Poems and Themes

Analysis of the top videos on TikTok tagged with the #Poetry hashtag shows a number of consistent themes and topics amongst the most viewed videos.

The most common themes across TikTok’s poetry communities can largely be broken down into four categories: Identity and self-exploration, social justice and activism, love and relationships, and mental health and wellbeing.

Identity and Self-Exploration

Many of TikTok’s poets touch on themes of personal identity, self-discovery, and self-acceptance. This theme often intersects with discussions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, as well as their various cultural backgrounds.

Social Justice and Activism

TikTok poets often use their work as a platform to address pressing social issues such as inequality, discrimination, racism, environmental concerns, and political turmoil. Their poems can shed light on injustices and inspire readers to take action and advocate for change.

Love and Relationships

Love remains a timeless theme in poetry, and the poets of TikTok continue to explore the complexities of romantic relationships, platonic bonds, and familial connections through themes of intimacy, heartbreak, longing, and the dynamics of love in the modern world.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

With a growing awareness of the mental health struggles faced by users of TikTok, many of the platform’s poets write candidly about their own experiences with anxiety, depression, trauma, and healing. Their poems offer a space for viewers to relate to and find solace in shared emotions.

Poetry in Pop Culture

Just as many pop stars and musicians are often called poets because their lyrics resemble traditional poetic styles, there have been a number of poignant events which have propelled the original poetry of certain individuals into the mainstream.

Rupi Kaur – 316.2m TikTok views

Known for her short, impactful poems and visual art, Rupi Kaur has grown a massive following on social media thanks to the shareability of the bite-sized poems from her best-selling poetry collections like “Milk and Honey” and “The Sun and Her Flowers.”

Amanda Gorman – 19.2m TikTok views

This young poet gained widespread media acclaim for her poem “The Hill We Climb,” which she famously recited at the 2021 presidential inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the United States.

Warsan Shire – 14.1m TikTok views

This British-Somali poet, whose work often explores themes of identity, migration, and womanhood, gained mainstream attention through her collaboration with Beyoncé on the pop star’s visual album “Lemonade.”

Expert Advice for Poetry Writing

With the tag #WritingTips also trending on TikTok (over 770m views) and more than 47,700 people turning to Google every month looking for information on “how to write a poem”, Faisal Nasim, founder of ExamPapersPlus.co.uk shares his top tips for producing original poetry.

“With so many types of poetry out there, it can be daunting to know where to start when it comes to writing something original, and meaningful to both you as a writer, and your intended audience.

“But a good poet has something to say; something that can’t be kept inside. Use that personal passion, an experience or an emotion as your starting point, and everything else will fall into place!

“Don’t feel pressured to make your words ‘fit’ into one of the more popular types of poetry, as some of the most raw poems have just been free verses that lack regular metre or rhyming scheme. Unboxing yourself from a specific ‘type’ of poem will allow your words to flow much more flexibly.

“To begin with, just start by jotting down words, phrases or descriptions of images and emotions that you feel about your topic or theme. This will help you gather your immediate thoughts into one place, and allow you a ‘bank’ of thoughts to refer to within your writing.

“Remember to use imagery and descriptive language including metaphors and similes to help engage your audience’s imagination, and play around with sound and rhythm devices like alliteration and assonance to elevate the musicality of your writing.

“Tapping into your emotions will allow you to infuse your poem with personality and authenticity, and help you to convey your feelings through carefully chosen words and phrases.

“Reading your work aloud will help you to identify any awkward phrasing or rhythm issues, and highlight areas that might need some improvement. But, try to embrace imperfection, too! Not all poems are perfect! The process of creative writing is a journey, and each attempt you make will contribute to your growth as a poet.”

For more information on our Poetry Analysis for Interviews and Poetry Comprehension courses, including age restrictions and availability, please visit ExamPapersPlus.co.uk

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