Six stanzas. Six end words. Obsessively repeated. A final tercet that ties it all together—or completely unravels you. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to unravel you. When approached with intention (and a little rebellion), the sestina can become one of the most cathartic, freeing, and soul-bending forms.

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Which brings me to this 💥 workshop led by David Koehn at Omnidawn: Breaking the Bowl —a generative class that calls poets to abandon the safety of templates and lean into organic form. It’s not about breaking poetry—it’s about breaking open.

Since we’re on poetic containers, let me share my rules for writing a sestina without losing your mind (or your poetic momentum). Call them tough love. Call them survival tips. Call them what they are: Maria’s Rules for a Healthier Sestina—and a Saner You.

🎯 1. Don’t Just Use End Words—Play With Them

Let’s say your end word is wave. Plug “wave” into its assigned line like a puzzle. But you? You’re going to play jazz.

Think:

Microwave

Airwave

Wavelength

Unwavering

Morph your words. Stretch them. Let them breathe.

🔄 2. Use the “One-Word Switch” Rule

Once—and only once—you get a free pass to switch out one of your six end words for a phonetically similar rebel. That’s right. “Wave” becomes “Way” or even “Wayne.” It’s not cheating—it’s poetry as alchemy.

🔥 3. Write About What Obsessively Haunts You

Sestinas love obsession. Give them material they can spin. What loops in your head on a Tuesday at 2 AM? What shows up in your dreams uninvited?

Write that.

⚡ 4. Insert a Turn to Avoid the “Sestina Sag”

Suppose your poem feels like you’re dragging your brain through molasses by stanza five, pivot. Surprise the reader—and yourself. Drop a truth bomb—change speakers. Add an image that yanks the floorboards up.

A sestina’s final tercet deserves more than autopilot.

🧠 5. Choose Subject Matter That Turns

Want to avoid general sag? Choose topics that naturally twist and zig-zag. Think about subjects that mutate with perspective: grief, addiction, memory, and family.

Let the subject do the work.

🎭 6. Persona Poems Are Your Secret Weapon

You know what makes sestinas sing? A strong voice. Persona and dramatic monologue sestinas let you hide the form inside the speaker’s obsession. That way, the reader forgets they’re even reading a sestina until it hits them like a sucker punch.

Why It All Matters (and Where to Go Next)

We don’t write sestinas because they’re easy. We write them because they demand attention, both from the poet and the reader. They make us repeat what we’re most afraid to say. They’re maddening—and meditative.

And if you’re ready to go deeper—not just with sestinas, but with form-breaking, bowl-smashing, organic poetry—then I cannot recommend this enough:

👉 BREAKING THE BOWL: An Organic Forms Class led by David Koehn

We’re not here to follow forms but to make them ours.

#poetry #sestina #writingtips #organicform #Omnidawn #MariaNazos #DavidKoehn #writingcommunity #poetsofinstagram #creativewriting #writingworkshop #formandfreedom #breakthebowl

Maria’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.