Decide on the poem’s structure before writing
Choose a line length that fits the poem’s rhythm
Break lines intentionally, not just by sentence length
Use stanza breaks to separate ideas or sections
Keep punctuation consistent with the poem’s style
Use capitalization consistently throughout
Align lines and stanzas neatly on the page
Leave enough white space for readability
Indent lines only if the poem’s form requires it
Format repeated refrains the same way each time
Preserve exact line breaks when revising or publishing
Use a clear font and standard spacing for submission
Follow any required style guide or submission format