No successful person has gotten where they are without pushing through "perceived" limitations and failures. Winston Churchill flunked the sixth grade. Oprah Winfrey was told she wasn't fit enough for television. Colombia Pictures thought that Marilyn Monroe wasn't pretty enough, and Walt Disney was told he lacked imagination! However, none of these individuals sat around and sulked in their apparent faults. They went out and made it happen and you can, too! Join a group that has the same interests as you, like veganism or chess. When you see someone you would like to meet, be natural and ask him or her about something that pertains to the moment. Does this cheese have rennet or is it a vegan cheese? Volunteering is another great way to meet people. It gets you out of your normal routine and helping others is a good feeling, too. For all kinds of reasons, someone may not want to get to know you, and you may never know why. Try not to take it personally because they really don't know you. Perhaps he or she is a particular religion or race and has been raised to only become friends with people from his or her community. It's okay to fail. It's how we learn what works and what doesn't. Whether it's an inspired idea, a blind date or an unexpected career opportunity, embrace it as a chance to grow. Too many people live in fear, and never tap into how great they really are! Most people have lots of opinions. Take into consideration what others say, but you don't always have to believe what they say about you. Often, it's just projections based on their own fears! Many are fine going unnoticed in the world, not straying from the opinions of others, and not ruffling any feathers. On the inside, though, these are the ones hoping for positive change. Be the lone duck from the crowd, and stay true to yourself. As long as you're not hurting anyone or yourself, then it's fine. The most important thing is you tried. It takes confidence to put yourself out there, so pat yourself on the back for it! There are many people on the planet. Eventually, you will find your tribe.
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One-sentence summary -- Take risks. Meet new people. Learn to tolerate uncertainty and possible rejection. Wander into the unknown, even if you fall on your face.

When you are writing about subjects like darkness, sadness, loneliness, and death, it can be hard not to fall into cliches and familiar language. A cliche is a description that has been so overused it has lost its meaning. Many readers will gloss over a cliche and/or question the poet's creativity when they come across a cliche. Avoid leaning on cliches in your writing and focus on creating more unique and unfamiliar ways of approaching darkness. Try to stay away from cliches like "dark as night", "lost and alone" or "so lonesome I could cry". Come up with more original descriptions and images in your poem, especially when you are addressing dark themes and elements. One way you can address cliches in your writing is to go over your poem and look for any familiar terms or phrases. You should then underline them and focus on replacing certain words or replacing the phrase so it is less familiar and feels more original. Make sure you are using sensory detail in your poem, as this will make the poem come alive and contain descriptions that are memorable. Think about how a moment looks, sounds, tastes, smells, or feels. Use all five senses to create detailed moments in your poem. For example, maybe you are writing a poem about your grandfather's death. You may focus on the smell of the white lilies at his grave or the gray, thin appearance of your grandfather in his casket. You may also describe the food you ate at his wake and the feeling of holding your grandmother's hand at the funeral. Literary devices like metaphor, simile, and rhyme can help to strengthen the language in your poem and add depth to your writing. Try to use literary devices strategically, especially in a shorter poem. Every line should not be full of metaphors or similes only. You should vary up how you use these literary devices so your poem still flows well and does not seem wordy or long-winded. For example, you may use a metaphor to describe the loneliness of standing in the girl's bathroom at school. You may write, "The stalls are blank eyes in the face of this room". Or, you may use a simile to describe the look and smell of the bathroom. You may write, "The floor is as slick as the surface of a lake" and "The sinks smell like rotten eggs". Some poets, such as Rossetti in "Song", also use rhyme in their dark poetry. Rhyme can be useful for adding some levity and lightness to a poem about heavy, dark subject matter. But it can also make your poem sound too sing-songy and silly. Use rhyme sparingly. Once you have written your first draft, you should read your poem out loud to yourself or to a sympathetic audience. Listen for any awkward phrases or words and highlight them. Ask the listener for feedback on your writing. You should also pay attention to any images that are confusing or lines that are not as strong as they could be. Make sure you are not using cliches in your writing. Your poem should use unfamiliar and interesting images and descriptions that are true to your style and voice. You should go back and edit the poem for clarity once you have read it out loud. Adjust any problem phrases or words you identified and make sure you are using strong, interesting language throughout the poem.
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One-sentence summary --
Avoid cliches. Add sensory detail. Use literary devices. Read your poem out loud.