If it helps, try starting with your second or third stanza first. It's ok not to try to create the world's best opening line right off. Instead, work on some of the body of your poem. Then, go from there. You can work in order, or write a bunch of different quadrants and then put them in order as you like. If you still lack inspiration for your sonnet, try reading some other sonnets that are well written. I would suggest any of the ones written by Shakespeare. His genius just might help you get yours started.
Also, try to understand the build of a sonnet. Breaking it down to a science might make the project seem less intimidating. A sonnet is written in an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme. The first three stanzas are quatrains, which is a poem of four lines, and it ends with a rhyming couplet. Each line must have ten syllables, and the whole poem is written in iambic pentameter. This form of writing can be difficult at first, but it's easier if you think of it as a heart beat on paper. Every other syllable is emphasized, so just take a minute to feel a steady beat in your mind before you put pen to paper.
Finally, remember that sonnets are supposed to express how you feel. Often times, they are used to express love, passion, or desire, such as in Shakespeare's sonnet 18, "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?" However, any emotion can be built upon through this form of writing. Choose a topic that has some sort of emotional value to you, be it good or bad, and let your feelings flow. You might start by writing a brief outline explaining your feelings and what order you want them to be displayed in. Just start simple, and then spice it up later. Keep a thesaurus nearby, and let others hear your heart beat. Most of all, have fun!
Also, try to understand the build of a sonnet. Breaking it down to a science might make the project seem less intimidating. A sonnet is written in an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme. The first three stanzas are quatrains, which is a poem of four lines, and it ends with a rhyming couplet. Each line must have ten syllables, and the whole poem is written in iambic pentameter. This form of writing can be difficult at first, but it's easier if you think of it as a heart beat on paper. Every other syllable is emphasized, so just take a minute to feel a steady beat in your mind before you put pen to paper.
Finally, remember that sonnets are supposed to express how you feel. Often times, they are used to express love, passion, or desire, such as in Shakespeare's sonnet 18, "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?" However, any emotion can be built upon through this form of writing. Choose a topic that has some sort of emotional value to you, be it good or bad, and let your feelings flow. You might start by writing a brief outline explaining your feelings and what order you want them to be displayed in. Just start simple, and then spice it up later. Keep a thesaurus nearby, and let others hear your heart beat. Most of all, have fun!
