Blackout poetry is a form of creative expression that involves taking an existing text, often a printed page from a book, newspaper, or magazine, and selectively blacking out or covering up words and phrases to create a new poem or piece of art. The words that remain visible after the blackout process are used to form a poem or a meaningful statement.

There are no strict rules when it comes to creating blackout poetry, as it is a highly flexible and creative form of expression. However, there are some guidelines and tips that can help you get started and create more engaging blackout poems:

Basic Rules to Blackout poetry

1. Choose Your Source Text:

 Select a source text that resonates with you or that you find interesting. It can be a page from a book, a magazine article, a newspaper, or any other written material.

2. Read the Text:

 Read through the source text carefully to get a sense of its content and identify words or phrases that stand out to you or that you can work with.

3. Select Words and Phrases:

 Choose the words and phrases that you want to include in your poem. These should be the ones that create meaning, emotion, or an interesting narrative when combined.

4. Blackout or Cover Words: 

Use a marker, pen, or any art supply to black out or cover the words and sections of the text that you don't want in your poem. Be creative with how you cover the words; you can use solid blocks, shapes, or patterns.

5. Create Your Poem: 

Arrange the remaining visible words into a poem or a statement that conveys your intended message or artistic expression. You can play with the layout, line breaks, and the placement of the words to create a visually appealing composition.

6. Experiment and Revise:

 Don't be afraid to experiment. You can revise, tweak, or add additional artistic elements to your blackout poem, such as drawings or illustrations that complement the text.

7. Title Your Work: 

Give your blackout poem a title that adds context or provides insight into the poem's meaning.

8. Share Your Work: 

Consider sharing your blackout poetry with others through social media, art communities, or in-person exhibits if you're comfortable doing so.

Here are a few examples of blackout poetry:

Source Text: "In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."

Blackout Poem:

"In winter, within me an invincible summer."

Source Text: "In the garden, flowers bloom, painting the world with color."

Blackout Poem:

"Garden flowers bloom, painting the world."

Source Text: "A whisper of wind, secrets in the trees, nature's song."

Blackout Poem:

"Whisper of wind, secrets in nature's song."

Blackout poetry, as a creative form of expression, has gained popularity through the years, with several individuals becoming well-known for their work in this medium. Here are a few notable blackout poets:

Austin Kleon: 

Austin Kleon is a contemporary artist and author who is widely recognized for his blackout poetry. He's also the author of "Newspaper Blackout," a book that showcases his unique style of blackout poetry using newspaper articles.