How to Write a Haiku
A practical process for writing a haiku from something you've actually noticed — not a template to fill in.
Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated August 4, 2026
1. Start with observation
Haiku begins with something specific you noticed — not a general idea. Not "autumn is beautiful," but the particular way one leaf let go of a branch while you were waiting at a crosswalk. The more specific and sensory the starting detail, the easier the rest of the process becomes.
Ask yourself: what did I actually see, hear, smell, or feel in that moment — not what did it mean?
2. Cut the explanation
A first draft often states the feeling directly: "the sunset was beautiful and made me feel peaceful." Cut that. Replace it with the detail that produced the feeling — the color of the light on a specific object, a sound, a smell. Let the image carry the emotion instead of naming it.
3. Find the cut
Most strong haiku have two parts: a longer observation and a shorter, contrasting or complementary image, separated by a pause. In English, this is usually marked with a dash, comma, or simply the line break itself. Try splitting your poem into "the scene" and "the detail that stands out from it," and see where a natural pause falls. More on this in What Is Kireji? and Juxtaposition in Haiku.
4. Count and trim
Only now — once the image and the cut are in place — worry about syllables. If you're writing for a classroom assignment, trim or expand each line toward 5-7-5. If you're writing in the modern tradition, aim for brevity generally rather than an exact count. Either way, run it through the Haiku Checker to see the line-by-line breakdown and catch anything you missed.
Worked example
A first draft that states the feeling directly:
Draft
I am so amazed the ocean is beautiful I love the sunset
Every line here names a reaction ("amazed," "beautiful," "love") instead of describing anything the writer actually saw. Revised to show the specific detail instead:
Revised
low tide, the gulls line footprints filling up with foam one shell left behind
Same beach, same evening — but now the reader sees the tide, the gulls, the foam filling footprints, and one shell, and can arrive at the feeling on their own.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pick the syllable count first?
No — start with the image. Fitting a specific syllable count is the last step, not the first. Trying to hit 5-7-5 before you know what you're describing usually produces padded, awkward lines.
What if my haiku doesn't have a season word?
That's fine, especially outside a classroom setting. A seasonal reference is a traditional strength, not a strict requirement — see What Is Kigo? for more.
How do I know if I'm 'telling' instead of 'showing'?
Look for feeling words — sad, happy, beautiful, amazing. If you can point to the image that made you feel that way and describe the image instead of the feeling, you're showing.