How to make a sonnet

1. How to make a sonnet by Dr. Carter 1968 Saab Sonnet

2. First, get an idea: “Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by responsibilities, like I wear too many hats. That’s it: HATS!”

3. Then make a plan:

4. Then pick a rhyme scheme Petrarchan: ABBAABBACDDCEE Spenserian: ABABBCBCCDCDEE Shakespearean: ABABCDCDEFEFGG

5. Then write a quatrain When I was young I read a funny tale About a boy who had five hundred hats And under each another without fail (The author was obsessed with hats and cats).

6. Then write another one Another told of one who sold his hats Stacked up a dozen high upon his head He napped beneath a tree. Like acrobats Some monkeys stole his hats and with them played.

7. Then write the sestet So many hats and tails. Both these tales Caused me to think about my own headwear. Beneath my hats is there but one ‘real’ head? Or do I play a monkey’s part? Or care? I wear too many hats. Some wear too few. And monkeys in the trees, hats off to you!

8. Then type it up When I was young I read a funny tale About a boy who had five hundred hats And under each another without fail (The author was obsessed with hats and cats). Another told of one who sold his hats Stacked up a dozen high upon his head He napped beneath a tree. Like acrobats Some monkeys stole his hats and with them played. So many hats and tails. Both these tales Caused me to think about my own headwear. Beneath my hats is there but one ‘real’ head? Or do I play a monkey’s part? Or care? I wear too many hats. Some wear too few. And monkeys in the trees, hats off to you! (but remember to double space)

9. Then mark up a copy(triple space works well for this) When I was young I read a funny tale About a boy who had five hundred hats And under each another without fail (The author was obsessed with hats and cats). Another told of one who sold his hats Stacked up a dozen high upon his head (but do all 14 lines, of course)

10. And turn both copies in And you’re done! Good job!