How to include the text of a poem when you upload new audio or video

You can add the text of your poem to the Description field when you upload your new audio or video. 
The Description field (below) is the second box in Step 1 of your Upload. Also use basic HTML for styling (not required).

Step 1 of Upload Process:

Adding the text of a poem to existing audio or video

If you want to add the text of your poem to an existing audio/video performance, you will need to edit the audio or the video that you uploaded.  To do that:

1. Login
   
   
2. Select the audio/video to which you want to add the text. To find your video easily, click on “Your Videos” on the yellow menu or click here.
   
    
    
3. Click on the Pencil icon next to the title to edit and add a picture thumbail to replace the blank black image.
   
    

        You will be taken to the Upload Video screen again, where you can change the Description to include the text of your poem.

       

        You can also add or change your thumbnail so your audio appears with a picture.

       

4. When you’re done, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Update button.

Creating an audio or video performance of your text poem

If you have a text poem but no audio or video:

1. Record yourself reciting your poem.  There are many free or inexpensive tools you can use that will not only let you record but also edit the subsequent audio files.  One of our favorite tools is Audacity. Audacity is a FREE digital audio editor and recording application that works on multiple operating systems, including both Windows and Mac OS X.

         View the documentation here.                Download Audacity here.

More information about other sound recording software for Windows can be found here.

2. With a few images and audio (or music), you can create a movie of your poem. One of the tools we have used for creating videos is Animoto.com.  On their site, Animoto lets you create 30-second videos for free or full-length videos for a modest price (currently $3 each or $30/year).

All you have to do is:

1. Provide the images – Use any photos you own, freely usable media files from archives like Wikimedia, or even jpegs of the text of your poem,
2. Provide the audio – Use the recording you created above or freely available music from Wikimedia or Animoto’s own archive, and
3. Click on Create Video. Animoto will automatically create your movie, suitable for sharing or embedding or even downloading!

Do you know of other easy, budget-friendly ways to make audio or video? Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Creating a Group for all your poems

You can create your own group on the site, and post the texts of your poems as comments.  See our example by clicking here.   Note, however, that since these poems will exist outside the main database of poems, your poem texts won’t be searchable.  However, the title of your group will be.

To create a new group:

1. Login
2. Click on “Create New Group,” the last item in the yellow menu bar, or click here.

*PoetrySpeaks.com and Sourcebooks respect copyright and permissions.  Please make sure you own or have permission to use any of the audio and video that you upload.  See our Terms of Use for our complete policy.