Format library
379 writing formats in 16 categories, from the BAPC format catalog. Each format is a template on one of 9 shared writing views: it sets up your outline, the look of the page and the checks that apply.
All categoriesBooks, Fiction & Creative Prose (43)Poetry, Verse & Literary Arts (68)Nonfiction, Memoir & Life Writing (16)Film, Television & Cinematic Media (26)Theater, Stage & Live Performance (31)Music, Audio & Spoken Word (19)Interactive, Narrative Design & Games (19)Worldbuilding & Pre-Writing (12)Journalism, Editorial & Media (18)Business & Professional (21)Marketing & Copywriting (16)Academic, Scientific & Educational (21)Technical Documentation (21)Legal, Civic & Institutional (20)Faith, Ceremony & Life Events (13)Everyday & Digital Writing (15)
68 formats
BAPC-044Poetry (Free Verse)
Global / General · AnyNo fixed meter or rhymeBAPC-045Spoken Word / Slam Poetry Script
Global / General · 3 min typical (slam)Performance-driven, rhythmBAPC-046Structured Poetry (Sonnet, Villanelle, Haiku, Ghazal, Sestina)
Global / General · FixedForm-specific meter/rhymeBAPC-047Epic / Narrative Poetry
Global / General · LongNarrative in verseBAPC-048Lyric Prose / Vignette
Global / General · ShortImage-driven proseBAPC-049Fable / Parable / Allegory
Global / General · ShortMoral or symbolic storyBAPC-050Folktale / Myth / Legend Adaptation
Global / General · VariableTraditional oral sourceBAPC-051Tanka
Japan · 5 lines5-7-5-7-7 syllablesBAPC-052Renga / Renku
Japan · Linked stanzasCollaborative alternating 5-7-5 / 7-7BAPC-053Haibun
Japan · ShortProse passage + haikuBAPC-054Senryū
Japan · 3 lines5-7-5; human foibles, humorBAPC-055Jisei (Death Poem)
Japan · ShortHaiku/tanka on facing deathBAPC-056Sijo
Korea · 3 lines~14–16 syllables per line; twist in line 3BAPC-057Lüshi (Regulated Verse)
China · 8 linesTonal pattern, parallel middle coupletsBAPC-058Jueju (Quatrain)
China · 4 lines5 or 7 characters per lineBAPC-059Ci (Song Lyric)
China (Song dynasty) · VariableWritten to fixed tune patternsBAPC-060Fu (Rhapsody)
China · LongRhymed descriptive prose-poetryBAPC-061Rubāʿī
Persia · 4 linesAABA rhymeBAPC-062Qasida
Arabic / Persian · 15–100+ linesMonorhyme; prelude, journey, praiseBAPC-063Nazm
Urdu · VariableUnified theme, structured or freeBAPC-064Marsiya
Urdu / Persian · LongElegy, six-line stanzasBAPC-065Masnavi
Persian · LongRhyming coupletsBAPC-066Doha
India (Hindi) · 2 lines13+11 matra meterBAPC-067Abhang
India (Marathi) · ShortDevotional, sungBAPC-068Vachana
India (Kannada) · ShortDevotional free prose-poemBAPC-069Sangam Akam / Puram
India (Tamil) · Short–mediumInner (love) vs. outer (war/public) landscapesBAPC-070Landay
Afghanistan (Pashto) · 2 lines9 + 13 syllablesBAPC-071Nabati Poetry
Arabian Gulf · VariableVernacular Arabic, oralBAPC-072Zajal
Levant · VariableVernacular, improvised, often duelingBAPC-073Muwashshah
Al-Andalus · StrophicEnds with vernacular kharjaBAPC-074Pantun
Malay world · 4 linesABAB; first couplet image, second meaningBAPC-075Syair
Malay world · 4-line stanzasAAAA, narrativeBAPC-076Tanaga
Philippines · 4 lines7 syllables each, monorhymeBAPC-077Kakawin
Java / Bali · LongOld Javanese, Sanskrit metersBAPC-078Mele / Oli Chant
Hawaiʻi · VariableChanted text; oli unaccompaniedBAPC-079Waiata
Aotearoa (Māori) · VariableSung poetryBAPC-080Haka Text
Aotearoa (Māori) · ShortRhythmic call-and-response chantBAPC-081Izibongo (Praise Poetry)
Southern Africa (Zulu/Xhosa) · VariablePraise names, epithetsBAPC-082Oríkì
Nigeria (Yoruba) · VariableAttributive praise poetryBAPC-083Griot / Jeli Epic
West Africa (Mande) · LongOral epic with music, genealogyBAPC-084Calypso / Kaiso Lyric
Trinidad & Tobago · Song lengthTopical satire, verse/chorusBAPC-085Dub Poetry
Jamaica · PerformanceSpoken over reggae rhythmBAPC-086Blues Lyric
USA (African American) · Song lengthAAB 12-bar stanzaBAPC-087Oral Toast
USA (African American) · LongRhymed narrative performanceBAPC-088Rondeau
France · 13–15 linesTwo rhymes + refrainBAPC-089Triolet
France · 8 linesABaAabAB refrainsBAPC-090Ballade
France · 28 linesThree stanzas + envoi, refrainBAPC-091Terza Rima
Italy · AnyABA BCB interlocking tercetsBAPC-092Ottava Rima
Italy · 8-line stanzasABABABCCBAPC-093Pindaric Ode
Greece · LongStrophe, antistrophe, epodeBAPC-094Elegy
Global / General · VariableLament for the deadBAPC-095Eclogue / Pastoral
Greece / Rome · VariableRural dialogueBAPC-096Ballad
British Isles / global · VariableQuatrains, narrative, refrainBAPC-097Limerick
England / Ireland · 5 linesAABBA, anapesticBAPC-098Englyn
Wales · 3–4 linesCynghanedd sound patterningBAPC-099Skaldic Verse
Norse · StanzasKennings, internal rhymeBAPC-100Runo (Kalevala Meter)
Finland / Karelia · LongTrochaic tetrameter, alliterationBAPC-101Bylina
Russia · LongOral heroic epicBAPC-102Décima / Espinela
Spain / Latin America · 10 linesABBAACCDDC octosyllablesBAPC-103Corrido
Mexico · Song lengthNarrative ballad, often news/heroesBAPC-104Payada
Argentina / Uruguay · ImprovisedDueling improvised décimasBAPC-105Fado Lyric
Portugal · Song lengthSaudade themes, quatrainsBAPC-106Golden Shovel
USA (contemporary) · VariableLine-end words borrowed from a source lineBAPC-107Bop
USA (contemporary) · 3 stanzasProblem, development, resolution + refrainBAPC-108Prose Poem
Global / General · ShortPoetic prose, no line breaksBAPC-109Erasure / Found Poem
Global / General · VariableBuilt from existing textBAPC-110Concrete / Shape Poem
Global / General · VariableVisual layout is meaningBAPC-111Cinquain
USA · 5 lines2-4-6-8-2 syllables