by Alistair ScottHaiku are modest little poems. You are not going to make your reputation or fortune with them. But, don't dismiss them as something school kids write. They have other benefits. Composing haiku is excellent practice in close observation, clear thinking and tight writing - all essential skills for the good writer.
Traditionally haiku are three-line poems, the first and last lines containing 5 syllables, and the middle line with 7. There is no need for rhyme or punctuation, and some of the more minimalist 'haijin' (haiku writers) even consider a title superfluous. Furthermore, this traditional 5-7-5 form is no longer considered sacrosanct. So, what could be more easy than writing haiku?
The very short answer is: don't write at all unless you have to. The short answer is: in numerous different ways. A somewhat longer answer is: find the way that best suits you - that comes only from experience. 
