Reading some is probably a good start. I like modern authors, for example 中原中也. If you end up checking them out, I'd recommend looking for 朗読 (with JP subtitles/text) instead of trying to read them yourself (at least for now). Like this for example: https://aozoraroudoku.jp/voice...
I also like watching lessons aimed at (native) students (middle/high school), but you need pretty good Japanese for those. The AI dub is a crime against humanity...
I've never really tried writing tanka. Having more "space" seems nice. I can try one right now, don't judge my sh***y writing too much
夢む月
夜に目覚める
鬼人の血
一輪の花
赤く染めゆく
鬼人 (きじん) | 夢む (ゆめむ)
@『!!☆˙⋆✮「 ジョースター」˙⋆✮☆!!』A mora is a unit of sound: single kana like あ、い、う、ん are all 1 mora. Pairs like きょ、みょ、しょ count as 1 mora. ー counts as 1 mora. small っ also counts as 1. きょう = 2, がっこう = 4, etc.
Just to clarify, 中原中也 is "modern" in the early 昭和 sense, not current day modern. At the time 七五調 was still very popular, later shifting more towards 自由詩.
So if you look at a few lines: 今日も小雪の (7) 降りかかる (5) | いたいたしくも (7) 怖気づき (5) | 汚れつちまつた (8) 悲しみに (5) ← this line being 8-5 for emphasis.
By the way, you're meant to read it 汚れっちまった, because small っ wasn't common back then. I think it was just getting introduced, but don't quote me on that.
