As to his skill, Akhtar was quite innovative and introduced new modes in Urdu poetry. At such a green age, he wrote mature and inspiring poetry. He was called شاعرِ رومان (the poet of romance). His best-known collections of poetry include "Akhtaristan", "Nigarshat-e-Akhtar", "Lala-e-toor", "Tayyur-e-Aawara", "Naghma-e-Haram", "Subh-e bahaar", and "Shahnaz". He had been editor for the literary magazines "Intikhab", "Bahaaristan", "Khyaalistan", and "Romaan" from 1923 to 1939. He also wrote columns for daily newspapers "Hamdard" and Zamindar of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar and Maulana Zafar Ali Khan respectively. He introduced many new writers in his magazines, including Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi and Qudratullah Shahab (both are well-known Urdu writers). "Chandra wati", the first "afsana" (short story) of Qudratullah Shahab, was published in "Romaan" (Magazine of Akhtar Sheerani).