Poetry Manuscript Consultation
Help Is Just a Mouse Click Away
Looking for a better title? Having trouble with the ending of your poem? Would the rhythms in your writing sound better in a revised draft? How could metaphor sharpen up your writing? At one time or other, most of us have had to ask for a second opinion on writing projects with which we are struggling. The raison d'être behind the Albany Poetry Workshop is to allow you to ask fellow writers and readers to comment on your work. If you have found that the comments on your poems from APW readers are either incomplete or unsatisfactory, I may be able to help. Your poetry manuscript consultation includes:- Detailed line-by-line discussion of your current draft.
- Suggestions for revisions of syntax, diction, line breaks, and imagery.
- Personalized poetry reading list designed to help you develop your voice and style.
- One follow-up consultation in which you may request further discussion of any of my suggestions.
- Suggestions for appropriate magazines or e-zines to submit your work.
If you would like a manuscript critique, please contact: apwpoet (at) gmail (dot) com
Select three poems on any topic, form, or style.
I also edit chapbooks, book-length manuscripts, and business proposals. Contact me for a quote.
Here is a sample critique which I recently gave to a friend.
Here are a few poets to whom I have given recent critiques. For a reference, contact me and I will put you in touch. Paula Grenside I could but express my uttermost satisfaction. You did it great with my mss. I may not agree on some points, but most of your suggestions and comments are constructive and stimulating. I repeat, were the case my book should reach the public, a great part of the merit will be yours. You worked hard, in depth, and extensively. You gave much more than you asked for. Believe me. Thank you again, Scott. C. Lawry Brown Thank you for your honesty and terse criticism. It will take some time for me to ingest all that you have said. I appreciate your candor ... Thank you for your help, it is greatly appreciated. Sincerely,
My thanks to those who have taught me:
- Karl Shapiro
- Sandra Gilbert
- Alan Williamson
Teachers with whom I have worked at writers' conferences:
- Galway Kinnell
- Bob Hass
- Brenda Hillman
- Sharon Olds
- Garrett Hongo
- Philip Levine
- William Matthews
- Carolyn Kizer
- Sandra McPherson
- Heather McHugh
Some bedside reading:
Criticism and Poetics- The Poetics of the New American Poetry, Donald Allen & Warren Tallman, eds., Grove Press, New York, 1973
- The Poetic Image, The Creative Power of the Visual World, C. Day Lewis, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc., Los Angeles, 1984
- Poetic Meter & Poetic Form, Paul Fussell, Random House, New York, 1979
- Quilting Poems 1987-1990 by Lucille Clifton
- Death Tractates by Brenda Hillman
- 3 Books by Galway Kinnell
- Selected Poems 1969-1981 by Richard Shelton
- New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver
- The Open Boat, Poems from Asian America, ed. Garrett Hongo
- Perdido by Chase Twichell
- Above the River, The Complete Poems by James Wright
- Neon Vernacular by Yusef Komunyakaa
- Antaeus, The Final Issue
- Zyzzyva, Winter 1994
- Hand to Mouth, 1994
- Story, Autumn 1994
- Gilmmer Train, Winter 1995
- Mockingbird, Winter 1994-5
Teaching evaluations from APW students
"Strong organization. Fun. Covered many subjects. Excellent time management. Good exercises. Do an Internet project." "Teacher continues to inspire us with a love of poetry & writing poetry with a broad knowledge of poetry and contemporary poets." "Encouraged my writing; helped my writing a lot. Tried to cover too much." "Nice class interaction and lively interchange with instructor." "Instructor articulate, passionate, and knowledgeable. How about doing a review of all the types of love poems (Bishop, Van Duyn, Merrill, Basho, Lowell, Shakespeare)?" "Strong points: Feedback from the instructor. Analysis & discussion." "Wish instructor would hand back edited poems at end of course."
Submit your work to apwpoet (at) gmail (dot) com