What I Do
I have worked as a poetry manuscript consultant for Black Lawrence Press for the past few years during National Poetry Month, and now I would like to offer this service on my own. My practice involves close readings and commentary of poems and groups of poems all the way up to full-length manuscripts. In making my comments, I look for poetic opportunities and offer suggestions to help you align your expressive means with your intended aims. Usually, I like to work in batches, returning poems with my comments and suggestions and doing follow-up, answering questions and clarifying points you may have. In the process, a full-length manuscript may take several weeks of blue-pencil work and communication, followed by general observations about subject approach, style, diction, imagery, and sequencing. Writing poems means managing lots of material. Only a few poets can bring off the synoptic feat of seeing everything that’s going on in the poem and acting accordingly. A second pair of eyes and ears can mean the difference between an unintended shortfall and a successful performance. My objective is to point you in a direction where you can realize the best work of which you are capable.
I have worked as a poetry manuscript consultant for Black Lawrence Press for the past few years during National Poetry Month, and now I would like to offer this service on my own. My practice involves close readings and commentary of poems and groups of poems all the way up to full-length manuscripts. In making my comments, I look for poetic opportunities and offer suggestions to help you align your expressive means with your intended aims. Usually, I like to work in batches, returning poems with my comments and suggestions and doing follow-up, answering questions and clarifying points you may have. In the process, a full-length manuscript may take several weeks of blue-pencil work and communication, followed by general observations about subject approach, style, diction, imagery, and sequencing. Writing poems means managing lots of material. Only a few poets can bring off the synoptic feat of seeing everything that’s going on in the poem and acting accordingly. A second pair of eyes and ears can mean the difference between an unintended shortfall and a successful performance. My objective is to point you in a direction where you can realize the best work of which you are capable.