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Useful Resources : Websites for Poets and Writers : Essays on Writing
AlienFlower: Quick Guidelines for a Poetry Critique
How to make suggestions while sparing feelings, keep workshops on track. We also enjoyed Richard Brodie's Haiku Anagrams.
| | American Life in Poetry
Weekly column by former US poet laureate Ted Kooser presents contemporary American poems and a short discussion of the techniques that make them effective. This series is designed to be reprinted for free by newspapers and online periodicals (with attribution), in order to create a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. You may also sign up for free weekly emails. Sponsored by The Poetry Foundation and the Library of Congress.
| | An ABC of Translating Poetry, an essay by Willis Barnstone
Master poet Willis Barnstone explores the act of translation, "a friendship between poets...a mystical union between them based on love and art. As in ordinary religious mysticism, the problem of ineffability exists: how do you find words to say the unsayable?" Barnstone singles out for praise the translations of Mary Herbert, Hölderlin, Pasternak, Rilke, Valéry, Lowell, Moore, Pound, Quasimodo, and Bishop.
| | An Economy of Talents
In this essay from Iota Magazine, Paul Maddern (co-winner of the 2009 Templar Poetry Pamphlet and Collection Competition) surveys the history of poetry chapbook publishing and its current status in the UK. The article includes a list of publishers seeking submissions.
| | An Honest Answer by Ginger Andrews, reviewed by
Dr. Joseph S. Salemi
Poet and classical scholar Joseph Salemi (see bio and
poems) probes the limitations of contemporary free-
verse confessional poetry.
| | Anatomy of a Poetry Contest
See how a judge weighs poems in this essay by Virgil Suarez. Mr. Suarez, an accomplished poet in his own right, has judged over a dozen contests. "It keeps me in touch with the poetry that is being written at the moment.... Nothing better to keep the blood pumping."
| | Bad Poets, a short essay by Randall Jarrell
Mr. Jarrell (1914-1965) was a leading American poet and critic. These are his blunt yet compassionate reflections on judging badly written poetry.
| | Bath Short Story Award Blog
The website of this British contest for short fiction includes the "Get Writing" blog which features short craft essays and writing prompts.
| | Boston Comment
Hard-hitting essays on the state of contemporary poetry, by poet and critic Joan Houlihan. Among her targets: incoherent experimental poetry, free verse that sounds like prose, and famous names who are past their prime. Houlihan's Algonkian Poetry Workshops are worthwhile online classes for more advanced poets who have outgrown the feedback available from most online forums and writing schools. She is also founding director of the Concord Poetry Center which offers conferences and workshops in Massachusetts.
| | Can Poetry Matter? an essay by Dana Gioia
Poetry is imprisoned in the cozy cells of academia and specialty publishers. Most people are oblivious to it. "The traditional machinery of transmission - the reliable reviewing, honest criticism, and selective anthologies - has broken down." It's time to unleash great poems again on the public. Here's how. Reprinted from The Atlantic Monthly.
| | Comstock Review: The Poet's Handbook
Detailed guidance for poets from the Comstock Writers' Group. Make your poetry submissions look professional. See poetry as an editor sees it. All poets should read this before actively submitting to contests and journals.
| | Daily s-Press
Dorothee Lang, editor of BluePrintReview, an English-language online literary journal based in Germany, began this blog in March 2010 to review new books of poetry and prose from small independent presses. The site looks beyond the usual university press prizewinners to showcase innovative writers and publishers.
| | Death to the Death of Poetry, an essay by Donald Hall
Poetry has been dying all its life. Newsweek just added its nail to the coffin ("Poetry Is Dead. Does Anybody Care?" 5/5/03). The doomsayers are dead wrong, writes Don Hall, but "no one wants to believe me."
| | Dispoet
Insightful blog about poetry and disability includes brief reviews and discussions of contemporary poets writing about the subject (Floyd Skloot, Jim Ferris and others), plus contests and resources.
| | Djelloul Marbrook
Award-winning poet and journalist's weblog features essays on contemporary poets, contextualized with reflections on politics and culture.
| | Does Poetry Matter? an essay by William Waltz
Prizewinning poet William Waltz investigates why there are more writers than readers of poetry. Today's highbrow poets, he ventures, should plumb their playful side. "Despite the messy state of affairs today, the poetry world is primed for (and maybe on the verge of) a roaring comeback. And, although many poets seem content to write poems that only connoisseurs and mothers could love, a growing populist movement seems bent on dragging poetry back into the mainstream."
| | Essay Daily
Curated by DIAGRAM editor Ander Monson, Essay Daily is a space for ongoing conversation about essays and essayists of note, contemporary and otherwise. They mostly publish critical/creative engagements with interesting essays (text and other), Q&As with essays or essayists, and reviews of essays, essay collections or book length essays, or literary journals that publish essays. Query before submitting.
| | Facing Altars: Poetry and Prayer
Poet and memoirist Mary Karr muses on the resemblance between poetry and prayer as "sacred speech" that eases the soul's isolation. Karr
also describes her recent conversion to Catholicism from a secular upbringing that made a religion out of art and literature. "People usually
(always?) come to church as they do to prayer and poetry—through suffering and terror."
| | Fiddler Crab Review
This website specializes in poetry chapbook reviews. Self-published and older collections are also eligible. Authors showcased on the site have included Lori Desrosiers, Susan Terris, John Surowiecki, and Douglas Goetsch.
| | FlashFiction.net
Updated daily, this site features short craft essays on writing and marketing your flash fiction.
| | From Page to Pixels: The Evolution of Online Journals
In this article from the May/June 2009 Poets & Writers Magazine, award-winning poet Sandra Beasley discusses the growing prestige of online publication and the advantages it offers for disseminating your work. Recommended journals include Blackbird, Coconut, and Drunken Boat.
| | Gently Read Literature
Daniel Casey's blog publishes essays and criticism of contemporary poetry and literary fiction. Recent articles include Harrison Solow on Anita Brookner; Karen Schubert on Mark Levine; and Leonard J. Cirino on US Poet Laureate Kay Ryan.
| | How to Write in 700 Easy Lessons
In this essay from The Atlantic's 2010 fiction issue, novelist Richard Bausch argues that writers' manuals are a poor substitute for honing one's aesthetic sense through immersion in great literature. "One doesn't write out of some intellectual plan or strategy; one writes from a kind of beautiful necessity born of the reading of thousands of good stories poems plays… One is deeply involved in literature, and thinks more of writing than of being a writer. It is not a stance."
| | Ingrid Wendt: "The Unknown Good in Our Enemies"
This essay honoring the poet William Stafford reflects on how literature can foster mutual understanding and empathy in order to break the cycle of violence. This article appeared in the April 2011 newsletter of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
| | Interviews with Practicing Writers by Erika Dreifus
Fiction writer Erika Dreifus publishes the Practicing Writer e-newsletter, a monthly roundup of markets, contests, and writing advice, in which these interviews first appeared. Featured authors include Kimiko Hahn, Tayari Jones, Ellen Meeropol, and Dinty W. Moore.
| | Jeff Goins, Writer
This literary blog features profound reflections on creativity and spirituality, along with more practical advice about good writing habits and marketing your work.
| | Kate Greenstreet's Poetry Interviews Blog
Poet Kate Greenstreet blogs at Every Other Day, where she's compiled an archive of over 100 interviews with contemporary poets about the road to first-book publication and how it changed their life (or not). Highlights include advice from Steve Fellner, author of 'Blind Date with Cavafy', on how the right title can help your manuscript get past the contest screeners.
| | Lemon Hound
Poet Sina Queyras runs this blog about the theory and practice of poetry criticism. Lemon Hound's "10 Questions for Reviewers" series interviews prominent poet-critics about their goals and techniques. The "How Poems Work" series features a poem by a prominent contemporary author, plus a critique by one of his or her peers.
| | On Making the Poetry Manuscript: Advice from Tupelo Press Editor Jeffrey Levine
Jeffrey Levine, editor of the prestigious independent publisher Tupelo Press, offers solid advice on collecting your poems into a coherent manuscript and presenting them to best advantage. An earlier version of this article initially appeared in the January 2007 issue of AWP Job List.
| | On the Idea of Order: Manuscript Advice from Tupelo Press Editor Jeffrey Levine
In this blog series, the editor of prestigious literary publisher Tupelo Press offers advice on the ordering and editing of a poetry manuscript.
| | Out in Print Queer Book Review
This blog reviews new works of poetry and prose, both literary and commercial, with GLBT authors and/or themes.
| | Philip Nikolayev: Interview
Insights on formal innovation, "self-subversion" and the growth of the artist, from the editor of the innovative annual journal Fulcrum. Nikolayev's book Monkey Time won the 2001 Verse Prize.
| | Poetic Asides by Robert Lee Brewer
Poetry blog on the Writer's Digest website features interviews with contemporary authors, writing prompts, advice on the craft, and introductions to exotic poetic forms.
| | Poetry and Politics, October 2003: A Conversation with William Pitt Root
Pulitzer-nominated poet William Pitt Root riffs on poetry, politics and moral courage in this interview with Daniela Gioseffi. Mr. Root is the author of "The Unbroken Diamond: Nightletter to the Mujahideen".
| | Poetry Debates & Manifestos
Thirty-one younger American poets take on some of the great debates and literary manifestos from the history of modern poetry. One of many stimulating compilations from the Academy of American Poets' National Poetry Almanac.
| | Poetry Magic
A large collection of articles on writing poetry, understanding poetry and getting published. Novice and advanced topics covered. Examples include modernist poetry, postmodernist poetry, sounds in poetry, performing your poem and chaos approaches to poetry analysis.
| | Poetry's Perilous Popularity
From Slate, A.O. Scott and Katha Pollitt probe the gap between 'official' poetry and poetry's stealth bestsellers, and the challenge of teaching classic work without scaring students away. "I think a lot more Americans read poetry than we think, just not necessarily the poets most admired by Helen Vendler and Harold Bloom."
| | Poets & Writers: A Frequent Winner's Advice
In this interview with Poets & Writers Magazine from January 2009, award-winning poet Cynthia Lowen offers tips for maximizing your success with writing contests.
| | Recovering the Lost Joy of Poetry Games
This essay by poet Marcus Goodyear from the magazine Books & Culture celebrates the playful spirit in poetry and contends that it can be a necessary leaven for poems that address difficult themes.
| | Rhyme or Reason - What Makes a Good Poem?
J. Paul Dyson, editor of FirstWriter magazine, discusses how to integrate rhyme more effectively into your poem and choose the right style for your subject. Too often, says Dyson, beginning poets focus solely on making the lines rhyme, at the expense of word choice and flow.
| | Silliman's Blog
Thoughtful reflections on contemporary poetry and poetics from award-winning poet and editor Ron Silliman.
| | Stages and Pages
Writer, editor, and theatre professional Francine L. Trevens reviews books, movies, and stage productions at her blog.
| | Ten Tips for Psychological Survival in Writing
Bruce Holland Rogers, author of Word Work: Surviving and Thriving as a Writer, has kindly allowed us to reprint his top 10 survival tips. Rogers' gentle advice will ease your heart and unblock your passages.
| | Terrible Minds
Fiction writer and "freelance penmonkey" Chuck Wendig delivers ballsy, bracing advice for writers at his entertaining and useful blog. Got writer's block? He'll tell your inner demons where to go and how to get there.
| | The Chapbook Review
The name of this monthly online journal is self-explanatory. In addition to reviews of new poetry and literary prose chapbooks, the site features critical essays and interviews with authors and publishers. Reviews display a lively voice and eclectic tastes.
| | The Fortunes of Formalism
Poet and critic David Yezzi makes the case for
mastery of verse forms and prosody as essential to the
education of a poet, and gives a historical perspective
on formalism's loss of status.
| | The Poetess in America, an essay by Annie Finch
A well-researched defense of poets who fell out of fashion with the rise of literary modernism. Finch, an acclaimed formalist poet, is critical of modern poetry's emphasis on originality and linguistic complexity. Room should be made for poetry that expresses a community's values in accessible and heartfelt language. Poetesses like Teasdale and Millay "offer a valuable strategy of renewal for poets in the twenty-first century, particularly for women poets who need a new way to connect with pre-twentieth century poetic traditions."
| | The Poetry Market Ezine
Free monthly ezine publishes contest listings, reviews of poetry books and chapbooks, and other news of interest to writers. Reviewers' guidelines: Reviews may not be a review of the reviewer's own poetry book or chapbook. Reviews may be up to 800 words or 1 to 1 1/2 pages. Shorter reviews are preferred. Reviews must include the name of the item reviewed, where to purchase, ISBN if applicable, and author contact info (of both the author of the item if applicable and the author of the review). Submit reviews in body of email to thepoetrymarket@yahoo.com. No attachments. Put "Poetry Review Submission" in the subject line. Include brief bio of 2-4 lines and cover letter. Submit 1-3 reviews at a time. Will consider reprints, but there is no payment for reprints. Pays $5 via paypal.com per review. No simultaneous submissions. Responds in 1-2 months.
| | Thresholds
The University of Chichester hosts this online literary forum on the art and craft of the short story. The forum provides members an opportunity to enter into academic and creatively-based discussions on a range of literary topics. The site also features exclusive, in-depth interviews with leading authors such as A.S. Byatt and Hanif Kureishi.
| | Vulgata Magazine
Online journal of poetry and prose published by St. Jerome Ministries, "a Catholic organization which seeks to promote the Faith through reasoned persuasion in apologetics, magisterial loyalty in content, and artful prose in presentation." Notable features include the as-yet-incomplete "Areopagus University", a series of essays on using archetypes to craft compelling fiction. Classical art and tongue-in-cheek archaic language contribute to the website's mood of pageantry and mystery.
| | Why Teachers Can't Read Poetry, an essay by John Kilgore
Despite countless classroom hours lavished on poetry, most students don't read it, quote it or understand it once they graduate. High school teachers have a lot to answer for. It's not that students hate poetry per se, what they really hate "is what we do to poetry: how we falsify and condescend to it, how we shrink from its rigor, duck its moral challenges, hide from its intelligence. They despise the way we substitute tame toothless pseudo-poems for the real thing, or turn real poems into pseudo-poems with our half-baked readings. If I am right, it follows that the time is ripe to launch a comprehensive counter-pedagogy, one that is authoritarian, teacher-centered, intimidating, madly analytical, abrasive, sneering, elitist and belletristic: all the qualities I have been trying to model here. I see no reason to wait for the research. Whatever we try, we can do no worse."
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