September 2016

a fine line The magazine of the New Zealand Poetry Society ISSN 1177-6544 (Print) ISSN 1178-3931 (online) Te Hunga Tito Ruri o Aotearoa September 2016 Feature Article Become a Better Poet: 6 Tips for Starting and Running a Poetry Critique Group New Zealand Poetry Society Te Hunga Tito Ruri o Aotearoa Karen Paul Holmes *First appeared as a blog post for The Exit 271 Studio (http://www.exit271.com), New Zealand Poetry Society August 2016 PO Box 5283 Lambton Quay Wellington 6012 Writers often write in a vacuum. I used to. I broke free from my isolation six Patrons years ago when I started the Side Door Poets. And here’s the thing I discovered: Dame Fiona Kidman, Vincent O’Sullivan since I’ve been part of this trusted group of peers who critique my work and encourage me, I’m a better poet. Acting President Laurice Gilbert Here are some well-tested tips on starting your own critique group, based on my experience: email: [email protected] Find a venue: We meet at a community room in my condo complex, centrally www.poetrysociety.org.nz located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA (a city of five million). The room is free, and I can reserve it. Before this, we met at a library, which often have free meeting FACEBOOK: NewZealandPoetrySociety rooms that can be reserved (check their websites or call). TWITTER: @NZPS When we began with three people, we would meet at a restaurant, but it was noisy, there was no guarantee we could get a table and, once our group grew, it became impractical. Other ideas might be rooms at universities, community WELLINGTON MEETINGS centres, churches, or meeting at someone’s house. When I first started with a group Currently on hold. of strangers, I wasn’t comfortable having it at home, but now I would be. I also sometimes attend a writing group when I spend time in the mountains, two hours from my home. Even though it’s a small town, about 10 people regularly attend — some drive quite a distance to get there. So a need definitely exists for this kind of opportunity to connect in more rural areas. Quotations of the Month Advertise: Make your group easy to find! I list mine with the Atlanta Writers In a sea of information, poetry is an Club and the Georgia Poetry Society. You could promote yours through the New anchor. Zealand Poetry Society, and on Facebook and LinkedIn. —Christina Patterson, I have invited poets I met and liked while attending writing workshops. You The Guardian could also contact English teachers — several of the Side Doors teach in high schools or universities. Sometimes it helps to say it through I recommend publicising a regular meeting day and time. Now that my group a seashell. The sound of it washed in and I are more informal and have become friends, we’re flexible with our schedule waves, loud yet silent, trailing in and but still meet monthly. out. —Jennifer S. Cheng, Select members: When someone wants to join the Side Door Poets, I ask for a Black Warrior Review few poems to be sure that the poet is serious about craft. I aim for a mix of experience and backgrounds because I know that diversity will help everyone become better poets. © New Zealand Poetry Society / September 2016 / Editor: Ivy Alvarez / [email protected] / 1 I have had only one problem. When we were small and The group has had remarkable success. Among our less selective, one woman ruined our group dynamic. She members, our books have been published by reputable talked too much and did not know much about craft. poetry presses; poems included in anthologies — such as Because she was a needy person, I thought it would be Stone, River, Sky: An Anthology of Georgia Poets mean to kick her out. But members convinced me it was (Negative Capability Press, 2015) — and nominated for unfair to everyone else to keep her. That did it! I politely the Pushcart Prize (a significant literary prize in the US); asked her to find another group or take a class, and I gave and we have won awards. her resources. She sent an angry email, but that was that. I can honestly say each Side Door Poet values the As the leader of a critique group, sometimes you will have group professionally and personally. We have grown and to make tough choices. no longer even keep a waiting list of people wanting to I also chose to keep the group adults-only when I had join — we have little turnover in membership. an inquiry from a teenager, but that could be an individual Members often thank me for keeping the group going, choice. but I thank them for making it a mutually beneficial Determine format: The Side Door Poets only critique community. We know our publishing successes are in big poetry and can effectively review a maximum of ten part due to the challenges and encouragement we get from poems in a two-hour period. I ask members to RSVP for each other. I’ve had a book published and am sending out the meeting, so we know how many plan to come. We another manuscript — something I couldn’t have done don’t send poems ahead of time; instead, we bring copies without my group’s support. for everyone. I randomly shuffle to determine the order. I encourage you to join a group or start one if there One poet reads while the rest follow along. We take a aren’t any in your area. You may have to start small but, minute to digest and jot notes, and then we discuss. as the energy of the group develops, it will draw the right Though it’s often recommended that the poet not people to it. speak, we don’t enforce this rule. The poet is quiet for a Writing shouldn’t be lonely — sharing your work while but then can ask and answer questions. We all feel takes it to a new level. Your poetry will improve, as will the dialogue is useful. Rather than discussing typos or your confidence. grammar, we mark them on the paper, unless it’s a tricky situation worth talking about. I don’t set a timer — there’s usually a natural pause in the discussion, and we move on, From the Editor returning our copies to the poet with our names on them, By Ivy Alvarez in case the poet has a question later. I do know of mixed-genre groups, so that’s an option, For National Poetry Day 2016, I attended a poetry especially if you’re having a hard time finding enough reading at a bookshop in Mt Eden, Auckland. About 80 members. For prose, you’ll have to limit the number of people gradually appeared in a room fit for 50. Still, there words to critique in one session for each writer, and it’s was something thrilling about the sheer number of people helpful to email the piece to members before the meeting. compacted in a small space, willing to sacrifice personal Set the mood: In the beginning, I emphasised that comfort to hear the news only poetry can deliver. critiques needed to be kind but useful. No tearing a poem What was your National Poetry Day experience like? apart viciously but also no namby-pamby “what a lovely During National Poetry Month in the States, a Boston poem” comments. Our purpose is to help each other be non-profit group, Mass Poetry, used clear, waterproof better poets. We say what we like, and we say (kindly, paint to stencil lines of poetry on pavements, lines that firmly) what could be improved. We don’t re-write the can only be read when it rained. Sing Lit Station in poet’s poem but may make wording suggestions. Singapore has plans to bring its streets to life with poetry. I discourage defensiveness on the poet’s part. We’re an Why not us? We have enough rain. Might we do the same amiable group. Sure, sometimes one of us gets on in Aotearoa next year? another’s nerves or says something someone doesn’t like, I would love to see your Letters to the Editor, book but generally, we trust each other and get along. If reviews (500 words max), articles about writing and someone takes the discussion off-track, one of us gently poetry (750 words min), and no more than 4 poems from brings us back on topic. members (40 lines max) for the November edition of a When we meet at night, some people bring wine and fine line. Email [email protected], due 10 Oct. munchies. On a Saturday morning, I bring coffee and tea. Selected work will receive book tokens. Please view We don’t have a formal sign-up for refreshments. our guidelines on the website. Support each other: The Side Door Poets became A warm thank you to Anna Hudson for her stalwart friends quickly because we shared our intimate stories and patience, and the NZPS Committee for their guidance as I vulnerabilities via poetry. We’ve had Christmas parties put together this edition of a fine line, brimming with and hosted readings for each other. We buy each other’s thought-provoking articles, insightful reviews and books, write recommendations and blurbs for each other, evocative poetry. I am especially delighted to publish and share our publishing acceptances — and rejections. Kerrin P. Sharpe, our Featured Poet this month. (We have a private Facebook page to facilitate sharing news).

Load more