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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 philosophy for presenting the Albany Poetry Workshop is primarily so that you may ask your 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 now offer extensive criticisms and editing of your works-in-progress.

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Your poetry manuscript consultation includes:

• A detailed line-by-line discussion of your current draft.
  
  
• Suggestions for revisions of syntax, diction, line breaks, and imagery.
  
  
• A 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.
  
  
• If you are seeking publication, I might be able to suggest appropriate magazines or E-zines for your work.
  

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If you would like a manuscript critique, please follow these steps:

• Select three poems on any topic, form, or style and e-mail them to me.
  
  
• Mail me your check for $75.
  
  
• When your payment arrives, I will write critiques and send them to you in email.
  
  
• Mail your check to:

Scott Reid
P.O. Box 7634
Berkeley, CA
94707-0634
USA

I also edit chapbooks, book-length manuscripts and business writing. Contact me for a quote.

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Here is a sample critique which I recently gave to a friend.

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These are some authors to whom I have given recent critiques. Please feel free to contact them for a reference.

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, was the case my book should reach the public, 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. Best regards,

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,

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My thanks to those who have taught me:

• Karl Shapiro
• Sandra Gilbert
• Alan Williamson

Thanks also to 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

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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
  
  

Books of Poetry (in no order of preference)

• 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, Garrett Hongo, ed.
• Perdido by Chase Twichell
• Above the River The Complete Poems by James Wright
• Neon Vernacular by Yusef Komunyakaa

Poetry Journals (in no order of preference)

• Antaeus, The Final Issue
• Zyzzyva, Winter 1994
• Hand to Mouth, 1994
• Story, Autumn 1994
• Gilmmer Train, Winter 1995
• Mockingbird, Winter 1994-5

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Anonymous in-class teaching evaluations I have received from students of the Albany Adult School Poetry Workshop:

"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 such 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."

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Submit your work

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