Thinking Like a Poetry Editor:  How to Be
Your Own Best Critic
(“The Ossmann Method” Poetry Workshop - Crash Course)

Instructor: April Ossmann (author of Anxious Music, Four Way Books, 2007, writing and publishing consultant, and former Executive Director of Alice James Books)

The Writer's Center
58 North Main Street, White River Junction, Vermont
 
6:00pm - 8:30pm, Friday, July 23rd
6:00pm - 8:30pm, Monday, August 9th
 
$50 (each workshop)

Learn how to think like a poetry editor!  In this workshop we’ll turn the usual workshop model on its head and not only allow the poet being critiqued to speak, but to speak first and critique their own poem, discussing correlations between the criticisms s/he has for other participants’ poems and her/his own before group discussion begins. This will offer a taste of what it means to be both poet and poetry editor, a position in which it becomes easier to objectively assess your own work; to spot dull vs. energetic syntax, generic vs. original imagery and other strengths and weaknesses you may have overlooked. It also empowers the poet in the process, and engenders an unusually positive and congenial workshop atmosphere. Participants will receive written editorial suggestions for two poems from the instructor. We will address one or both poems in the class (depending on time constraints/number of participants). Participants will receive written editorial suggestions for both poems from the instructor.

Pre-registration required; minimum enrollment 6, maximum, 8.

Info: (802)333-9597 or aprilossmann@hotmail.com

Payment & Registration

Advance registrastion is required, and full tuition is due no later than ten days in advance of the workshop date ($50).

I accept checks or money orders.

Refunds
No refunds for registered participants, but I will send edited copies of the two poems submitted for single session workshops to the canceling participant.

Testimonials
"Thank you for your words about my poems. I must tell you that Saturday had such an impact on me, that I'm ‘seeing’ them and ‘working’ on them as per the critiquing discussion—word choices, deletions, etc. This hasn't happened to me before as the result of any workshop...I've always thought of this as incubation, but this after-effect is purposeful and focused. It is excellent discipline before hitting the keyboard— or putting pen to paper. Thank you again!"  
                                                                                         —Peggy Sapphire