Workshop Feedback
Giving constructive feedback enables the poet to produce a final draft. Things to consider:
– What do you like about this poem?
– Describe parts of poem that work really well. (Consider imagery, originality, rhythm, title, language use)
– Technical matters – have you any advice re. line lengths, stanza/line breaks, suitability of form, consistency etc?
– Are there any areas that are a little unclear, or could be tightened up?
Making sure that your critique is constructive not only benefits another poet but also helps us to become more thoughtful readers. Treating other people’s work with the respect we’d like our own to receive is always a good starting point for making the feedback workshop a constructive exercise. Perhaps it’s also worth saying that steeping ourselves in contemporary poetry by read-read-reading gives us a sound basis on which to hone our critiquing skills, not only of others’ work but also our own.