Mission Statement

If poetry is your language, the KWG Poetry Work Group is open to poets of all skill levels interested in improving their craft. Constructive criticism and encouragement is key to this process. More experienced poets mentor beginners and facilitate the group by providing a writing exercise for each meeting. 

Critique Notes

When critiquing:

1. Choose your words: avoid judgmental terms or digressing into personal disagreements with the message or perspective.
2.  Focus on use of language, imagery, emotions projected, effectiveness of style or form.
3.  Make specific suggestions: mark words or lines that could be deleted or reworked, suggest alternative words or phrases to use. Cite chapter and verse, for example: "In line 3 of the second stanza...."
4. Suggestions in the form of a question are usually less threatening!

When being critiqued:

1. Don't be defensive. Listen to comments without interrupting or replying except to direct questions.
2. Provide copies of your work so critiquers can make written comments or suggestions. Make notes on your own of any comments that are particularly helpful or provide a different perspective.
3. When the group finishes critiquing, ask for clarification of any comments you didn't understand.
4. Above all, resolve not to take criticism personally. Accept that we are all here to learn and help each other craft our material. Different
perspectives among group members are what makes a group work!

The group meets on the third Thursday of every month at 6:30 PM at Carpe Librum.  For more information, contact Rip Lydick (knoxvillepoetry @ hotmail.com or Laura Still (EuniceHat @ comcast.net). Mention "poetry work group" in the subject line.