Poetry Prescription
Write better poetry...
Our team of established, professional poets will provide detailed, critical feedback on your poetry, based on your experience, skills and poetic ambitions. You may send in up to 100 lines of your poetry. The service includes:
- an appraisal of your work and suggestions to help you develop it
- a prescription of further reading material
- advice on the best way to present your work
- a current poetry competitions listing
- a current writers' groups and retreats listing
- a listing of current poetry magazines and their contact details
- the latest issue of Poetry News (for non-members)
Be prepared for an honest and rigorous response.
£50 (or £40 for Poetry Society members).
- Download & complete the questionnaire
- Send the questionnaire with your poems to Contact: Paul McGrane
Tel: 020 7420 9881
Email: membership AT poetrysociety.org.uk - poems should be typed on 1 side of the page only and each page should carry your name & address. - Allow up to 6 weeks for the return of your appraisal.
Feedback on Poetry Prescription:
"Earlier this year I received a Poetry Prescription. Two of the poems I sent in were then re-written, taking into account the comments in the Prescription. These poems have now been published in a magazine." RM, Rugby, November 2008
"I appreciate all the thought that went into this (Prescription) and agree with about half of what was said. I disagree with the other half – passionately !! – but I also feel pleased to realise for the first time that I can justify my own work to an outsider. However it was all useful, and certainly helped me revise my work for the (National Poetry) Competition. The general notes were also useful – I had worked out quite a lot of this for myself, but it was helpful to have my suspicions confirmed." Angela Arratoon, London, November 2008.
" I was struck by three things: the obvious expertise used to assess my writing; this person knew and understood what I try to say; the gentle shrewdness of the comments! I can see what is meant and will attempt to tie my writing more firmly to the little things of life, that define our reality for us, before launching the unsuspecting reader on a journey into the unknown!" Linda Barnard, Southend, September 2008
"Thank you for my Poetry Presciption which was very thorough, instructive, informative and which will be of great help in my future writing." Jane Morley, Paris, September 2008
"Thanks so much to the unknown poet for his/her critique of my work for its constructive comments which made much sense, enabled me to a degree of objectivity and encouraged one into some needed technical development." Michael Scott Byrne, Dorset, August 2008
"With the help I have received… I hope to get back into my writing routine, and I really am very grateful for your support and good wishes." Pat Watson, Warwickshire, August 2008
"Just wanted to say that the feedback I received was invaluable! I have learned an enormous amount from your poet's comments. Many thanks!" Nina Boyd, Huddersfield, May 2008
"Please pass on my thanks to the person responsible for my recent Poetry Prescription... he/she obviously read my work carefully and put a lot of thought into her comments. One or two remarks - things I could never have seen for myself - really struck home." William Francis, France, April 2008
"I would like to thank the Poetry Society for organising this project and the person who offered such good advice and information... thanks for such an innovative project." Reba Bhaduri, Manchester, March 2008
"Just had Poetry Prescription back and found it enormously useful... It was both affirming and informative. Well worth doing." Anne Cunningham, Hertfordshire, March 2008
"Please give my thanks to the poet who took on this task and say how much I appreciate the thoroughness of the feedback. The accompanying materials are also helpful... a really good investment." James Henderson-Findlay, Lincolnshire, February 2008
"Please pass along my thanks for the recent response to my Poetry Prescription submission. I found the assessor's comments very helpful, constructive and encouraging." Nigel Wade, Cheltenham, December 2007
"This has proved to be a really helpful and encouraging experience that has given me the belief that I can write and that I am a poet... I am now fired up to carry on with my work and to grow and improve as a poet. Many thanks." Kathryn Alderman, Gloucester, November 2007
"Thanks very much for my Poetry Prescription. I'm very pleased with it." John Buck, London, September 2007
"Please pass my appreciation to the person concerned for his/her meticulous reading and valuable comments - I have applied those I agreed with to my work and reading and found them so apposite that I am still thinking about those I strongly disagreed with!" Mr A, West Yorkshire, September 2007
'...very interesting, extremely helpful and encouraging. Please pass on my heartfelt thanks to the poet concerned.' Pamela Toombs, Suffolk, June 2007
'Thank you for the prompt return of a very helpful prescription... I can recognise both the knowledgeable judgment and the sensitivity to the individual in your critique - both are very much appreciated.' Helen Evans, Alton, February 2007
'Many thanks for my Poetry Prescription response and please pass on my sincere thanks to the 'prescriber' for their very useful and encouraging advice.' Des Hannigan, Penzance, January 2007
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