Getting Poetry Published
Poetry Workshops with Susan Lindsay
Workshops provide the synergy of teamwork for the solitary art of writing poetry.
This week I mailed a fellow member of the Skylight Poets workshop to ask if my edited translation, of ‘Bruscar Litter Box’ into ‘American’ had worked. Whether or not it needed to be translated is arguable. We both know that. What was important is that she brought the choice to my attention by pointing out, during the communal critique of the current draft, that the meaning of the lines could be obscure outsideIreland.
At the Poetry Now festival, in Dun Laoghaire a few years ago, the poet giving a workshop used my submission to highlight the use of language that may make it difficult for a poem to travel. Along with my co-students, he did find things to like about the poem as well as things to question - a new title was recommended. A Life of Her Own can be read in Whispering the Secrets, the first published collection of my poetry. He concluded the work-shopping of the poem with the words, “…and as to the last line, I simply give up” to the general merriment of all around the table – including the poem’s author! But ‘…as she lifts the lid of the last wheelie-bin’ remains in place because it worked in others ways that were ultimately given priority.
What Next? Writing Poetry and Getting Published
You can begin to write poetry at any time. Very often those taking pen in hand are referred to as 'new' or 'young' writers. Such terms can be off-putting. People begin to write when they can no longer resist the urge not to, or when they can find the time to do so. For many this can be after they have raised a family, retired from a demanding job or when domestic arrangements allow. 'Emerging' seems to be the best term to describe those who are beginning to grapple with the craft of writing.
If you would like to contribute articles, news, or anything writing related please 
To be kept up to date on all areas of our site why not sign up to our RSS feed 