Welcome to the PoCoChapMo ‘24 Feedback Corner!
This thread is dedicated to gaining constructive feedback and workshopping your poems. Whether you're looking for a fresh perspective, suggestions for improvement, or simply want to share your work, this is the place for you.
How to Use the Feedback Corner
Sharing Your Work:
Post Your Poem: Share the poem you’d like feedback on. Be sure to include any specific areas where you’re seeking advice (e.g., structure, imagery, tone).
Context: If helpful, provide a brief context or background for your poem. This can include the prompt you used or your inspiration.
Be Respectful: Remember that sharing poetry can be a vulnerable experience. Offer support and encouragement alongside your critique.
Giving Feedback:
Be Constructive: Focus on providing helpful and specific feedback. Highlight what works well in the poem and suggest areas for improvement.
Be Respectful: Always approach feedback with kindness and respect. Remember, the goal is to help each other grow as poets.
Be Specific: Offer detailed observations and suggestions. For example, instead of saying “I didn’t like this part,” try “I think the imagery here could be stronger by adding more sensory details.”
Workshop Guidelines
Workshopping Poems:
Detailed Reviews: If you’d like a more in-depth critique, mention this when you post your poem. Fellow poets can then take the time to provide a thorough review.
Revisions: Feel free to post revised versions of your poems based on the feedback you receive. This can help track your progress and show how your work evolves.
Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask specific questions about your poem or the feedback you receive. Clarifying questions can lead to more insightful critiques.
Example Post
Poem: Whispers of the Night
In the stillness, shadows dance,
Whispers weave a silent trance.
Moonlight casts a silver hue,
Dreams awaken, pure and true.
Context: This poem was inspired by a word prompt about “night.” I’m particularly looking for feedback on the imagery and flow.
Feedback Given:
Positive: “I love the imagery in the first line; it sets a mysterious tone.”
Constructive: “The second line feels a bit vague. Maybe adding a more specific detail about the shadows could enhance the image.”
Engage and Support
This Feedback Corner is not just about receiving feedback but also about giving it. Take the time to read and respond to others’ poems. Your insights can be incredibly valuable and help foster a sense of community.
We’re here to grow together as poets. Let’s make the most of this space by supporting each other with thoughtful and constructive feedback. Happy writing and sharing!
a successful 35-year-old lawyer in Toronto, is at the pinnacle of her career, but something feels deeply wrong. Despite her achievements, she is unfulfilled and increasingly disillusioned with the legal world. Transform & Thrive: The Artisan's Heart
Chapter 1, Scene 1
Files of Doubt
My fingers dance
across the raw edge,
my flesh torn and calloused
by the sharpness of deceit.
I clench my jaw,
drawing my lips to a grimace,
the taste of iron ink lingers
when I bite, as I draw blood
from my worried thoughts.
A belt tightens my chest
—air becomes a stranger,
when I struggle for each breath
short and shallow, smothering.
My smooth straight hair,
is now a tangled mess,
like my feelings for the Great Hall.
My fingers comb the knots,
trying to comb away the thoughts
of the blindfolded Lady
and her unjust justice.
I glance at my monitor's glare,
my furrowed brow,
deep lines around my eyes,
belie the firm's youngest.
I search for an exit
that doesn't exist here.
My foot taps—
like a raven at the window
picking at my dying thoughts—
a frantic rhythm of doubt,
yearning to break free.
I close the file,
but the tremor continues,
a subtle quake in my life,
cracking the foundations,
of my parents' souls.