I have been working in the independent writing community for five years this month as an editor. I wanted to mark that by explaining my perspective on poetry, providing a more detailed insight into my position.
I take great pride in evaluating poetry submissions with a discerning eye. My aim is to nurture talent and help poets reach their fullest potential. Here’s a detailed look at what I seek in poetry submissions and how I can assist you in achieving these standards.
Evaluation Criteria
1. Inventiveness
For me, originality is key. I look for work that stands out, setting trends with fresh perspectives and innovative language. This isn’t about being different for the sake of it, but rather finding a unique voice that feels both new and authentic. Originality comes from a poet’s willingness to push boundaries, to step away from clichés, and to explore uncharted territories in their writing.
I support poets by offering honest feedback that encourages creative risks. I help identify and break free from conventional patterns, guiding poets toward discovering and refining their distinct voices. This process involves not only recognising what makes their work unique but also understanding how to amplify those elements.
2. Reimagining Movements
We all know that poetry movements are a thing right? To be truly original means you are an outlier. Most frequently, you will be building upon the foundations of classic poetry movements. While offering new interpretations is a hallmark of great poetry, I seek submissions that masterfully reinterpret these movements and bring innovative perspectives that resonate with contemporary audiences. This means understanding the essence of past movements and reimagining them in a way that feels fresh and relevant.
My guidance helps poets re-examine the poetry canon/ It draws inspiration from the past while creating work that speaks to the present. I encourage poets to explore different movements (sometimes for the first time), understand their core principles, and then reimagine them through their unique lens. This approach ensures that their work honours tradition while making a bold statement.
3. Accessibility and Relatability
I firmly believe that great poetry connects deeply with its readers. If it doesn’t, what’s the point? I look for poems that strike a balance between abstract ideas and relatable content. I contend that the most impactful poetry is the most accessible, it ought to allow a broad audience to find connection and meaning without sacrificing depth and complexity.
I assist poets in achieving this balance by providing insights on how to make their abstract concepts more tangible and relatable. This involves crafting poems that are emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating, creating a reading experience that is both profound and accessible. It also means ensuring that your poems have flow and readability, so line breaks and use of space are vital tools.
4. Use of Literary Devices
Speaking of tools, the skilful use of literary devices will enhance the beauty and impact of a poem. I look for masterful and consistent use of techniques like anaphora, caesura, alliteration, similes, metaphors, and the ways in which a poet leans on sensory details. These devices should not be used for their own sake (nobody wants to read that), but to enrich the poem and deepen its impact.
Through my feedback, I try to help poets refine their use of literary devices. I highlight their strengths and suggest areas for improvement, ensuring that these techniques serve to enhance the overall quality and engagement of their work.
5. Recurring Motifs and Themes
Some poets will reuse the same images and ideas. If this is accidental, it’s far from ideal, but that is different when it’s properly cultivated. A cohesive and compelling use of motifs and themes provides a strong and consistent thread throughout a poetry collection. I look for work that seamlessly laces these elements together, creating a unified body of work that speaks to the poet’s intended narrative.
My processes assist poets in identifying and developing their recurring motifs and themes. Firstly, this involves identifying them, before ensuring that these elements are not only present but also deeply integrated into the fabric of their work, creating something powerful and cohesive.
6. Intertextuality and Nostalgia
This is very much a personal take. I love work that offers up intertextuality, nostalgia, and memory. This can deeply enrich the reading experience. I enjoy poetry that draws on prior knowledge, adding layers of meaning and connection.
My feedback focuses on how to incorporate intertextual references and nostalgic elements effectively. I help poets add depth to their work, creating poems that resonate on multiple levels and evoke a strong sense of connection and memory. A song lyric here, a poet’s name there. This never hurt anything!
7. Sense of Place and Low Culture
Poetry is for everybody! For too long, poetry was kept out of the hands of people by elitists, but the authors I admire most, the Beats and Imagists of the mid-twentieth century, wrestled it back for the masses. Creating a vivid and immersive sense of place, along with the effective use of elements of low culture, is essential for engaging poetry. I look for submissions that excel in these areas, creating rich and engaging experiences for the reader. I love social realism for this very reason. Just because something is of low culture does not mean it is not worthy of study or attention; quite the opposite in my opinion.
I guide poets in creating strong senses of place and incorporating elements of low culture effectively. This enhances the immersive quality of their poetry, making their work more engaging and relatable.
My Services
To help poets refine their craft and achieve these standards, I offer three tiers of feedback and mentorship services:
Standard Feedback
- Details: Annotated feedback for up to 12 pages of poetry, plus an online meeting.
- Cost: £30
Extended Feedback
- Details: Detailed annotated feedback for up to 24 pages of themed poetry, plus two online meetings.
- Cost: £60
Comprehensive Feedback
- Details: Extensive annotated feedback for up to 80 pages of poetry, plus three online meetings.
- Cost: £120
Additionally, I provide support for writers looking to publish independently via Amazon KDP, offering manuscript preparation, cover design, and guidance through the self-publishing process. Reach out to me to discuss costings.
Testimonials
Matthew M. C. Smith, Author of The Keeper of Aeons
“When a submission for manuscripts comes up, definitely consider The Broken Spine, an aspirational, committed press from the North of England led by Alan Parry. Writers, you want a publishing house that: listens to you and lets you lead; involves you in all its decisions; is very picky about presentations and making it the best it can be; is a gentle ‘critical’ friend about the work; who promotes you long term.”
Casey Bailey, Author of From This Soil
“The Broken Spine’s attention to detail and continued support for From This Soil has been amazing. Alan Parry is a great man and everything you want in a publisher.”
Elisabeth Horan, Author of The Mask
“Working with Alan Parry was a dream. Never before have I experienced such professionalism and heart. Having worked with many presses, I think us poets have one wish – to be valued by the publisher, editor, and press… When we turn our work over we want to feel safe. Alan made me feel valued in every way, made my poems feel guarded and important, and he continues to do so to this day. I would work with him again in a heartbeat.”
Contact
For more information on any of these services or to discuss your project in detail, please reach out to me here. Whether you’re polishing a few poems or ready to embark on the journey of independent publishing, my expertise and personalised support can help bring your literary aspirations to fruition.