THE PRACTICING POET

Named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers Magazine

New Book on the Craft of Poetry

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The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics makes an ideal companion to The Crafty Poet and The Crafty Poet II, but it also stands alone. Perfect for use in the classroom and in workshops. Also works as an at-home tutorial for those learning the craft of poetry independently.

Includes 30 Craft Essays, 30 Model Poems, 30 Prompts, 10 Bonus Prompts, and 10 Top Tips Lists. Contributions from 113 of our finest contemporary poets.

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Table of Contents
I. Discovering New Material
II. Finding the Best Words
III. Making Music
IV. Working with Sentences and Line Breaks
V. Crafting Surprise
VI. Achieving Tone
VII. Dealing with Feelings
VIII. Transforming Your Poems
IX. Rethinking and Revising
X. Publishing Your Book

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Craft Tip and Model Poem Contributors

Christopher Bakken    Joseph Bathanti    Jeanne Marie Beaumont    Adrian Blevins    Jody Bolz    Traci Brimhall    Sharon Bryan   Lauren Camp    Roger Camp    Richard Cecil    Nicole Cooley    Meg Day    Maggie Dietz    Emari DiGiorgio    Patrick Donnelly   Camille T. Dungy   Peter Everwine    Chris Forhan    Vievee Francis    Jeannine Hall Gailey    James Galvin    Jennifer Givhan   Juliana Gray    William Greenfield    Barbara Hamby    Hunt Hawkins    Cynthia Marie Hoffman    Adele Kenny    Ada Limon    Diane Lockward    Nancy Chen Long   Sandy Longhorn    Thomas Lux    Anne Marie Macari    Ted Mathys    Campbell McGrath Jennifer Militello    John Murillo    Peter E. Murphy    April Ossmann    Alan Michael Parker   Molly Peacock    Marge Piercy   Lawrence Raab    Chelsea Rathburn    Susan Rich    Elizabeth Lindsey Rogers    Pattiann Rogers    Natasha Sajé    Christopher Salerno   Danielle Sellers    Diane Seuss    Betsy Sholl    Martha Silano    Maggie Smith    Mark Smith-Soto    Maxine Susman    Sidney Wade

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Top Tips List Contributors

Ellen Bass     Jan Beatty     George Bilgere     Oliver de la Paz     David Kirby   Dorianne Laux     Alberto Rios     Patricia Smith     Lee Upton     Robert Wrigley

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Sample Poem Contributors

Andrea Bates     Roy Beckemeyer     Libby Bernardin     Elizabeth Bodien     Bob Bradshaw   Nancy Susanna Breen     Luanne Castle    Gail Comorat     Jessica de Koninck     Lynn Domina     Patricia Fargnoli     Ann Fisher-Wirth     Gaye Gambell-Peterson     Megan Gannon   Deborah Gerrish     Patricia L. Goodman     Susan Gundlach     Penny Harter     Shayla Hawkins     Karen Paul Holmes     Jenny Hubbard Tina Kelley     Sheila Kelly     Kim Klugh     Jennifer Kosuda     Joan Mazza     Judith Montgomery     Kathy Nelson    Camille Norvaisas   Rebecca Hart Olander     Linda Parsons     Emily Ransdell     Anjela Villarreal Ratliff     Susanna Rich     Jenna Rindo   Kenneth Ronkowitz   Jennifer Saunders     Penelope Scambly Schott     Carla Schwartz   Carol Seitchik     Martha Silano     Dianne Silvestri     Linda Simone   Denise Utt     Scott Wiggerman     Lisa Young

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Reviews
Washington Independent Review of Books, by Grace Cavalieri
Mom Egg Review

Blog Reviews
Writer Site

Poets Online

The Alchemist’s Kitchen

Colleges and Universities Adopting as a Textbook
Austin Community College (Texas)
University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN)