Manuscript due: Tues. Nov 6

The Yvonne Blomer Response is due tomorrow. Tues. Oct. 30.
John Lent presents Wed. Oct. 31. John Lent response due Friday, Nov. 1.
Literary Event Response Outside of class: Last day: Tues. Nov. 6.

MANUSCRIPT IS DUE TUES. NOV. 6. NO LATES ACCEPTED.

Manuscript Criteria List: Poetry, Writing 12

Due: _________________________________

Ensure that you have completed each item. Check each one off as you finish it.

1. _____ You have included your 10 to 12 best poems or more.
2. _____ You have edited out cliché, lack of surprise, any dull language.
3. _____ Each poem is titled. The title adds resonance to the poem.
4. _____ Each poem has your first and last name on it under the title.
5. _____ You are pleased with these final copies and want to publish them.
6. _____ Any poems not for publication are marked: NOT FOR PUBLICATION
7. _____ Your title page includes a manuscript title like Soft Green Rain.
8. _____ Title page: name, address, postal code, phone number, date, email.
9. _____ The last page of your manuscript is a bio. 1-2 sentences about you.
10. _____ You have another copy at home, at Uncle Fred’s and in a bank safe.

MANUSCRIPTS WILL NOT BE RETURNED. I DO NOT EDIT THEM. THESE ARE NO LONGER UGLY BABIES. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND READY TO LEAVE THE NEST. Fly Fleance, Fly!! (That’s from Macbeth).

YOU MUST ALSO EMAIL ME A COPY OF YOUR MANUSCRIPT BY the due date: aurora@shaw.ca. First put your name, address, etc and bio followed by all poems in the body of the email. That is easiest. Also, keep electronic copies at home. If you get published in The Claremont Review, we will need electronic copies.

Assessment: I must have seen all the poems prior to submission in a manuscript or they do not count. You must use your own work only. Any phrases or lines from other poets put in italics and at the end of the poem say who the poet you are quoting is and name the poem. Add the names of the authors at the end of the manuscript.

NO LATES ACCEPTED. If you are sick, send it by cab. No kidding! The manuscript is worth 50% of your first term mark.

What I am looking for in your manuscript

1. Surprise—I don’t want to be able to predict the next line.
2. Form—are you using stanzas, line breaks, pauses, epigraphs for effect?
3. Sound—rhythm, repetitions, verb choices, assonance, dissonance, alliteration
4. Truth—the subject matters to you. There is some form of epiphany or leap.
5. Diction—your use of language is precise and clear, not fat when you mean chubby, etc. Your attention to language is obvious. No clichés or tired phrases.
6. Proofreading—absolutely error free. You have edited and edited and so have your friends. Attention to detail—you obviously care about the material. No first drafts here. Its/it's, there, their, they're, Left justified. No ALL CAPS.
7. Titles—each poem is titled. The title adds context, resonance, a pun, an invitation. Generally a title has more than one meaning.
8. Context—it is clear who is speaking and why. Clear and easy to follow.
9. Endings—you do not “wrap up” the poem with a moral. End on an image.
10. Revelatory—you have asked yourself and the world hard questions even if it was scary or even if you haven’t yet found the answers you are looking for.