Manuscript Consultation, Four Hours

Annie provides occasional private phone consultations to poets as her time permits.

The consultations are suitable and valuable for poets of any level of experience, from beginners to authors of award-winning books, and of virtually any aesthetic from performance to free verse to experimental verse to formalism.

Depending on your needs and the nature of your work, Annie will discuss your poetry’s literary context, voice, themes, diction, imagery, rhythmic vocabulary, and more and offer succinct and concrete suggestions for revision as well as future readings and directions to move in.

COMMENTS FROM ANNIE’S PRIVATE STUDENTS

“I can state, with absolutely no doubt whatsoever, that Annie Finch taught me to discover the music in my own body.  I longed to explore the muscle and bone of the poetic line–to know what a poet does technically to help heighten a reader’s response to narrative–and Annie changed my definition of sound, introduced me to the sweet science of metrics and form. I have never encountered again someone so unflinchingly passionate about the art of poetry and so dedicated to its potential. My confidence on the page and my continuing joy in the possibilities of the written line can be traced to the moment I found Annie Finch and said “Teach me to listen.”
—Patricia Smith, Winner, National Poetry Award for Blood Dazzler

“Annie Finch combines panoramic sight with close-up vision.   Following her critique, I’m mumbling to myself, “Right!” “Good idea!” “Now it’s moving!” I testify: she gives beautiful guidance.”  —Tamam Khan, Author, Fatima’s Touch: Poems and Stories of the Prophet’s Daughter

On Sunday of my manuscript workshop week with Annie Finch, I had a huge pile of  poems that I had chosen as possibilities for my book. I gave them to Annie that first day. (Did I imagine her shudder?) I was overwhelmed by the thought of how to organize it all, what poems to choose, which to leave out, figuring out what the overall theme was. I didn’t realize I was working with a Master! I had heard good things about her, but I never imagined how astute, impassioned, respectful, generous, fun, and empowering a mentor Annie was and is. By Friday of that week, I had a book! And it didn’t end there. After the workshop was over, Annie kept her eye out for publishers that she thought might be interested in my book. In less than a year, I had a publisher–one of Annie’s recommendations. I also spent phone time with Annie in the months between the workshop and my book acceptance, honing the poems in my manuscript, bringing the book into even better form. I would highly recommend Annie’s manuscript workshop. She is a miracle worker. She is a poem whisperer. — Wilderness Sarchild, Author, Old Women Talking 

Rates

$400/hour (or $230/half-hour to discuss up to 6 poems)

Special Single Poem Consult ($75 to discuss a single poem up to one page)

Contact Annie with writing sample to discuss full manuscript consultations (includes feedback on all poems as well as ms. structure, order, titling, and pitching/publishing)

Annie also teaches occasional poetry writing workshops. Check calendar for details or get in touch to inquire about jump-starting a workshop near you.

“Annie Finch was absolutely wonderful — a brilliant teacher, writer and prosodist and her poem at the conclusion was a heartthrob. It’s the best workshop I’ve attended. She was very hands on and everyone was so involved in her workshop. This woman is worth her weight in gold. I would like to attend more of her workshops. I also had an hour consultation on my poems and she was great, thorough.”