The main activity at TPS meetings is to workshop our poems. The format is simple, developed to promote the exchange of comments and suggestions in a friendly and respectful atmosphere. Everyone is most welcome to join us at any of the workshop meetings. You do not have to bring a poem on your first visit.
If you are writing in a lonely vacuum, find or form a group with other poets. It will enhance your work and theirs too. If you live close to Hamilton, come and join us!
Workshop Format: The poet brings 24 copies which are passed out to those present, and reads the poem while the rest of us follow along on the printed copy. Then the group discusses the poem, provi
ding feedback on what seems to work or not work well for the reader, and making suggestions. The poet listens, but makes no comment. It is by listening to all the opinions that a sense of what enhances the poem becomes clear. There is often disagreement. After the group has finished discussing the poem, the poet has the chance to comment, if he or she wishes to do so. this Checklist for Critiquing a Poem (available at workshops or to print out). >>>>>
WORKSHOP GUIDELINES:
- Poets are encouraged to put their email on their poems to receive private feedback from other poets after each workshop, or you can make notes on the page to give to the poet at the end of workshop.
- Poets are encouraged to focus on the mechanics of a poem rather than offering subjective comments about how the poem makes them feel or what it reminds them of, unless of course, it’s literary allusion or another well-known poet’s style or themes.
- Please, focus on what the poem is doing via the “How to Critique a Poem” hand out (available on the website and at workshop) and also, remember that feedback can be both constructive and positive😊
- Longer poems (more than a page) should be shared in smaller pieces, due to time restraints. Further, longer poems need more time to be studied and critiqued in a useful way.
2024-2025 Monthly Workshop Schedule
TPS workshops are open to the public. We meet one Saturday a month from 2:00–4:00 p.m. Our meeting venue is the Westdale Public Library, 955 King St. W., Hamilton (unless otherwise noted). Bring 24 copies of your poem, or just come and sit in until you feel comfortable with the process.
NEW for the 2024/25 Season!!! We are pleased to offer “Poetry Parlour Open Mics…” where poets are encouraged to read aloud to the group. The general public is welcome to join as listeners or performers. These Saturdays are an opportunity for anyone looking to hone their public performance skills by delivering a dramatic reading in front of an audience without the critique context of the regular meetings. Saturdays, 2 – 4 pm @ Westdale Library (see schedule below.)
NOTE: Should meeting details change, this website will be updated and members will be notified.
Download & print your Schedule-at-a-Glance: Tower Poetry 202425 schedule
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April 12, 2025 — Monthly Workshop
April 26, 2025 — Tower Poets will be reading at AGH, 1-4 pm.
- Tower poets will be onsite to read the poetry that the art inspired. (A booklet will be available of the poems for the month of April so you can read the poems at the same time you view the artwork that inspired them.) Note, the Reading Event is free, as the permanent collection (2nd floor) is free access (no admission).
May 10, 2025 — AGM (workshop afterwards if time permits)
June 14, 2025 — Poetry Parlour Open Mic