How to Give Feedback

on a Poem

Poets help poets. Whether a friend is showing you a poem or you’re in a workshop, here’s how to give constructive feedback. And whether the poem is good or bad, the process I suggest is the same.

    • Does this person want feedback, or do they just want to share?

    • WHY did they write this poem? They may prefer not to tell you, but if a major life event is the inspiration, that can be good to know.

    • If they do want feedback, what specifically are they looking for?

    • Do they want actual suggestions?

    • What does this poem want to do?

    • Is it doing it? How much?

    • How can this poem be more like the poem it wants to be?

    • Identify the main feeling in the poem. “This poem is so sad, there’s a lot of loss.”

    • Identify at least two things that are working well, and more if possible.

    • Identify an are that can be strengthened, kindly. Use your knowledge of this person to judge whether they’d like to hear more.

    • What specifically should you look at? Any of the subjects under the Skills header are great things to examine in a poem. (LINKS)

    • Always end on a positive note. Identify something that is working.

    • Know your audience! Some people thrive on tough love and want detailed critiques. Sometimes people just want to share that a break up was hard. That’s okay too. A good critic responds to what is really there.