Russell's Critiquing Challenges

What is an NFSPS Critiquing Session?  Former President Russell Strauss picks a handful of NFSPS contests for us to write poems for — deliberately picking different subjects/forms so we can “stretch our wings” a bit and practice.  Bring 10 copies to the meeting (not in Memphis?  see note below…).  We’ll read it aloud during the critiquing portion of our meeting and attendees will offer comments; we can then revise our poems for submittal to Nationals next March.  Because these are NFSPS contests, please watch NFSPS contest requirements for line limits, form, etc.  In March, Russell holds a drawing and offers money prizes for participants, based on the number of critiquing sessions you participated in. 
 
We’ll critique one contest at each meeting, shown below:
 
September — #32, The Robbie Award, Subject: Loss of a Child (not necessarily by death), Form: Any, 40 line limit
November — #49, Miriam S. Strauss Award, Subject: A scary or spooky poem, Form: Any, 10-40 line limit
December — #4, The Margo Award, Subject: Wolves, Form: Any, 50 line limit
January — guest host, contest To Be Determined
February — #7, Stone Gathering Award, Subject: The Natural World, Form: Prose, 40 line limit
March — #3, NFSPS Board Award, Subject: Any, Form: “In Memoriam” Stanzas,
 
Note: If you are a PST member, located outside the Memphis area, but still want to participate, feel free to send 10 copies to me (Lori Goetz, 2153 Wood Creek Dr., Germantown, TN 38138) by the 1st of the month.  I’ll return comments after the West TN meeting.

Not a member, but interested in joining us?  Click here for more information.