How to Start a Poetry Circle

If you've always wanted to start your own poetry circle, then come out of the dark and share your work with like-minded fellows. Starting your own poetry circle is the first step to getting your work out there in public.

Instructions

1. Find a practical public location for your poetry circle, such as a church, synagogue, library or school or community space. Restaurants, bookstores and coffeehouses may be an option for you as long as you come to agreement with the store manager.

2. Ask the owner if she's willing to sponsor your group. Publicize your group by placing an advertisement in a newspaper, newsletter or website. You can start by making flyers to post in coffee shops or bookstores, or on local campuses.

3. Recruit volunteers for your group first by looking within your own group of friends. Your group of friends can get the poetry circle going by sharing their work.

4. Come to a general consensus on a specific time and date for you and your group members to meet that works for everybody. Make sure to pick a date and time that's feasible for everybody, like once a month.

5. Set a goal for your group. First-time meetings should be for getting to know the members of your group.

6. Spend the majority of your group time sharing poetry and offering suggestions for improvement on each other's work. Pick a shared topic to write about or discuss. For example, you may want to write in certain poetic forms or styles, or imitate the writing style of a famous poet.