You can write five incredible poems—and still have an editor stop reading. Not because the poems aren’t good. Because the manuscript isn’t working as a book.

This is the part of poetry craft we’re rarely taught. We learn how to write better poems, but almost no one teaches us how to turn those poems into a collection with momentum, tension, and an emotional arc.

As a poetry coach who has read and edited 100+ manuscripts, I’ve seen firsthand the manuscript-level decisions that can make or break a book.

In this workshop, I’ll break down the key decisions—from sequencing and repetition to structure, momentum, and knowing what belongs.

You’ll leave with:

• A clearer understanding of what makes a collection work as a book

• Insight into the mistakes that make editors stop reading

• Practical tools for sequencing, shaping, and strengthening your manuscript

• A roadmap for turning strong poems into a cohesive, unforgettable collection

Because writing the poems is only half the work. The other half is building the book. Learn how to create a manuscript that editors and readers can’t put down.

It costs less than $20—the price of preordering Future Tense—and I won’t be teaching it anywhere else. This is the only way to attend. Details below.