As poets, we often “just know” when a poem isn’t working. But putting our finger on the problem—and knowing how to address it—can be difficult.
This 4-part workshop offer poets the opportunity to deeply engage the creative—and even transformational— process of revising poems in a warmly supportive group environment.
Through a combination of short readings, writing exercises, and focussed discussions, participants will learn practical strategies with the ultimate goal of learning how to self-edit and revise their own poems.
Topics will include an overview of the revising and revisioning process; discovering the heart of the poem; looking for ‘soft spots’; precise diction and vibrant details; rhythm and flow; and mining the poem’s thematic terrain. We will also discuss how to know when a poem is finished, the process of decluttering, and learning to voice what’s essential.
About the instructor: Margo Wheaton is the author of Rags of Night in Our Mouths (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2022) and Wild Green Light (Pottersfield Press, 2021), co-authored with David Adams Richards. Her debut collection, The Unlit Path Behind the House, received the Fred Kerner Award from the Canadian Authors Association and was shortlisted for the J.M. Abraham Award, The Gerald Lampert Award, the Fred Cogswell Award, and the Relit Award. Margo is an associate editor at The Dalhousie Review and currently works as a writing consultant, mentor, and workshop facilitator.

Recommended experience level: New, emerging, and early-career poets (About recommended experience levels)
Participant cap: 12
Location: Zoom
Dates of 4-week workshop: RESCHEDULED to Tuesdays, Feb 11 + Feb 18 + Feb 25 + Mar 4, 2025 (7:00pm to 9:00pm Atlantic)
Registration for 2025 General Members: $169
Registration for non-members: $234 (includes 2025 General Membership in WFNS)