Hello Poets and Writers!
We hope that your late summer/early autumn days are off to a wonderful start. Fall is the time when new books are released from publishers, in-person and online writing classes and workshops begin again, and you can also expect to see announcements for poetry readings (both online and in-person).
Whether you are an established poet with several books under your belt or you are an emerging writer just beginning to submit to journals, there will be public poetry readings in your future! Love them or hate them, poetry readings are an important aspect of being an active member in the poetry community.
Since many poets self-identify as introverts, public readings (in real life or on Zoom) can be a source of anxiety. Of course, there are poets and writers who thrive on stage and do not need much preparation. They walk up to a podium and deftly flip through their books and read with a relaxed spontaneity. The tips below are for those of us who find being in the limeligh…