Empowered Edits

Module One is broken into two parts.

We begin by assessing what is already in your draft. Did you write the draft after a line floated into your head? Perhaps a it just poured from your subconscious?

Or maybe you intentionally sat down to write about a specific topic, political argument, person etc.

Either way, it's important to look at what is actually in the draft from a critical, editorial perspective. Here we look at what the poem is about, it's emotional resonance and the tone and mood in greater detail before we move on.

This module has 13 exercises to get you connecting to your work to make sure that any changes you make are really aligned to the poem (not just changes for change sake). This is an important part of understanding your own unique voice as a poet and especially important for poets looking to publish larger bodies of work. 

Now that we've looked at exactly what is in the poem it's time to look at if that aligns with what you wanted it to mean.

Sometimes there is a real disconnect between our intent and the first draft.

That's normal, and editable.

This part of module 1 looks at what you would like the poem to convey - emotionally and cognitively. We will use a meditation technique to get closer to what you want for your poem so that you can make the changes in the next modules that reflect the true meaning of the work.

Maya Angelou once wrote:

‘I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’

This module is all about building the feeling. 

We have sixteen activities over five key areas that will allow you to edit your draft to have a powerful emotional connection with your reader.

If you are submitting to journals or publications then this step is essential to help you stand out from other poems in the slush pile.

A poem is more than just lines on a page. It's the poetic devices such as imagery, symbolism, onomatopoeia and more that make poetry so enjoyable to read. 

This module will examine devices to build a clear image and meaning in the reader's mind, sound-based and repetition devices and structural terms.

You will examine any devices used in your work and whether the are improving or hindering the draft. You will also consider if additional devices will work within the poem, and how to strike the right balance between 'too much' and 'not enough' when it comes to poetic devices.

Thinking about poetic form often makes people nervous, especially if they usually write free verse. But that should not be the case.

Poetic form and varying genres can give poets the freedom to creatively challenge themselves and their readers. 

This module will examine different forms and genres and get you thinking about the pros and cons of your own poetic forms. You never know, you might just change your approach for greater emotional resonance.

This module contains 14 different exercises to have you considering if your stanzas (or lack thereof), and lines are working as well as they should be.

We will consider the order and flow of stanzas and their impact on meaning and pace. We will also review the length and structure of your lines, including the use of enjambment and caesura for impact and meaning.

 Sometimes it's the little things that create the big changes.  

Through 19 different activities you will consider elements such as punctuation, pronouns, tense, cliché and more to, make sure that your poem is as perfect as it can be. 

Sure, if you're not happy with your purchase just let us know within 14 days and we will provide a refund.

You have access for 1 year. Why not lifetime access? Well, we all know that lifetime access means, 'I'll get back to that later'. And this is Empowered Edits, not 'procrastinating poets'. I want you to begin.

Most poets complete this in 2 weeks.

Plus, you will download the workbook and mediation at the start of the course, so the only thing you will no longer have access to is the learner dashboard with the videos. The workbook is yours forever. 

This is a thorough course and is designed to take some time. You might be able to knock it out in a day if you are only working on one poem, and you give yourself the full day.

BUT it's not about being on a production line. It's about feeling into the work that you are putting your own name against. I recommend giving yourself enough time to create some wonderful pieces without feeling rushed.

The learner dashboard tracks your progress, so you'll never forget where you're at. You can replay module videos if you forget them. 

Just let me know. Send an email through to melissa@ninecupswriting.com and I will get back to you asap

You sure do. You'll be provided a login via email and you can get straight to work.

I created Nine Cups to encourage people to access their own creativity, not a bot's.

I have not used AI in the creation of this course. These activities are all from my face-to-face classes and the knowledge comes from my degrees and decades worth of experience.

I will NEVER ask you to edit or create your work with AI either.