Editorial
The publishing world for poetry is extremely competitive, and it can frustrating and difficult when working on a book alone. I offer manuscript editing for poetry collections of all lengths, as well as sets of poems, or even an individual work.
I have strong experience of editorial work as contributing editor and committee member for Poetry Wales. I also read for the writing prizes at the Ohio State University, and I am currently editing a special issue of Magma Poetry.
I provide meticulous feedback on the effectiveness of language and form, and when reading chapbook manuscripts or collections, I offer detailed commentary on the architecture of the whole work, including how poems complement one another in juxtaposition, and ordering. I have as range of prices to suit everyone.
Creative Writing Workshops in Schools, Museums, and Art Centers
I am a very experienced workshop leader. I have held creative writing workshops with children and teenagers of elementary school, middle school, and high school ages. I taught creative writing at the prestigious Marlborough College, England, and at the National Academy for Gifted Youth (NAGTY). I have held workshops at art centers, museums, and literary festivals. I currently teach at the Ohio State University.
I can attend your school, college, museum, or art center to deliver a workshop or structured session with young, teenage or adult learners. I can provide writing workshops on poetry, fiction, or nonfiction for any of the following: at elementary, middle or high school level in the US, or at primary or secondary school level in the UK as well as for adult education.
In a typical session, I would bring examples of age appropriate poems, sometimes original, present them with flair to her audience, and facilitate guided activities on poetic language, meaning, comparisons, thematic construction, while providing exercises to encourage participants in their own creative writing. Poems could be related to examination preparation, poetry appreciation, a school project or theme, celebrating a particular event or holiday, or to encourage more abstract study of poetic technique.
Commissioned Poems
I have worked on a number of projects to produce commissioned poems, for example, for the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Yorkshire. The brief was to create a set of poems to challenge stereotypical ideas about the Brontë Sisters, and the resulting work was exhibited alongside items from the museum archive.
I have also written specific works for individuals who want to commemorate family events or loved ones. For example, this poem ‘Annouchka in the Rain’ was commissioned and written based on detailed accounts of memories by Annouchka’s friends: Annouchka in the Rain.
Testimonials
“I worked with Zoë recently when she edited my poetry. She has been immensely helpful in pointing out how I can make my writing more concise and effective, recognising often very subtle nuances in language, sound, and line-breaks. Zoë really takes the time to notice the direction a writer might need, finding fruitful parallels with other writers, and making insightful suggestions about reading material. She is very positive and real joy to work with. Thoroughly recommended!”
“Zoë Brigley Thompson is easily one of the best instructors I have ever had. She always creates an environment that is open for students to share writing and thoughts, and is both respectful to students sharing feedback on a student’s work, and to the student sharing.”
“Zoë Brigley Thompson is not only an effective teacher, she’s also sensitive to each individual student’s personality. In a room full of poets, emotions tend to run high, but Zoë kept things running smoothly by giving critiques in a tactful way. She said many things that helped me grow as a poet as well as a person.”
“The way that the materials were presented as well as discussed made me feel how passionate and knowledgeable the instructor is. Her confidence in the different exercises and materials shows her control of poetry creation and editing. She always pushes all of us to be better. Amazing teacher. Highly recommended.”
Pricing
For rates, please see Contact.
Zoë Brigley 