Poetry Parlor
A serious poetry community for poets who want to keep getting better.
Every month: a great poem to study,
a live discussion, a writing prompt, and intensive personal feedback from an experienced poet and teacher.
You write. But you want more.
Maybe you've been writing poetry for years — perhaps decades.
You have a practice, a voice, a sense of what you're trying to do. But you're working largely alone, without rigorous feedback, without the kind of conversation that pushes your thinking.
Or perhaps you're newer to poetry and looking for structure:
A way to read seriously, write regularly, and develop your craft with real guidance.
Either way, you've found that writing in isolation only takes you so far.
Poetry Parlor exists for poets who take their work seriously — and who want a community that does the same.
Not a course. Not a forum. Something better.
Poetry Parlor is a monthly membership that works the way a great seminar does: you read a poem carefully, you discuss it with fellow poets, you write in response to it, and you get intensive feedback on what you produce.
The discussion is the kind you'd find in an MFA program — close reading, genuine argument, the kind of conversation that changes how you see a poem. Members come from all stages of the writing life, from those writing their first poems to those with books published, and the range makes the discussion richer.
I choose the Discussion Poem each month from my own reading — a contemporary poem in English that's doing something technically or imaginatively interesting, something you can genuinely learn from. Then I lead the webinar, make a detailed comment video, give you a prompt, and give you personal feedback on the poem you write.
It's a complete monthly practice, built around one poem at a time.
— Brian Evans-Jones, poet and teacher
Each month, here's what happens:
1. The Discussion Poem
At the start of the month you receive a carefully chosen poem by a contemporary poet — selected because it's excellent, and because it has something to teach you about craft, voice, form, or subject matter.
2. The Live Discussion Webinar
We meet online to talk about the poem together. These conversations are genuinely literary — close reading, debate, the kind of exchange that deepens your understanding of how a poem works.
If you can't make the live webinar, a recording is always available. Webinars take place on the first Monday of the month at 12pm Eastern / 5pm UK, and the first Thursday at 4pm Eastern / 9pm UK.
3. Brian’s Comment Video
A detailed video in which I explain how I read the Discussion Poem — what I think it's doing, how it's achieving its effects, and what you can take from it into your own writing.
4. The Poem Prompt
An exercise that connects what you've been reading to your own writing — designed to get a draft onto the page, with a deadline to make sure it happens.
5. Personal Feedback
This is where the Parlor goes beyond most poetry communities. Every month, I read your poem carefully and give you detailed, honest feedback on it. In the Standard membership, this takes the form of a 5-10 minute video. In the Mentoring membership, we meet live on Zoom for 30 minutes — more on that below.
Is Poetry Parlor for you?
Poetry Parlor is for you if:
You've been writing poetry for a while and want to broaden your knowledge and sharpen your skills
You want to read contemporary poetry seriously — with guidance and discussion, not in isolation
You're looking for regular structure to make sure you actually write
You want feedback that's genuinely rigorous — not just encouragement
You'd like to be part of a community of poets who take the work as seriously as you do
You're newer to poetry and want a structured, guided way to develop — just let me know when you send your poem and I'll pitch my feedback accordingly.
Poetry Parlor may not be for you if:
You already hold an advanced degree in poetry (MFA or equivalent) and are looking for peer-level workshopping rather than guided development
You're happy with your writing exactly as it is.
What members say
“Poetry Parlor took me on a positive journey from using an existing poem as an idea to developing the first draft of my poem. The chosen poem and the discussions were inspirational in my own poetry writing.
Then there were excellent tips on editing that helped to produce a published poem.”
— Sue B.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the entire format, from reading the poem, to discussing it, then writing our own. I truly appreciated the feedback from other poets involved and from Brian.
Poetry Parlor informed my sense of my strengths and limitations as a poet. I have a strong draft that I now look forward to developing with a real sense of direction.”
— Mary-Lou B.
“Poetry Parlor has given me a new sense of confidence and the nudge I needed to start reading and writing poetry again.
I always enjoy Brian’s teaching. He helps me see things I perhaps wouldn’t have seen, and has a gentle, encouraging way of giving useful feedback. The prompt was pitched just right—accessible to all and inspiring.”
— Natalie B.
“Poetry Parlor engenders awareness of high quality poetry and techniques to enhance creative output within a stimulating community that encourages each step of the journey.
I felt skillfully prompted, guided, and held within this community of poets, with Brian as tutor at the helm.”
— Sonja M.
“The feedback let me know where I was failing to come across to readers—where something needed to be honed or reinforced—whether it be in an image, or a tone, or the order of stanzas. These are things one cannot do alone.
I love the video feedback! Brian’s commentary is always excellent—comprehensive, even-keeled, and to the point!”
— Jane O.
“I enjoyed reading the work of others, to see different takes on the same prompt. I liked hearing how my work was interpreted by others. We don’t always have distance from our work, so this was very helpful. Brian is very knowledgeable!”
— Nancy W.
Join Poetry Parlor
Standard Membership
$35/month
Everything in the monthly cycle:
The Discussion Poem
Live Discussion Webinar (and recording)
Brian's Comment Video
The Poem Prompt
5–10 minute video feedback from Brian on your poem
$10 off The Spark, Brian's monthly poem-generation workshop
Mentoring Membership
$87.50/month
Everything in Standard, plus a more intensive feedback experience:
Instead of a feedback video, 30 minutes live on Zoom with Brian
Feedback on 2–3 poems, not just one
The chance to discuss whatever else is on your mind — a project you're working on, questions about submission, preparing a manuscript.
FAQs
How much time will I need each month?
At minimum, enough to write one poem draft — roughly 1–2 hours, though it doesn't have to be in one sitting. You can do it in 15–20 minutes a week. Of course, if you have more time, there's more to engage with: the webinars, the comment video, thinking about the Discussion Poem.
I’ve never written poetry before. Can Poetry Parlor work for me?
Yes, provided you're willing to try things out. The Prompt isn't aimed explicitly at beginners, but the Parlor gives you a structured way to create a poem every month. Just let me know when you send your poem and I'll make sure my feedback is pitched at the right level for where you are.
Can I change my membership level?
Yes, at any time. The change takes effect from your next month's membership.
What happens if I join late in the month?
As soon as you join, you'll have access to the Discussion Poem, Comment Video, and Prompt for the current month. If it's late enough that you don't have time to fully take part, you'll automatically get everything for the following month too — including the webinar and feedback. You won't miss out.
Who runs Poetry Parlor?
Poetry Parlor is run by Brian Evans-Jones, a poet and teacher based in the US. You can find out more about Brian on the About page.
Join Poetry Parlor
Standard Membership
$35/month
Everything in the monthly cycle:
The Discussion Poem
Live Discussion Webinar (and recording)
Brian's Comment Video
The Poem Prompt
5–10 minute video feedback from Brian on your poem
$10 off The Spark, Brian's monthly poem-generation workshop
Mentoring Membership
$87.50/month
Everything in Standard, plus a more intensive feedback experience:
Instead of a feedback video, 30 minutes live on Zoom with Brian
Feedback on 2–3 poems, not just one
The chance to discuss whatever else is on your mind — a project you're working on, questions about submission, preparing a manuscript.
