At JWC 2023, the presenter discussed what makes a really short poem publishable, focusing on haiku and similarly minimal poems. This year’s presentation continues to explore the topic, with a focus on somewhat longer short poems (up to 14 lines). Again, the question will be explored not merely in terms of matching certain editorial expectations, but also of innovation. Needless to say, editors’ standards are largely subjective, but there is no getting away from the question of quality: what makes a short poem really worth making public? Drawing on twenty years’ experience of editing and publishing a poetry journal, as well as several collections and anthologies, the presenter will suggest, through discussion of examples, some guidelines which may be helpful to those aiming to write short-form poetry of genuinely publishable worth.
