The Poetry Collective is a manuscript-focused curriculum for poets. It’s a flexible, affordable program aimed at helping you produce a finished, high-quality book of poems that reads as a cohesive collection, not just a bundle of singular works.
While workshopping single poems is beneficial, it’s not always ideal. Readers and instructors are often unfamiliar with the larger project and the voice of the poet, and writers can become prematurely focused on revising a few poems. We feel the best thing we can give our book-focused poets is a customized program that focuses on a schedule and a set of aesthetic goals.
Applications for this year close on June 22, so get yours in today!
Program Benefits
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Customization: Our program pairs each writer with a mentor to chart a path through the project.
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Community: Meet a cohort of other poets as you work together to inspire and hold each other accountable for your writing goals.
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Tangible Results: At the end of the program, each writer will emerge with a book of poems he or she can be proud of, plus a support team ready to help with next steps. Watch a recording of the most recent info session below.
Hear from Alumni
"[My cohort] got to know one another, our work, and how each of us explored the world through our pages. Most importantly, we became a poetic family. My fellow poets understand that grace is given through love, loving critique, and honest feedback.” -Enrique R Gautier, 2025 Poetry Collective Grad
Experience the breadth of talent and knowledge from current and past participants of the Poetry Collective in these accounts on their experiences with craft sessions, events, and more.
Info Sessions
Wondering if the Poetry Collective is right for you? Our informal info sessions are your opportunity to ask questions, meet mentors, and figure out if you're ready to take the leap.
Mentors
Under the mentorship of poetry experts Suzi Q. Smith and Andrea Rexilius, you will flourish as a poet. Along the way, you will also learn from award-winning visiting poets.
Applications
Applications opened on April 1 and close June 22.
Please include: A short biographical statement, project description, workshop history, and 20-page writing sample.
Tuition
Tuition is $3,750 per year (or $313 per month)
Do you need financial support to participate? No problem! The Connie Zumpf Poetry Fellowship provides partial tuition assistance to poets accepted into the Poetry Collective who face financial barriers. The fellowship prioritizes applicants over 60 years of age.
Payment plans are also available with no additional interest.
Poetry Collective Plus
If you are looking to heighten your Poetry Collective experience, try Poetry Collective Plus. This program has all the features of the Poetry Collective, as well as:
One 8-week Generative or Critique-based workshop; Two 4-week Workshops; Discounted rates for all Productivity Clubs; One Visiting Author Three Pack; One Full-Access Business Pass, including an optional meeting with an agent or literary magazine editor; One Gold Pass to a Weekend Fest; (The Plus option offers a 20% discount on all components.)
Tuition: $5,250
*You can still apply for the Connie Zumpf Poetry Fellowship with this program.