Trying to develop a collection of poems? Need assistance in developing a clearer poetic voice? In a 30 minute session, our industry-experienced assessor will provide guidance to help your poetry reach its full potential.

What should I expect?

This is an opportunity for writers to discuss their work-in-progress with an industry-experienced assessor. Feedback could cover topics such as rhythm, rhyme, point of view, voice, tone, style and/or readership. Though your synopsis is provided as a guide for the assessor, the assessor may only provide feedback on it as relevant.

You will receive a brief written summary of the assessor’s key feedback points; however, you will not receive edits on your manuscript submission. This one-on-one meeting is a chance to discuss issues and potential solutions, and to ask questions.

All of our assessments are either carried out via Zoom/phone call or in-person at our building in Callan Park, Sydney. This will be made clear when you choose your time slot.

Please note: There is a limit of one booking per person.

Is my manuscript eligible?

Our assessors will accept poetry manuscripts or collections in any genre.

If you are writing fiction please see our fiction assessments.

If you’re writing non-fiction, such as memoir, self-help, cookbooks, travel or instruction books, please see our non-fiction assessments.
If you’re writing YA, please see our YA assessments.

Next dates:

• Saturday 8 August, 2026 with Luke Patterson – via Zoom
• If this date doesn’t work for you, Join the waitlist for future Poetry Consultations (please specify that you are looking for a ‘Poetry’ manuscript assessment when adding your name to the waitlist).

Submission requirements

You will need to provide the following in one document at least 10 days before your assessment:

• Up to 155 lines of poetry, which could cover multiple poems
• A one-page synopsis, up to 300 words. Writers submitting a poetry collection should consider including the collection’s central themes, recurring imagery, and emotional touch points in their synopsis. Focus on what connects the poems rather than the poems as individual pieces. You should also explain where your submitted poems fit within the larger collection.
• A brief writing CV including a statement of goals for this consultation, no more than one page

*Please note that if your manuscript excerpt exceeds the line limit, it will be truncated at 155 lines before being forwarded to the assessor. Please respect the time the assessor is dedicating to reading your work by sticking to the industry standard formatting and word limit. Thank you.

Submitting your work

Once you have paid for your appointment, you will need to submit your materials at least 10 days before your assessment as one document in MS Word format. Your document must be formatted to industry standards, as follows:

• Line spacing: single spaced with stanzas double spaced
• Font: Times New Roman
• Size: 12 pt
• Margins: minimum 3 cm all round (Word default margins are fine)
• Paragraphing: indent all paragraphs except the first paragraph of a new chapter or section; only put spaces between paragraphs where you wish to indicate a section break
• Text should be range left (which means the right edge is ‘ragged’), not justified (unless justification is contectually important)
• Page numbers: consecutive from beginning to end

The submission link will be provided by email once we have confirmed your registration and payment details.

Please note: There is a limit of one booking per person.