Editing and revising are part of the writing lifecycle, and no poem is complete until you have given it the editorial attention it deserves. There are lit mags and presses out there that explicitly say in the submission guidelines not to send them your 4 a.m. first drafts. While we all enjoy a hot take every now and then, there’s some wisdom to exercising a little restraint and sitting with your words until after sunrise.

What is voice in poetry? It’s a mixture of factors like tone, diction, and style, which combine to create a unique way of writing that belongs to a particular artist. When you think of Shakespearean sonnets, you probably have a voice in mind and are thinking of the iambic pentameter and vernacular he used. While we certainly don’t suggest trying to sound like Shakespeare, we do have some pointers for finding out what works best for you in your verse.

North Carolina is home to poets both past and present worth your attention if you haven’t read them yet. We are taking a closer look at key poets in our state’s history and talking about why you need to check them out. Then, we’ll introduce some current big players in the state’s poetry scene and where you can find them when they’re not at their desks writing more verse for us to enjoy.

This week kicks off National Poetry Month and North Carolina does not disappoint with its many events. We can’t possibly cover them all, but we’ve compiled a list of some of the most exciting National Poetry Months events and contests across the state for you to check out bel