Critique Groups and Workshops
The following Western Washington poetry critique groups and workshops are arranged by city.
Bellingham
Village Books Writes — Morning Poetry Group
First and third Tuesdays 10:30 a.m – 12:00 noon
Village Books
1200 11th St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Are you a poet in search of a poetry group? Please bring at least one original poem of yours to share and be read out loud
Meet other writers to discuss the art of poetry, give feedback, and help you with your writing goals
For information contact writing@villagebooks.com
Group photo taken January 2, 2024
Village Books Writes — Evening Poetry Group
First and third Thursdays 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Village Books
1200 11th St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Meet in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine
Are you a poet in search of a poetry group? Please bring at least one original poem of yours to share and be read out loud
Meet other writers to discuss the art of poetry, give feedback, and help you with your writing goals
Contact facilitators Bob Zaslow at rzaslow2@gmail.com and Dion O’Reilly at dionoreilly@gmail.com
Group photo taken December 7, 2023
Village Books Writes — Writing from Prompts
First and third Wednesdays 10:30 a.m – 12:00 noon
Village Books
1200 11th St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Join us as we respond to two to three prompts each session
We write in the moment and recognize the evocative nature of each other’s words
Writing includes all forms and genres of writing—let your imagination go wild
We time each writing session for 15 to 20 minutes and then share our stories in a safe, supportive setting
For information contact writing@villagebooks.com
Group photo taken January 3, 2024
Duvall
Duvall Writing Group
Third Wednesdays 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Duvall Library
15508 Main St NE, Duvall, WA 98019
Write together to prompts!
Ages 18 and up
Facilitators are Pamela Denchfield and Sandi Ivey
Every month, we start with brief introductions so we can get to know each other and our current writing projects
Contact Pamela Denchfield at pamela.denchfield@gmail.com
Facebook group for informal chats: https://www.facebook.com/groups/duvallwriting
Group photo taken February 21, 2024
Kirkland
Writing Workshop at BookTree
First Saturdays 4:24 – 6:00 p.m.
followed by Poetry Is Everything (PIE) Reading and Open Mic at 6:14 p.m.
BookTree
609 Market St, Kirkland, WA 98033
Topics and leaders vary (occasionally workshops feature prose writing, not always poetry)
Workshops are free (no admission charge)
Followed by Poetry Is Everything (PIE) Reading and Open Mic at 6:14 p.m.
Contact Chris Jarmick, owner and host, at booktreekirkland1@gmail.com
Visit https://www.booktreekirkland.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/BookTreeBookstore
Group photo taken February 4, 2023
Group photo taken January 6, 2024
Lake Forest Park
Start Liners Writers Group
Every Wednesday 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Third Place Commons
17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
Meets in the central area on the main floor (look for the stand-up sign at a central table)
Writers of any experience level are welcome to join this inclusive, inspiring group
We employ a fun, no-pressure format: members create six-words-or-less “start line” prompts to be used for writing sessions of 5, 10, and 15 minutes, with results then read aloud to the group
Contact Melanie Reed, host, at mordantflair@gmail.com
Group photo taken January 31, 2024
Redmond
Poetry and Prose Circle
Second Tuesdays 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Second Tuesdays 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
On Zoom
Sponsored by the Redmond Association of Spokenword (RASP), which was founded in 1997 to promote literary arts and activities in Redmond, Washington, and the surrounding area
Free monthly critique group on Zoom for any kind of writing (mostly poetry)
Share your writing and receive feedback
For the Zoom link, visit the website and look for Poetry and Prose Circle
Join the RASP email list to receive announcements about the reading series, critique group, and other RASP events
Contact Michael Dylan Welch, president and reading series curator, at WelchM@aol.com
Visit http://www.raspread.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/265858299051
Seattle
Blue Cone Studios Monthly Writing Circle
Last Fridays 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Blue Cone Studios
1520 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Poems, prompts, discussion, and feedback
All writing levels welcome
By donation
Contact Simon Wolf, host, at simon.wolf1@gmail.com
Visit https://www.simonwolf.xyz/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/844395850069268/
Seattle Poetry Meetup Group
Meetings held on various dates, in person and online, at 7:00 p.m.
We read and respond to poetry in excruciating detail. It’s fun! We’ll take turns picking a poem for us to read and respond to. Please come with at least one poem that you are ready to share, whether your own or one from another author. If you have nothing to share, feel free to listen in. We read each poem aloud. If desired, the poem can be shared through Google Drive to be shown on a laptop screen or viewed on smartphones. Paper copies can also be distributed.
Contact Josh Hansen, creator, at spmg@joshhansen.net
Seattle Poetry Meetup — Online
Second Tuesdays 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Visit website (above) to access Zoom, to upload your poem, and to sign in
Seattle Poetry Meetup — In Person
Third Tuesdays 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
College Inn Pub
4006 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
(meet in the Snug Room)
Visit website (above) for meeting schedule
Contact James Lavigne, host, at jlavigne@email.arizona.edu
Seattle Poetry Meetup — In Person
Last Wednesdays 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
College Inn Pub
4006 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
(meet in the Snug Room)
Visit website (above) for meeting schedule
Contact Josh Hansen, host, at spmg@joshhansen.net
Group photo of Tuesday in-person group taken January 16, 2024
The Post-Mormon Poets Society
First Tuesdays 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
This is an online Meetup workshop/critique group for poets with a post-Mormon or otherwise unorthodox Mormon background, particularly for work on related themes, but open to anything. We read and respond to poetry in excruciating detail. It’s fun!
You can read poems aloud, use Zoom’s share-screen feature, or upload poems to a shared drive (please ask for the link)
Contact Josh Hansen, organizer, at spmg@joshhansen.net to get the Zoom and upload links
Vancouver
The Work Poetry Workshop
Meetings held on various dates, in person and online.
The Work is a drop-in poetry writing workshop for beginners as well as more experienced writers
We read and discuss poetry and write several new poems together
Each workshop features at least three timed writing exercises
Contact Christopher Luna, host, at christopherjluna@gmail.com
Visit https://printedmattervancouver.com/creative-writing-workshops/
The Work on Zoom — Online
Second and fourth Mondays 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., except where noted
The cost to participate in this workshop is a one-time $20 suggested donation
Contact Christopher Luna (above) to receive an invitation to join Zoom
The Work Tuesdays on Zoom — Online
Every Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Those who have the time to make a deeper commitment to their writing development can participate in this weekly online workshop
The cost for each session is $10, payable via check or PayPal (christopherjluna@gmail.com); you may pay for several classes or several months in advance
Contact Christopher Luna (above) to receive an invitation to join Zoom
The Work — In Person
Second Saturdays 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Birdhouse Books
1001 Main St Basement, Vancouver, WA 98660
The cost to participate in this workshop is a one-time $25 suggested donation; no one will be turned away for lack of funds
The Work — In Person
Fourth Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Birdhouse Books
1001 Main St Basement, Vancouver, WA 98660
The cost to participate in this workshop is a one-time $25 suggested donation; no one will be turned away for lack of funds
The Work Poetry Workshop, June 10, 2023
Woodinville
WUUC Poetry Group
Second Sundays 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church
19020 NE Woodinville Duvall Rd, Woodinville, WA 98077
Meeting on Zoom or in a hybrid meeting (both online and in-person) in the library of the Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church (WUUC)
Open to the public and we encourage anyone curious about poetry to join us!
A volunteer from the group brings a topic to discuss in the form of poetry or a theme.
You’ll have the opportunity to share your work (or someone else’s) with a supportive audience, generate new work by following group exercises, and share your generated work (participation is entirely optional)
Pamela Denchfield and Meriaten Long, facilitators
Contact Pamela Denchfield at pamela.denchfield@gmail.com
Check the church calendar at https://wuuc.org/calendarevents/month/?tribe-bar-search=poetry%20group for the meeting schedule and to confirm whether meetings are in-person or on Zoom
