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Writers' Guidelines

Poems That Heal seeks brief, thoughtful essays examining the therapeutic value of individual poems. If you would like to write for us, please follow these guidelines:
  • Each post should be in the 500-750-word range, approximately.
  • Please focus on a single poem. Identify the poem by title and author. If possible, insert a link to the text of the poem. Take care to properly acknowledge sources of poems and any other materials. The poem should be previously published, and it should not have been written by the author of the post.
  • In our best posts, the writers have a clear grasp of the uses and benefits of poetic therapy. Writers also have a clear grasp of terms such as inspiration and empowerment.
  • It is up to the writer whether or not to discuss their own personal life. Doing so is neither required nor forbidden. In any case, it should be clear what kind of person the poem would be most therapeutic for.
  • Please make an effort to craft a well organized blog post. It does not have to be a formal essay, but it should have a clear structure.
  • Unless you are a mental-health professional (most writers for the blog are not), please refrain from offering our readers advice. Our purpose is simply to spotlight poems and point out their potential therapeutic value.

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