creative writing toolbox

i've noticed that creative writing professors have catch phrases that they repeat OVER and OVER in workshops.

prof gilbert
"how can you make this line more strange?"
"why not make that clear?"

prof shillinglaw
"cut modifiers"
"cut prepositional phrases"

these are ridiculously helpful! they can really open up a poem. i need to dig deep to remember what past professors have said...

prof maio
"your meter sucks"

prof soldofsky
"people shouldn't be able to read your poem and just get content, there needs to be more than that"

prof henri cole
"your poem just drove off a cliff"