Andrew, if you are a formalist, you are probably much better off spending time at one of the formal-friendly conferences like West Chester, Poetry by the Sea, the Frost Farm Conference, etc. AWP is dominated by the free-verse contingent, and very few of the sessions focus on poetry in form, though a few formalists are always in attendance. I don't enjoy mob scenes, so huge conferences like AWP turn me off, and I like the personal contacts and friendships I have made at the smaller conferences, which have also taught me much more about how to write in form effectively.
Susan
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