The Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference is the only writers' conference focused entirely on book-length poetry manuscripts. Founded by poet Joan Houlihan

Joan Houlihan

Joan Houlihan is an American poet. She is the author of three books, most recently The Us , and The Mending Worm , winner of the 2005 Green Rose Prize in Poetry...

, the conference is held 4-5 times a year in Colrain, Massachusetts

Colrain, Massachusetts

Colrain is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,813 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :Colrain was first settled in 1735 as "Boston Township No...

 and consists of manuscript review and analysis by workshop leaders including Houlihan (Concord Poetry Center

Concord Poetry Center

The Concord Poetry Center is a non-profit organization founded in March, 2004, by poet and critic Joan Houlihan. Located at the Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts, in Concord, Massachusetts, the Concord Poetry Center was established as an independent organization in MetroWest and the Greater...

) and poet Fred Marchant (Suffolk University

Suffolk University

Suffolk University is a private, non-sectarian, university located in Boston, Massachusetts and with over 16,000 students it is the third largest university in Boston...

) and by editors from established poetry presses, including Tupelo Press

Tupelo Press

Tupelo Press is an American not-for-profit literary press founded in 1999. It produced its first titles in 2001, publishing poetry, fiction and non-fiction...

, Four Way Books

Four Way Books

Four Way Books is an American not-for-profit literary press located in New York City, New York, which publishes poetry and short fiction by emerging and established writers. It features the work of the winners of national poetry competitions, as well as collections accepted through general...

, Alice James Books

Alice James Books

Alice James Books is an American non-profit poetry press located in Farmington, Maine and affiliated with the University of Maine at Farmington.- History and mission :...

, Graywolf Press

Graywolf Press

Graywolf Press is an independent, non-profit publisher located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded on a dedication to the creation and promotion of thoughtful and imaginative contemporary literature essential to a vital and diverse culture, Graywolf Press publishes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.Now...

and others.