康熙二十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1687年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),24歲,參加鄉試(shi),中(zhong)解(jie)元(第一名),被聘參予編修(xiu)《貴州(zhou)通志》。康熙三(san)十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1694年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),31歲,中(zhong)進士改翰林院庶吉(ji)士,散館(guan)授(shou)檢(jian)討。四十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1702年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))供職翰林院,參予增修(xiu)《皇輿(yu)表》。四十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1705年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))任(ren)(ren)浙江(jiang)鄉試(shi)正(zheng)考(kao)官(guan),回京后任(ren)(ren)詹(zhan)事(shi)(shi)府贊善,掌管侍從諫議(yi)等事(shi)(shi)。五(wu)十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1712年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))擢侍讀學士,充日(ri)講起(qi)居注官(guan)。翌年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)晉詹(zhan)事(shi)(shi)府詹(zhan)事(shi)(shi),參予編修(xiu)《康熙字典》,任(ren)(ren)纂修(xiu)官(guan),名列第三(san)。是年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),奉命祭祀禹陵(ling)(ling)和(he)明孝(xiao)陵(ling)(ling),并就地閱視(shi)江(jiang)蘇(su)、浙江(jiang)兩省。
周起(qi)渭一(yi)生成就在于(yu)(yu)詩(shi)歌創作。著(zhu)有詩(shi)集(ji)(ji)(ji)四集(ji)(ji)(ji),初名(ming)《回青山房詩(shi)集(ji)(ji)(ji)》,后名(ming)《稼雨(yu)軒詩(shi)集(ji)(ji)(ji)》、《燕(yan)山塵(chen)土集(ji)(ji)(ji)》,字名(ming)《桐野詩(shi)集(ji)(ji)(ji)》,收錄詩(shi)作數百首(shou)。幾(ji)度刊刻(ke)傳世。初刻(ke)于(yu)(yu)京都,稱(cheng)“北本(ben)”,再刻(ke)于(yu)(yu)蘇州(zhou),稱(cheng)“南本(ben)”,三(san)刻(ke)于(yu)(yu)貴(gui)陽謝廷薰,四刻(ke)于(yu)(yu)獨(du)山莫友芝。其詩(shi)不集(ji)(ji)(ji)積習,自辟蹊徑,講求(qiu)神韻,主張“于(yu)(yu)詩(shi)不多作,不茍作”,“不名(ming)一(yi)家(jia)”,歸于(yu)(yu)抒寫性情。被稱(cheng)為清初杰出詩(shi)人。《清史稿》評價其“詩(shi)才雋逸(yi),尤致力(li)于(yu)(yu)蘇軾(shi)、元好問(wen)、高啟諸家(jia)。貴(gui)州(zhou)自明始(shi)隸版圖,清詩(shi)人以(yi)起(qi)渭為冠”。