Learn how our brains are wired for poetry, and use that knowledge to enrich your writing.
“Whole-Brain Poetry” is an opportunity to explore some of the ways poetry interacts with the brain, and to enrich your writing with that knowledge. This includes but goes beyond the use of metaphor. Through writing exercises, close examination of time-honored and recent poems, workshopping of participant poems, and brief reading assignments, we will examine the neurology and psychology of poetry, the relationship between time and memory, how science has influenced well-known poets, how poetry can heal trauma and prevent PTSD, and more. Readings include essays by Frederick Turner, Ruth Padel, Frederick Feirstein, and others. Note: No Meeting November 25.
Live video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it).
In this workshop you’ll learn:
- How metaphor is connected to learning and empathy
- Connections between time and memory
- Neurology and psychology of poetry
- How meter and rhyme interact with the brain
- Feedback on participant poems
Time requirements
- About one hour per week.
Materials
- All reading materials will be provided.
Who should take this workshop?
- This workshop is designed for poets with an interest in science, and scientists with an interest in poetry. Maybe you are both!
If you need an accommodation for this workshop, please contact us at access@writer.org. We will attempt to fulfill all requests, but advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility services.
