How can a poet find inspiration, as the losses of the pandemic continue to wear away at our spirits? In this interactive online class, we’ll reconnect with the solace and joy that nature can provide, using Mary Oliver’s work for thematic inspiration, instruction, and as a starting point to launch our own poems. Each week, we’ll consider a brief reading by Mary Oliver (a single poem, essay, or prose poem) placed in conversation with equally brief works from writers including Catharine Pierce, Camille Dungy, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Naomi Shihab Nye, Joy Harjo, and Robert Macfarlane. From these readings, we’ll write new poems from a prompt linked to that week’s topic. Every week will also include optional viewing/listening assignments, all inspired by Mary Oliver’s dictum of “Pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it.” You’ll be encouraged to post your fresh drafts if you like for light criticism and positive peer feedback in the weekly forums.
NO SET MEETING TIME: This workshop will take place over Wet Ink, which is an asynchronous creative writing platform. The instructor will post a lesson and assignment at the beginning of each week, and participants can log in and read the lessons/post assignments/comment on other classmates’ work at their convenience. Shortly before the start date, participants will receive an invite from Wet Ink to create their login info and access the class. Please check your spam if you don’t see it.
