Learn, and try out, some of the many ways poetry can help to free the writer. Trauma can shut us down; writing poems can help free us to open up again. This workshop will present some of the many ways poetry has helped writers both heal trauma and prevent post-traumatic stress syndrome. Guided by an […]
In this introductory course, we will learn about the Japanese and English language traditions of haiku, write our own haiku, and learn about related short-form poems. Haiku is one of the most accessible and yet profound forms of poetry. With just a handful of words, a good haiku can evoke poignant connections between nature and […]
Bring wisdom, joy, and gratitude to your writing. Each class will include discussion of inspiring poems, guided free-writes, and sharing as we explore how we can bring wisdom, joy, and gratitude to our writing. Between classes you will have reading and journal assignments. Our last class will be a formal and friendly workshop to celebrate […]
Write new poems based on exciting new poetic voices! In this generative poetry course, we will immerse ourselves in the landscape of contemporary poetry and craft our own poems. Each week, we will read works published in contemporary literary journals from a diverse range of writers including Jose Hernandez Diaz, KB Brookins, Gabrielle Bates, and […]
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 […]
In this workshop, we will take a close look at how sentences are put together and how changing their structure can send a poem off in a new direction. Guided by a prize-winning and internationally published author of sonnets, villanelles, and other metrical poems, you’ll first read time-honored sonnets to see how and why they […]
“I” does not always mean “me.” In the Persona Poem, or Dramatic Monologue, the poet writes in the voice of another real or imagined person—or even an inanimate object. Guided by a widely published author of persona and other poems, you will read and discuss several time-honored examples, then start new ones of your own. […]
Coleridge defined poetry as "The best words in the best order." How a poet handles syntax--the order of words in a sentence--is crucial to everything from establishing the voice of a poem to evoking a particular response from the reader. In this workshop, we will take a close look at how sentences are put together […]
Expand your poem’s meaning and grab readers’ attention with stronger titles. Titles are one of the most important spots in a poem, but what makes a good title? How can a title expand a poem’s meaning and impact? How can a weak one hold back important revisions? In this class, we’ll review the six main […]
