Workshops & Events
Learn to Make Poetry Your Own
Anyone can closely read and discuss poetry. Our workshops provide concrete steps for cracking poetry open to analysis. We introduce a range of poetic voices spanning gender, race, sexual orientation, culture, and creed. By pairing “canonical” texts with contemporary works, we celebrate modern poetry’s dynamism and render old literature new.
Reading well is the first step to writing well. For those who are interested, all poetry analysis workshops come with the option of an additional writing workshop. Each writing workshop offers generative prompts inspired by the texts from the analytic workshop.
Poetry Analysis Workshop
$30-90 [sliding scale]
Receive workshop packet including: 1) Three annotated poems – both contemporary & classic pieces 2) Discussion prompts tailored to each poem 3) Guidelines for close reading
Read/Internalize poetry on your own terms; use provided annotations and close reading guidelines to experiment at your own pace
Prepare for discussion using the prompts to synthesize your personal impressions into formal literary interpretations
Join a small seminar-style workshop during which Dr. Emily Ulrich will facilitate discussion about the meanings behind the poems
Leave the workshop with the confidence to describe and engage with poetic craft
Generative Writing Workshop
Additional $20-$60 [$50-150 total]
Optional add-on workshop for students interested in writing their own original poetry
Receive 3 prompts based off of poems from the analysis workshop
Learn concrete and directive methods to write your own poetry
Generate one, original poem during the hour-long online workshop
Receive a packet including revision strategies and literary magazine submission guidelines following the workshop
Who Should Sign Up?
Skeptics. Learn why humans have turned to poetry for thousands of years.
Anyone previously moved by a poem. Learn to name how language inspires emotional response.
Avid readers of prose. Learn how lineation & poetic form expand possibilities of expression.
Poetry lovers. Learn how to translate personal impressions into debate with other enthusiasts.
Poets. Learn how to reconnect your reading to your craft.
Upcoming Workshops
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Elements & The Elemental Workshop
August 19th, 1:00 - 2:45PM & 3:00-4:30PM EDT
Join us online for discussion of:
ELIZABETH BISHOP
LUCILLE CLIFTON
MARIE HOWE
Workshops will run on Saturday for 1.5 hours each workshop. We will start with the poetry analysis, break for 15 minutes, and continue with the generative writing workshop. The writing prompts will be in relation to the poems discussion in section one.
Students may choose to sign up for only the poetry analysis workshop or for both poetry analysis and generative writing.
Our sessions are capped at 15 students.