A Hybrid 2-Week Poetry Workshop
Wednesdays, August 6 & 13, 6-9 PM
Our poems, like all things in nature, need space to grow. This workshop will focus on giving the things dwelling inside of us, the feelings we haven’t yet named, a home that fits them. Across two sessions, we will break down the various approaches to form and poetic architecture. My hope is that each participant walks away with a new piece of work, as well as new methods to express emotion through writing.
Session 1: Content Generation + Structure
The first day will consist of poem generation. Focus will be on filling a blank page, identifying the emotion that needs “planting” and how to cultivate it. During this session, we will also study the work + forms of artists like (but not limited to) Chen Chen, Danez Smith, Olatunde Osinaike, and Paige Lewis.
Session 2: Form + Revision
The final session will include peer review of one of your pieces, as well as continued discussion about the shapes your writing can take. We will tackle the common, yet difficult questions as a class, answering “What should I be writing about?” and “How do I know when a piece is finished?” Each participant will leave with a better understanding of the role structure plays in their work.
$120 Members/$175 Nonmembers
Lauren Saxon is a queer, Black poet and engineer living in Portland, ME. She loves her cats, her Subaru, and being chronically online. Lauren is a 3-time Pushcart Prize Nominee, and her work is featured in Barrelhouse, Empty Mirror, Across the Margin, Homology Lit, and more. Lauren's debut chapbook, "You're My Favorite" won the 2023 Maine Literary Award for Book of Poetry, and is out now with Thirty West Publishing. For more, visit https://laurenmsaxon.com/.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact programs@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-200-7180 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one partial scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Email programs@mainewriters.org to see if the scholarship is still available. Application Due two weeks prior to the workshop start date at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION