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Plucking the Identity Thorn: An Approach to Writing Poetry

A Generative Poetry Workshop

ALL LEVELS

In an age when questions of identity—whether based on race, gender, nationality, sexual preference, or ableism, among other categories—dominate the headlines, this workshop will explore the way the suppleness of language can be used to shed light on the topic.

 Participants will be given a prompt in advance of the workshop that addresses issues of Identity using Thompson’s poem “I Am Grenadine” as a jumping off point. We will be looking at identity poems by Matthew Dickman, Emily Dickinson, Tim Seibles, Paisley Rekdal, Shane McRae, Torrin A. Greathouse, Aurielle Marie and Larry Levis . Attendees poem drafts will be discussed in a workshop format during the first hour of the session.

 Thompson will provide a second prompt at the conclusion of the initial (following a brief comfort break). Attendees will have some time to begin a draft that addresses that prompt and those drafts will be the basis of a discussion to conclude the workshop.

+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online via Zoom and is 12-4 pm Eastern Standard Time. Students do not need to create an account to participate, but should test out Zoom before their class if they are first-time users. On Thursday, February 16th, from 5:30pm to 6:00pm, MWPA staff will offer a tech help session on Zoom. Students are encouraged to attend the tech help session, which usually takes only 5-10 minutes, if they have any tech concerns, use Zoom infrequently, or simply would like to test their connection, and those who do not are responsible for ensuring that they are able to use Zoom on their own. The week of the workshop, students will be emailed a link that they may click to enter the test session and the class.

+ REQUIRED EQUIPMENT A reliable, fast internet connection (broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE), speakers & a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in), and a webcam (built-in or USB plug-in).

If you would like to quickly and easily test your internet connection and your computer’s compatibility with Zoom, click HERE. Full details on supported Operating Systems, internet browsers, and more can be found HERE. To download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, click HERE.


In February 2021, Lynne Thompson was appointed Poet Laureate for the City of Los Angeles. She is the author of Start With a Small Guitar and Beg No Pardon, winner of the Perugia Book Award and the Great Lakes Colleges Association’s New Writers Award, and Fretwork, winner of the Marsh Hawk Poetry Prize in 2018. A Pushcart Prize nominee and widely published, Thompson’s poem “She talk like this `cause me Mum born elsewhere, say” was included in 2020 Best American Poetry. Thompson sits on the Boards of Cave Canem and the Los Angeles Review of Books and chairs the Board of Trustees at her alma mater, Scripps College.


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 Meghan Sterling at programs@mainewriters.org.

REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 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 full scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due on February 3rd at 9:00 a.m.
→ MORE INFORMATION

MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION

Later Event: February 25
Discreet Disclosures