A 5 Week Poetry Workshop
Tuesdays, October 4th to November 1st
Level: All Levels
Sometimes what you need is to step away from the everyday world and into a strange one. Because of the worlds it opens for you; because there’s world after world to explore; because there’s nothing better than the pleasure of surprising yourself. In service to getting ourselves unstuck, to opening doors, to finding ourselves in unexpected territory, and to simply finding joy, we’ll read other writers who do this, and we’ll attempt to do it ourselves. The class will be divided between discussion of work that uses weirdness as a portal, writing exercises designed to make you weird, instructor feedback, and peer workshopping. Writers we’ll draw inspiration from: Italo Calvino, Renee Gladman, Sabrina Orah Mark, Miho Nonaka, Carl Phillips, & Diane Williams. By the end of the workshop, participants will have an increased sense of their individual writing eccentricities, as well as possessing a stronger aptitude towards risk-taking in their own writing.
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online via Zoom. 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 September 29th 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.
Jefferson Navicky is the author of Antique Densities: Modern Parables & Other Experiments in Short Prose, which was the winner for the 2022 Maine Literary Award in Poetry, as well as the story collection, The Paper Coast, and the poetic novel, The Book of Transparencies. He is the archivist for the Maine Women Writers Collection.
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. Email Meghan at programs@mainewriters.org to see if the scholarship is still available. Application Due by September 24th 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