Poetry Palooza! Workshops
Write and polish your poetry, essays, and writing skills through these workshops presented by Poetry Palooza! Poets Laureate and guest poets.
First Workshop Session (Pick One)
The Fragmentary Imagination: Exploring Lyric Writing
Led by Deb Marquart
What do prose poems, flash fictions, and micro-essays have in common, aside from brevity? They often unfold in bursts of sensory detail and utilize vivid and compact language. They
sometimes employ quick lists and clusters of unrelated objects that, when taken together, help convey the enormity of the whole through fragments.
In this generative workshop, we'll discuss a few short examples of lyric and hybrid writing. We’ll study the way that significant detail and associative leaps help readers make meaning across
the negative space of what’s not said. Then, we will try our hand at generating ideas for a lyric piece through one or two prompts, with time allowed for sharing.
Writing From the Body and Earth
Led by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
We live in concentric circles, our most local address our own body surrounded by our watershed, bioregion, earth, and universe. Come write from where you live and what you call you home while we explore how writing can be an integrative practice that both pulls all the parts together and connects us with the living earth all around us. We'll draw from innovative and compelling writing prompts and inspirations to access a wider perspective and deeper
understanding of how to come home to who and where we are.
Let's Write a Ridiculous, Meaningful Poem
Led by Matt Mason
In this workshop we'll work to write an entertaining (or weird) poem in a way that sheds light onto something that's important to us. Those are among my favorite poems, the kind that gets you laughing before it punches you in the stomach.
Co-Creation and Containers
Led by Christine Stuart-Nunez
Ekphrasis is an ancient practice based in the act of writing from art. But what happens when both visual and literary art pieces are created together? Join visual artist Julia Franklin and poet Christine Stewart-Nuñez for a generative workshop where you’ll craft a poem and compose its visual companion. You’ll leave the workshop with a poem, a piece of visual art, and a new way to engage your creative practice. Bring an open mind ready to experiment! No experience in either artistic practice necessary.
Second Workshop Session (Pick One)
Exercises in Revision
Led by Christine Stuart-Nunez
Do you have a couple of poems that don’t seem “done,” but you’re not sure how to tackle revision? Bring them to this session. Christine Stewart-Nuñez will take you through a series of poetry calisthenics that will help you strengthen your drafts by re-seeing their potential. This is a fast-paced, hands-on workshop; you’ll leave with revision techniques that you can apply for future poetry-writing endeavors.
Say It Out Loud
Led by Matt Mason
As Virgil said, "Do not commit your poems to pages alone, sing them I pray you," and I agree: when we read our poems out loud, we can connect better with our listeners and open up the poems for them. We will talk about different kinds of poem delivery, from a poetry slam to a traditional poetry reading, with a focus on how you don't need to full on perform each poem, but that practicing small techniques on delivery can help you connect your work with your audience.
Poetry as a Healing Path
Led by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
The practice of poetry can help us better understand our own heart, health, and callings in life. At the same time, the sheer practice of making something out of words can bring us more alive, giving us greater meaning, energy, and even joy in the process. Come explore -- through writing in community, reading our words (always optional), and sharing our discoveries -- how writing and reading poetry can help you craft a practice that brings you deeper into your own healing and resilience.
Haiku, Ancient and Modern
Led by Dennis Maulsby
In a relaxed setting, participants will learn about the origin and evolution of the popular haiku poetry form, originally Japanese but now written in multiple languages worldwide. We’ll examine ways this short verse creates insight into nature and human behavior. Attendees will have the opportunity to write their own haiku—no prior poetic or writing background is required.
Let us know your plans
Do you know which workshops you are interested in attending? Complete the RSVP form (or update your existing RSVP) with your selected workshops. We are looking forward to having you at Poetry Palooza!