Workshops

Workshops

INVITING THE READER IN: What the Audience Does and Does Not Need to Know
     This workshop will focus on the art of revision. We will discuss ways to tighten the belts of our poems by:

• Taking a close and rigorous look at titles and opening lines
• Applying "Economou's Razor" to last stanzas
• Getting rid of what distracts the reader along the way
• And making sure we bring in what the reader must know to be a "traveler" in our poems

POETIC PROBLEMS:  CLARITY, COMPLICITY, AND CREDIBILITY

     This workshop focuses on certain problems in poetry, creative nonfiction, and songwriting, as well as how to be a performer in contemporary culture.  Through conversation, writing exercises and performances, the workshop deals with issues relevant to not only writers but also readers of poetry, literature, and songs.  Why does poetry so often leave the reader in the dark?  How do we avoid “preaching down” to the audience?  Why would readers believe what we are saying?

CLASSIC WORKSHOP:  PERFORMANCE AND PEER CRITIQUE
     This workshop takes the form of a more classic creative writing workshop.  Members bring multiple copies of original work for the purpose of discussion and peer critique.  We will consider the critical nature of editing (knowing when and when not to).  And as we explore the difficult territory of “subjectivity,” the core principles of this workshop are to Be Constructive; Be Civil (agree to disagree agreeably); and, chiefly, Explore the fun and encouragement that can come from learning to share and perform original work.

CREATIVE JOURNALING: AND ITS ROLE IN LEARNING TO WRITE
     This workshop serves as an introduction for those who do not have an educational or experiential background in writing but do have events, memories, and stories that they want to preserve and share. We will focus on: 1) Conversation and its role in sparking ideas for writing; 2) How a daily journal can actually "teach" writing; and 3) The nature of "memory" and how a daily journaling practice can enrich the mind and spirit.

MEMOIR: THE BASICS IN BEGINNING TO WRITE AND TELL LIFE'S STORIES
This workshop will explore the basics in storytelling, covering these key elements: detail, description, tension, the spirit of complicity, and the critical role of brevity in a world full of words.