Course outline

Session 1: Wednesday 30 October

Reading and writing like a poet

In this class, we will undertake a broad overview of poetry—what distinguishes a poem from prose?—and explore its utility, the why of poetry not just the how. What are the many ways a poem can be found or made, popular and unpopular, current and historic?  Thinking about the fundamentals, prompts will be given to generate new work.

Session 2: Wednesday 6 November

Image & Story

This class will look at the power and function of the image in poetry, thinking about visual language as a tool that can either aid storytelling or subvert narrative expectations. We will be reading and discussing published poems, and using them as blueprints to examine our own work by way of writing exercises.

Session 3: Wednesday 13 November

Sound & Line

Here we will focus on the two most important elements in poetry, the music and rhythm of language as well its limits, the role of the line in controlling the measure of your breath and of syntax in evoking meaning.

Two week break to apply skills learned to second round of workshopping.

Session 4: Wednesday 4 December

Form

This class will take a deeper look at form, from free verse stanzas and couplets, to ghazals and sonnets, villanelles and sestinas, The Arabic and the Duplex.

Session 5: Wednesday 11 December

Re-drafting and refining

Revision can take many forms—at what point have you stopped working on an old poem and started working on a new one? Is a new poem called for? This class will look at a number of techniques you can apply to your practice.

Session 6: Wednesday 18 December

Submitting your work & maintaining a practice

Here we will discuss next steps: you have your poem, or your chapbook/collection, what now? We’ll talk about paths to publication, the pros and cons of various models, and also more broadly about the role of poetry in your life, and community.