13 WAYS OF WRITING A POEM ABOUT X by Bernadette Geyer
DATES: This class is currently closed.
DURATION: 4 weeks
COURSE DESCRIPTION: What happens when you try to write a poem about your subject and you’re not satisfied with the result? Try coming at your subject from a different angle. Using the Wallace Stevens poem “13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” as inspiration, this workshop will offer 13 ways for you to write a poem about your chosen subject—be it an obsession, or a series on a particular topic. Themed lessons will be posted weekly, featuring example poems, articles, essays, and/or links to additional reading. Participants will submit drafts weekly for thoughtful, individual feedback from the instructor. By the end of the workshop, you should have 13 poem drafts along with feedback on four of them.
 |
Bernadette was a wonderful and inspiring teacher; even on the internet she really connected with and brought together a vibrant writing community—not the case with all online writing workshops. I learned much about poetry through Bernadette’s well planned exercises and readings, my own poetry was encouraged by Bernadette’s thoughtful and imaginative prompts, and my writing and style improved by virtue of her feedback ~ Laurie S.
I’ve taken Bernadette’s workshop twice and I’m waiting in the wings for the next one.
There is no pressure, just information and inspiration. ~ Catherine H.
In this workshop I learned many techniques to kick start dynamic revisions. The reading material was unique and helpful and the feedback from the other class members invaluable. ~ Toni Gilbert
The Art of Revision was the perfect jump start to re-vision past poems. Bernadette fostered such a positive learning community that I continue to meet regularly with my classmates in a writer’s group. ~ Katherine Rekkas
Bernadette’s online poetry workshop was the first online poetry class I ever took. I was a little skeptical about how it would work but it was every bit as satisfying as sitting across the table from her and the participants. Bernadette is a gifted teacher: a careful and thoughtful reader, an imaginative creator of assignments that seduce you into writing with freshness and new vision, and extremely responsive. ~ Deborah Hefferon
I just loved the online poetry workshop! Bernadette’s comments and feedback for my poems were very thoughtful, intelligent, and helpful. I also loved the assignments and the readings. ~ Jennie Ganz
Ms. Geyer’s online poetry class for the Writer’s Center was stimulating and inspiring. She walked us through new forms, giving us useful examples and commentary from other poets. This pushed us as writers to try something new or to put a new twist on an old poem. Her feedback was always helpful and constructive, pointing concretely to lines, arrangements or word choices that strengthened the poems and often suggesting variations or edits to play with. ~ Kaya Adams
|
WEEKS AT A GLANCE:
Week 1 – Outside Looking In: Ways 1-3
What do you see/feel when you look directly at your subject? This week will feature three poem prompts focused on the omniscient narrator looking at the subject. Instructor will post themed handouts, links, and example poems.
Assignment: Students will submit one of their three drafted poems for feedback from the instructor and other participants.
Week 2 – In the Voice of Your Subject: Ways 4-6
What are the thoughts/feelings of your subject? This week will feature three poem prompts focused on writing about the subject from the subject’s point of view. Instructor will post themed handouts, links, and example poems.
Assignment: Students will submit one of their three drafted poems for feedback from the instructor and other participants.
Week 3 – The Sideways Glance: Ways 7-9
How do you sneak up on a subject? This week will offer three poem prompts focused on approaching your subject indirectly. Instructor will post themed handouts, links, and example poems.
Assignment: Students will submit one of their three drafted poems for feedback from the instructor and other participants.
Week 4 – Wild Card: Ways 10-13
How else can we write about our subject? This week will offer four poem prompts from a variety of ways to approach your subject. Instructor will post themed handouts, links, and example poems.
Assignment: Students will submit one of their four drafted poems for feedback from the instructor and other participants.
Materials needed: Workshop materials will be posted on a password-secure web site, and assignment/feedback correspondence will be conducted via emails between the instructor and students. Registered students will receive an email with the link and password on the first day of the workshop.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Bernadette Geyer is the author of a full-length poetry collection, The Scabbard of Her Throat, and editor of My Cruel Invention: A Contemporary Poetry Anthology. She is the recipient of a Strauss Fellowship from the Arts Council of Fairfax County (Virginia, USA) and was a finalist for the 2011 Brittingham and Pollak Prizes. Geyer has served in the past on editorial boards of an independent press and literary journal, and has led workshops for WOW! Women On Writing, as well as The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, Maryland. She lives in Berlin, Germany, where she works as a freelance writer, editor, and translator. Her web site can be found at https://www.bernadettegeyer.com.
COST: $100, which includes weekly assignments and individual feedback from the instructor.
BUY NOW: 13 Ways of Writing a Poem About X with Bernadette Geyer (4 weeks, starting 4/9/2018) Limit: 10 students. Early registration is recommended.
This class is now closed. Please check here for our current schedule.
For Class Session Starting 4/9/2018
----------------
Notes: Upon successful completion of payment, your name, email address, and contact info will be submitted to your instructor. Just before class begins, she will e-mail you with instructions on how to get started.
Questions? Email Marcia & Angela at:
classroom[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com
Click to View Full List of Classes
