Fundamentals of Poetry Writing
Poetry writing is a very personal art form; at its best it flows freely from the heart and soul of the poet. But poetry writing also has stylistic conventions and rhythmic patterns that—once understood and mastered—can enhance the emotional content of your verse with design and structure.
In this workshop, you will gain a working knowledge of the basic poetic forms and the fundamental techniques of writing both rhymed and free verse. This class is for poets looking to take their work to the next level through a thorough understanding of classical poetic structures and techniques. This workshop encourages personal discovery and the development of individual poetic “voice” through the use of directed exploration, hands-on writing exercises, and constructive critical feedback from a professional, published poet. When you have completed the workshop, you will have developed a body of poetic work based on significant personal experiences.
Course level: Beginner / Intermediate
Required Book: The Art & Craft of Poetry by Michael J. Bugeja
Workshop Length: 12 weeks
Tuition: $350.00 ($315 for VIP)
Start Date: View Fundamentals of Poetry Writing Course Schedule
Course Structure
This workshop will consist of six two-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures (text based) and associated textbook reading assignments, along with writing assignments designed to develop a collection of related poems, which you will submit to the instructor for private review at the end of the first week of the session. During the second week of each session, work will be posted for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises. (2.4 CEUs)
You will learn:
- The difference between poetry and prose
- The definitions of poetic viewpoints and the pros and cons of each
- How to train your poetic voice, including the use of alliteration, assonance, consonance, and onomatopoeia
- Why meter is important, even in free verse
- How to construct the rondeau redouble step by step
- How to be your won best editor in the revision process
Who should take this course:
- Writers interested in exploring the world of poetry
- Beginning poets looking to further develop their skills under the guidance of a Published Poet
Course Outline
Session One: Introduction to Poetry
- The difference between poetry and prose
- The poetic process
Writing Assignment: A list of ten personal highs, lows and turning points that you’ll use as sources for the poems you’ll develop in this workshop; A synopsis for the first poem you want to work on, including a title, opening line (encompassing topic and theme), and ending line (encompassing peak experience or epiphany).
Session Two: Viewpoint
- Definitions of poetic viewpoints and the pros and cons of each
- Selecting the “right” viewpoint
Writing Assignment: Revise your poem synopsis from Session One to a different point of view; Write the first draft of two poems: one from your original Session One synposis and one based on the new synopsis from the new viewpoint.
Session Three: Voice Improvisation
- Alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia
- Training your poetic voice
Writing Assignment: Analyze and revise your two poem drafts from Session Two, enhancing the sound effects discussed this week; Compose a free-verse draft of a third idea from your list of highs, lows and turning points.
Session Four: Meter and Meaning
- Why meter is important, even in free verse
- The influence of meter on meaning
Writing Assignment: Revise each of your three poems-in-progress into metrical verse, selecting a meter that harmonizes with the topic of each poem.
Session Five: Rondeau Redoublé
- French forms
- Constructing the rondeau redoublé step by step
Writing Assignment: Compose your own rondeau redoublé, or another French form, based on the techniques in this session.
Session Six: The Revision Process
- The hideous first draft
- How to be your own best editor
Writing Assignment: Revised drafts of your three favorite poems from previous sessions of this workshop, plus the first draft of a fourth poem from your list of highs, lows and turning points.
