The best way to improve as a poet is to "poem" (i.e., write poetry). The second best way is to read and analyze contemporary poetry to learn new ways of crafting. Join us for this reader series class where we will take a deep dive into the craft of one collection of poetry each month. We’ll unpack form, language, format, and more using examples from a wide variety of writers representing the future of poetry. We’ll also discuss what we can take away and learn for our own writing styles, projects, and processes. Join us for craft talk, writer-centered discussion, and great reading.
NOTE: You can register for just the first session, or receive a discount by committing to the full year.
Session 1
Jan 13: Chrome Valley – Mahogany L. BrowneFeb 10: Feast – Ina CarinoMar 9: April - Sara NicholsonApr 13: Whatever's Forbidden the Wise - Anthony Madrid
Session 2
May 11: From From - Monica YounJune 8: All Souls - Saskia HamiltonJuly 13: How to Communicate – John Lee ClarkAug 10: What You Want - Maureen N. McLane
Session 3
Sep 14: suddenly we – Evie ShockleyOct 12: West: A Translation – Paisley RekdalNov 9: The Thomas Salto - Timmy StrawDec 14: To 2040 - Jorie Graham
Instructor: Michelle R. Smith is a writer, poet, educator, cultural facilitator, and native Clevelander. She is the Programming Director for Literary Cleveland and author of the poetry collections Ariel in Black (2015) and The Vagina Analogues (2020). She has been published in poemmemoirstory, Meridians: feminism, race, transnationalism, The Normal School, The Gasconade Review, New Note Poetry, Merge Magazine, and io Literary Magazine. She has been a featured reader, instructor, and panelist at The Lakewood Public Library, The East Cleveland Public Library, The Cuyahoga County Public Library, The Cleveland Museum of Arts, Cleveland Drafts – Brews + Prose, PNC Fairfax Connection, Case Western Reserve University’s Writers House, and Literary Cleveland’s Inkubator Conference. She is also the creator, co-producer, and director of BLAX MUSEUM, an annual performance showcase for Northeast Ohio artists open to all forms and dedicated to honoring notable black figures in American history and culture.
---Details: Read Like a Writer: Poetry - Session One takes place the second Saturday of each month from 11:00am-12:30pm remotely through Zoom.Prerequisite: NoneGenre: Poetry reader seriesLevel: All experience levels are welcome.Format: Craft-based discussionLocation: This class takes place remotely online via Zoom.Size: Limited to 25 participants (including scholarships).Scholarships: Two scholarship spots are available for this class for writers in Northeast Ohio. Apply by December 11.Cancellations & Refunds: Cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the first class meeting to receive a full refund. Email info@litcleveland.org.
