6 Weeks, 3 Poems

Want to experiment with new forms of poetry, but aren’t sure where to begin? Or do you find yourself with too many ideas to commit to one? Whatever the case, if you’re ready to produce new work, this class is for you! This course will offer you two goals: to write three new poems, and to gain skills and habits that reinforce/shake-up your independent writing practices.

Over six weeks, we’ll explore different poetry forms and themes, reading published examples from authors like Joy Harjo, Hanif Abdurraqib, Sam Sax, Natalie Diaz, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, and studying the craft behind them. We’ll put the tools we learn into practice through a series of exercises and writing prompts meant to generate work, create surprising images and connections, and introduce more forms to your writerly toolbox. You’ll also have the opportunity to share 3 new poems for impressions and feedback from your fellow writers, to help you identify and develop the “heat” of your poems. During the second half of class, you will develop these drafts, and submit a revised version of one of them for a more comprehensive workshop from the rest of the class. 

You will leave the course with fresh drafts of three poems and the insight, inspiration, and knowledge of craft to continue developing them.

Class Format

This is an Online: On-Demand class that will take place on our asynchronous online learning platform, Wet.Ink. Weekly lessons and assignments open each Wednesday. Students will receive an invitation to Wet Ink before 5pm on the first day of class!

*NOTE that while our handy dandy "Schedule" tab states a 6-7pm class time, there are actually no live meetings for this class! Weekly lessons and assignments open each Wednesday. Students will receive an invitation to Wet Ink, our online class platform, before 5pm on the first day of class.

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.