Propelling Your Prose with Poetry

Many fiction writers read poetry avidly and carefully, and some say that they will read poems immediately before sitting down to write. In this class, we'll read poems and examine how their effects can transcend genre, offering ways to sharpen our images, to attune our rhythms, to play with metaphor, and to take calculated (and sometimes uncalculated) risks with language. In addition to lineated poetry, we'll look at some prose poems such as those by Victoria Chang that contain characters and strong narrative elements, as well as poetry and prose work by authors like Ocean Vuong and Jorge Luis Borges who are accomplished in both genres.

We'll do a series of exercises that will help writers feel comfortable weaving back and forth, as well as lingering in the middle ground between poetry and prose. Writers who might benefit from this class are poets looking to branch out into prose, prose writers who like poetry but occasionally feel daunted by it, and anyone who wants to expand their reading/writing palette.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

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.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.