The Poetry Projection 2019: Collecting Your Collection Your Poems, Your Book, Your Path Teaching Artist: Danez Smith Section 1 Dates Session 1: January 29 April 23 (6 9 p.m.) Summer Meetings: June 15, July 13, August 24 (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.) Session 2: September 24 December 17 (6 9 p.m.) I think that were beginning to remember that the first poets didn t come out of a classroom, that poetry began when somebody walked off of a savanna or out of a cave and looked up at the sky with wonder and said, Ahhh. That was the first poem. Lucille Clifton A book of poetry is not simply a product. A collection of poetry is not just the sum of many poems. When we are at our best, our books are proof of our living and thinking, proof of our investigations and ferries into our wild world and wild selves. In this class, we will work together to write poetry with rigor, play, and honesty with our sites towards completing a full-length manuscript ready for submission and publication. We will workshop individual poems and, later, manuscript drafts, consider a wide range of work from contemporary American poets, and discuss what one can expect on the many different paths you can take from poem to published. Workshopping our own work, analysis of contemporary collections, lecture, class discussion, and Q&As with local writers and editors will be our primary vehicles for learning along with other activities designed to push students towards better, deeper, stronger work and skills that useful to not just a single manuscript, but a life in poetry. Spring/Winter Reading List Stag s Leap by Sharon Olds Life on Mars by Tracy K Smith Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith Blessing The Boats by Lucille Clifton Not Here by Hieu Minh Nguyen Fall Reading List Ode to Lithium by Shira Erlichman May Day by Gretchen Marquette Forest Primeval by Vievee Francis Black Aperture by Matt Rasmussen Whereas by Layli Long Soldier
Workshop Workshop is a space for all of us consider drafts in hopes of helping one another journey deeper into our own works. Workshop is not a space to cut down or show off, it is not a place where you have to be worried about being perfect or the smartest or the whatever. We have workshop because we are poets and we must come out into the town square as it were and share these budding works with one another. What will be expected of you? Careful consideration of the work of your fellow writers Line edits and handwritten or typed notes back the workshopping poets the day of workshop Critique and encouragement based in the work. What can you expect from me: Written feedback in the form of letters and handwritten notes for larger manuscripts later in the process, line edits and written feedback for individual poems and smaller packets. Critique, encouragement, and guidance through moving these poems from draft to poem to collection. Together, I believe we can foster a space where we are encouraged to take risk and attempt the farther reaches of our creativity. In that safety, let us find the wildness in our work. I expect professionalism and kindness to be centered in our workshop space. With those two guiding stars, I hope we can create bonds as writers, readers, and editors in and beyond the classroom. One on One Meetings Each student is asked to meet with me four times during the course of the year: once during the winter/spring. once at the beginning of summer, one at the end of summer/early fall, and once more after the completion of course work and after the final manuscript has been submitted. Though the main purpose of these meetings will be to discuss work in progress, they are an open space to talk about whatever is on your mind concerning your writing life and professional path. Meetings will be scheduled online, details to come.
The Course Schedule Jan 29 Introductions, Expectations, Goal Setting, And Building A Poem With Poems Feb 5 Review Packet of Poems What makes a poem? Perfect Poems Feb 12 No Class Feb 19 Stag s Leap by Sharon Olds What makes a Collection? Sources, Muses, and Looking: Finding our wells and walking back the buckets Feb 26 Life on Mars by Tracy K Smith Mar 5 Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith Mar 12 Blessing The Boats by Lucille Clifton Mar 19 Not Here by Hieu Minh Nguyen Mar 26 Guest Writer Chapbook Presentations
April 2 April 9 April 16 April 23 Submissions & Such Resetting Goals/Making The Book The Book Future Dates to keep in mind: June 15, July 13, August 31 Summer Session Saturdays (10 a.m. 5 p.m.) Sept 24 Dec 17 Fall/Winter Session Dec 17 Final Manuscripts Due Jan 14 Public Reading at Loft Performance Hall Administrative Policies, Disclaimers, and some Additional Costs to think about: The Loft reserves the right to substitute other writing professionals for any of the above named authors or industry professionals in the event an unforeseen circumstance prevents the participation of anyone listed. There are no refunds for substituted guests. There are no refunds or prorated tuition available to participants who are unable to attend a class session, conference event, final reading, or scheduled one to one session for any reason, including illness, vacation plans, life events, etc. It is the participant s responsibility to participate as fully as possible in all aspects of the program, obtain missed class content from the instructor, and reschedule missed one to one sessions with respect for instructor s schedule.
Visiting authors will either attend class in-person or via a Skype session. As with any Loft class or event, the Loft reserves the right to refuse registration or participation of anyone disruptive to the class environment or disrespectful of the teaching artist, fellow students, or an equitable learning environment for all. There are 2 payment options: 1) Pay in full at the time of registration, for a total one time payment of $7000, (which includes a nonrefundable $500 deposit). 2) Payment plan: $3500 is due at the time of registration, which includes a nonrefundable $500 deposit. 12 monthly payments of $300 will be made January-December 2018 via a credit card number given to the Loft at the time of registration. Credit card must have an expiration date beyond December, 2018. Total tuition for the program on the payment plan is $7100. Loft members receive a discount of $60 and a waiver of the $100 payment plan fee Refund Policy There is a nonrefundable $500 deposit required at the time of registration. Either $7000 (total payment) or $3500 (payment plan) is due in full at the time of registration. If you decide not to participate once registered, you may notify the education department by calling 612-379-8999 no later than 5pm Friday December 7, 2017 to receive a full refund minus the $500 deposit ($6500 for those who paid in full, or $3000 for those who opted for the payment plan). If you choose not to participate and notify the education department of your intention to drop after 5pm on Friday December 7, 2018 through 6pm Tuesday, January 29, 2019 (the start date and time of the first meeting) you will receive a 50% refund: $3500 total refunded for those who paid in full Or 12 automatic payments of $300 totalling $3600 are stopped and the initial $3500 payment is kept by the Loft for those who registered on the payment plan option
A fee of $50 will be assessed for each occurrence of a return of payment for insufficient funds. There are no refunds once the first session has started on January 29; no exceptions. There is no prorated tuition for anyone not wishing or unable to attend their discounted conference events after completing the Memoir Writing Project, the final reading, all 4 one to one sessions, or for missed class sessions. Some additional costs to consider: Copy fees for manuscript printing and workshopping Book purchases (though consider libraries and used book stores) Writing tools (laptop, notebooks, pens/pencils, etc) Transportation to the Loft Parking costs - there is FREE parking available in the Open Book lot on a first come, first served basis. If you have additional questions that haven t been covered here, please contact the Loft education department at 612-379-8999.