Poetry Writing: A Practical Workshop

Students will write a poem a week, usually following an assignment focusing on a particular strategy or form. Students will present their work for discussion and friendly critique by the workshop, and will be encouraged to revise their work over the semester. There will be some in-class writing exercises; most writing will be done outside of class.
In addition, there will be weekly reading assignments of published poems by established poets, mostly modern and contemporary, usually having to do with the writing assignment. Students may be asked to comment in writing, informally and briefly, on the reading, and should be prepared to discuss the reading in class. Students may also be asked to memorize and recite poems a few times during the semester, and to attend one poetry reading given by an established poet during the semester. There will also be a mini-session on the business of poetry.

Course Requirements:
Class attendance; completion of assignments including but not necessarily limited to those described above, active participation in commenting on others' work; conferences with the instructor, and a final portfolio of work.

PLEASE NOTE
Enrollment is limited to 15 students. TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS COURSE YOU MUST SUBMIT 3-5 ORIGINAL POEMS OF ANY STYLE AND LENGTH. Submit your poems to Gustavus Stadler, at Woodside Cottage, by 5/30 at the latest. Please note that all submissions must be typed or computer-printed, and that each page should be labeled with the author's name, year, e-mail address, and college; BMC students, please include campus mailbox number. Electronic submissions and handwritten submissions will NOT be considered. Submissions of less than three poems and late submissions will be considered only after submissions meeting the requirements have been considered. Be sure to include your email address, and the instructor will be in touch with you shortly before the start of fall term.