I’ve been thinking about what makes a good poetry workshop. Here are a few ideas.
A good workshop should have:
1) generative prompts that the leader sends out before the workshop
2) assignments of model poems to be read and discussed in class
3) a packet of poems by all the participants submitted in advance of the workshop
4) plenty of time during the workshop to read each participant’s poem twice and discuss its strengths and make positive suggestions about possible changes
5) time to revise built into assignments, so that poems return to a later gathering of the workshop for another reading
6) a leader who can facilitate ongoing positive and fruitful discussion of workshop poems
I’m sure I’ve missed points that you think are important and would welcome your comments and suggestions. In my next entry I will describe several workshops I have taken at The Frost Place or the FAWC.
A good workshop should have:
1) generative prompts that the leader sends out before the workshop
2) assignments of model poems to be read and discussed in class
3) a packet of poems by all the participants submitted in advance of the workshop
4) plenty of time during the workshop to read each participant’s poem twice and discuss its strengths and make positive suggestions about possible changes
5) time to revise built into assignments, so that poems return to a later gathering of the workshop for another reading
6) a leader who can facilitate ongoing positive and fruitful discussion of workshop poems
I’m sure I’ve missed points that you think are important and would welcome your comments and suggestions. In my next entry I will describe several workshops I have taken at The Frost Place or the FAWC.