Wallace Stevens once said, “The essential thing in form is to be free in whatever form is used.” But what does that freedom look like for a poet? Does it mean following strict rules, or is there space for more intuitive exploration? In this workshop, we’ll dive into the exciting world of poetic forms, discovering how structure can spark creativity and open new possibilities. We’ll explore a mix of traditional forms like the sonnet and villanelle, as well as more contemporary and experimental forms, such as ghazals, golden shovels, cascades, and poetic collage. Through hands-on writing exercises and sharing drafts with the group, you’ll have the chance to experiment, play, and revise in a supportive and open environment. By the end of the week, you’ll leave with fresh material, new tools for embracing both the freedom and constraints of form, and a renewed sense of how breaking the rules can sometimes lead to the most surprising and exciting poetry. This workshop is open to novice and seasoned writers alike—no previous experience is required! In this workshop, we will generate new writing through guided exercises and prompts; offer feedback/first impressions on writing you produce in our week.

For writers, getting your work published and recognized is a step toward realizing your goals as an author. However, finding the right contests or publications can be challenging, time consuming, and even mystifying. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll talk through all the joys and perils of the submission process and the world of publishing poetry. We’ll review lists of helpful tips, look at ways to identify and find publishers who might be receptive to your work, practice methods to track and manage your submissions, and even talk about how to deal with rejection. We’ll cover strategies for submitting individual poems to literary journals, as well as strategies for submitting chapbooks and book-length manuscripts for publication, using the features of Submittable, a submission management system for the literary world. There will be a lot of time for questions and discussion, and our workshop will in part be tailored to your curiosities and interests. You'll leave armed with tools to identify journals and publishers that are a good fit for your work, the know-how to create a personalized submission strategy, and a new confidence in sending your work out for publication.