This comprehensive ten-week workshop provides instruction through lectures, creative writing exercises, and thoughtful critique of student poetry. The course welcomes beginning writers and anyone seeking to strengthen their understanding of poetry fundamentals. A complete syllabus is available below for your review.
Poetry represents the concentrated essence of language: dense with meaning in the smallest space, each word carrying tremendous power. Consider it the pinnacle of literary achievement, distilled and explosive with possibility. Poetry's influence has persisted across millennia, stirring the hearts of those most moved by language and beauty. If you perceive hidden melodies in conversation, sense the texture of the wind, or witness the sunrise as an explosion of light and color, you possess the sensitivity from which great poetry emerges.
Crafting exceptional poetry demands mastery of the fundamental technique of achieving maximum emotional and intellectual impact using the minimum number of words. Within this course, you will study the specialized techniques, structural forms, and unique demands of poetry, alongside practical guidance for publishing and sharing your work with audiences. Whether your vision includes writing for literary publication, live performance, or personal artistic fulfillment, this instruction will teach you to create poetry of genuine beauty and power.
This workshop provides fundamental instruction in poetry craft and guides you through completing one or two poems. The course structure includes the following elements.
- Instructional lectures on poetry techniques and forms
- Creative writing exercises for skill development and experimentation
- Peer workshops where each student presents work for feedback on two occasions
Course syllabi vary by instructor and term, though many topics align with those covered in online sections.
About This Course:
- Zoom sessions unite writers from every continent at Gotham, New York's most respected writing school.
- Zoom classes are conducted in real-time through videoconference, functioning similarly to in-person instruction, with all students participating from their own location using computers or devices. Zoom is free and straightforward to use.
- Zoom writing classes are accessible from anywhere with internet access. The majority of participants join from the United States, though our student body extends across countries worldwide.
- Technical support is available throughout the course. Respecting participant privacy, Zoom sessions are not recorded.
