The Prose Poem
Explore the possibilities of the prose poem. Each week, we'll read and discuss examples of prose poems (historic and contemporary), then use these conversations to inspire us as we write prose poems of our own.
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Writing the Shadow
Explore the dark self, what Carl Jung called the “shadow” part of our psyche. Sometimes we see it in our dreams, sometimes it appears in dark imaginings. We’ll learn what the shadow can add to our creative writing by experimenting with timed writing, dream journals, guided imagery and Active Imagination.
read moreWriting the Memoir
Thomas Larson writes that “memoir is most successful when it is not the ‘story of a life,’ but a focused part of that life—a dozen summers spent working on a grandfather’s farm, a long relationship with a dying relative, the first year of law school.” You’ll work with writing prompts and timed writing exercises, and […]
read moreAdvanced Poetry Workshop
Have you taken poetry workshops at VisArts? Do you feel ready to deepen your craft? Work with other experienced writers to study, learn new forms and critique your classmates' work.
read moreONLINE: Writing Home
What does it mean to write about home? We’ll examine the many kinds of homes that exist, ranging from houses to nations to the body itself. Our conversation will take us from the Grimms’ Fairytale “Hansel and Gretel” to the present day as we write about our changing relationships with home in the time of […]
read moreShort Story Fiction Writing
Explore short story fiction writing by studying narrative craft elements like story, plot, character, scene, structure, archetypal patterns and dialogue. We’ll examine professionally published pieces and your own work. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to begin a story based on a word or an idea. You’ll also understand how to evaluate […]
read moreFairy Tales Revisited
Why do folktales and fairy tales have such a remarkable staying power? Author and mythographer Marina Warner suggests that it’s “because the meanings they generate are themselves magical shape-shifters, dancing to the needs of their audience.” In this class, we’ll read and discuss fairy tales, both traditional and revisionist. We will then reimagine them, as […]
read moreSpeculative Worlds: Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Story Writing
Got ideas for a science fiction or fantasy story but aren’t sure how to approach it? Have you wanted to try exploring these imaginative genres but need a push to get started? Looking for like-minded folks with whom to share work and explore ideas? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this is […]
read moreNature Poetry
Celebrate and observe the natural world through writing. We’ll explore what others have written about nature and write new poems inspired by your experiences. Plan to read poems, create new work and engage in readings and discussions.
read moreONLINE: Introduction to Songwriting
In this 2-hour session, we’ll talk about how songs are built, including what makes a chorus, a verse, and a bridge. We’ll look at popular songs as we write our own original lyrics. We’ll also talk about the intimidating questions of how to begin and end a song. As we delve deeper into the mechanics […]
read moreExperiments in Generating Quickly: Short Fiction Workshop
Do you: Overthink the first draft? Struggle to get past creative resistance? Every draft is an experiment. In this class, participants will engage with on-the-spot experimental prompts, workshop short drafts, and come away with a new and renewed skill set for their creative process.
read morePoetry Workshop: Revising and Honing your Poetic Vision
This class focuses on basic tips for revising poetry, giving and receiving constructive poetic feedback, and how to further revise a poem after a group workshop. First, get inspired by topics or prompts discussed in class and revise poems you have been working on to get them workshop ready. Then, workshop your poem among peers […]
read moreA Little Bread – a Crust – a Crumb: Celebrating Emily Dickinson (this class is only offered once a year)
Celebrate the poet Emily Dickinson by reading some of her poems, eating her famous cake, and writing poems of your own. We'll also look at some of Dickinson's manuscripts and letters, and we'll consider how her writing process and life experiences shaped her poetry.
read moreONLINE: The Tough Stuff: Healing Through Writing
This class is for the conversations that still need to happen. We’ll talk about the barriers that keep us from writing what we need to write. We’ll also examine works by Chanel Miller, Jeannette Walls, and Layli Long Soldier to take lessons from the ways in which they make difficult topics easier to access. Students […]
read moreSpace, Place, + Identity: Creative Nonfiction (only offered a few times a year)
In this workshop, we’ll write about where we’re from, where we’ve been, and where we hope to go in the future. We’ll generate essays about one’s hometown or region, travel or exploration, and the changed geography of our lives during the pandemic. Part workshop, part craft discussion, part generative space. You will write four short […]
read morePoems, Prose + Pictures
Explore the relationship between words and pictures in a collaborative setting. We’ll use a wide range of visual images (including, but not limited to: photographs, paintings, postcards, and comics) to prompt new creative writing, in the style and genre of your choosing.
read moreFound, Collaged, Erased + Reassembled Poetry
This weekend workshop will explore ways to get out of our heads and into the world for inspiring new entry points into poems. Students look at examples of poems that use materials, scraps, art, visual cues, collage, erasure, and interesting forms/constraints to see what kinds of multi-textual poems we can make. They will be guided […]
read moreWriting is Magic: A Creative Exploration
Whether you're currently working on a literary project or trying to get inspiration, this generative workshop will serve as a gentle and fun way to push yourself creatively. Through prompts, mini-lectures, readings, supportive discussion, group members will work towards realizing their prose visions.
read moreImage-making of the Japanese Masters: Studying Image in Japanese Poetry from Ancient to Modern Times
One of the core principles of Japanese poetry throughout the ages has been the preciseness of its image-making. Study how Japanese poets of the Heian, Genroku, Inter-War periods created timeless images that are still very much accessible today. Students will also be introduced to some contemporary poets currently making waves, and engage in creating their […]
read moreFreewriting Intensive: Fiction + Creative Nonfiction
Do you have story or essay ideas but don’t know where to start? Are you wondering what to do with those completed drafts that need revision? Or, maybe you’re a first-time writer looking for a way into the work? We will break down specific craft elements and then use what we’ve learned to delve deeper […]
read moreRevision Intensive: Fiction Writing
Sometimes revision is about refining the original idea. Sometimes it's about finding new ways into the work. Through pointed questioning, prompts, and fast freewriting, we will generate new ideas for old work. You will come away with several ideas for moving forward on a project.
read moreHaunted Poems
Dickinson once wrote that "Nature is a haunted house–but Art–is a house that tries to be haunted." Come explore some poems that make space for ghosts, monsters, and other such spooky creatures, and write some haunted poems of your own.
read moreONLINE: Publishing Your Book
Whether working on a novel or a memoir, and whether it’s an idea in your head or a manuscript in your hand, this two-hour class will provide you with a sense of what comes next. We’ll talk about large presses, small presses, and self-publishing. We’ll also talk about the differences between pitches and synopses, and […]
read moreRad Revision: Strategies in Poetry to Surprise + Delight
This intensive will guide students through exciting and playful strategies to revise poems. Revising (not necessarily editing) can be one of the most rewarding parts of writing poetry. We can learn strategies that help us open up, follow sound, form, or a repetition in a new way, break the original content or order, and lead […]
read moreIntermediate Poetry
This workshop is for students who have some experience writing poetry and are looking to dig deeper into their writing practice. In this poetry workshop, we'll read published poems (written by contemporary and historical poets), and we'll use this work to inspire our own creative writing work. We'll write poems, and we'll spend time discussing […]
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