Jen Levitt

In this workshop, we will practice paying attention to our curiosities and questions, to our inner lives, and to the world around us. We will read poems by a variety of writers who start with the familiar and make it strange. In short, we will track how daily living gets transformed into art. Along the way, we will imitate, try out prompts, experiment with form, and revise toward the unexpected charge in language. Come ready to write new poems, respond generously to the work of your peers, and contribute to our class community. Students will meet with the instructor biweekly in an individual conference to discuss their writing; and by the end of the semester, students will put together a personal portfolio of their work. Writers from whom we will learn include Wo Chan, Tiana Clark, Megan Fernandes, Daniel Poppick, Margaret Ross, Danez Smith, Ocean Vuong, Jenny Xie, and many others. Beginners and experienced poets alike are welcome.