Life Stories Autobiographical Poetry: Making Sense of Our Lives Through the Power and Practice of Story
Date: Thursday, May 9th, 2024
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM (EST)
Format: Virtual workshop on Zoom
Instructors: Georgia Heard and Ralph Fletcher
Come join Georgia Heard and Ralph Fletcher, poets, writers, educators and longtime friends, in a two-hour online workshop at the virtual Poet's Studio. We’ll share insights into our own process of crafting poetry from personal experiences and also offer craft tips on writing autobiographical poems. We’ll discuss the importance of writing with details about the small moments of our lives — moments that might seem unimportant but when viewed with the right attention reveal poetic possibilities. During the workshop, we’ll give a poetry prompt, inviting attendees to craft their own autobiographical poems. Whether you're completely new to poetry or a seasoned poet, whether you write for children or adults — don't miss this opportunity to learn how to tell your life story in poem form.
Cancellation Policy: Please be advised that we cannot accommodate cancellation or refund requests for The Poet’s Studio courses.
Instructor: Ralph Fletcher
Ralph Fletcher has written many poetry collections, books for young writers, and professional books for writing teachers. His most recent picture book is The World’s Loneliest Elephant, illustrated by Naoko Stoop. HarperCollins recently released a new edition of his bestselling book A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You. Ralph frequently visits schools and speaks at educational conferences around the U.S. and abroad, helping teachers find wiser ways of teaching writing. He also has a passion for nature photography. This summer Ralph and Georgia will co-lead the Quoddy Writing Retreat for Teacher Renewal in Lubec, Maine.
Instructor: Georgia Heard
Georgia Heard received the 2023 Excellence in Poetry for Children Award which honors a living American poet for their aggregate work for children ages 3-13. She is the founder of The Poet’s Studio and has taught at Poet’s House, Teachers College, Columbia University, Gothenburg University, and in schools around the world. She is a graduate of the Columbia University Writers’ Workshop.
She is a founding member of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and the author of 19 books. Her most recent poetry book & journal is A Field Guide to the Heart: Poems of Love, Comfort & Hope (co-authored with Rebecca Kai Dotlich), and an anthology of poetry The Woman In This Poem: Women’s Voices in Poetry. She is also the author of several children’s poetry books including Welcome to the Wonder House (Random House), My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness (Macmillan), and Boom! Bellow! Bleat! Animal Poems for Two Or More Voices (Astra Books for Young Readers).