Poetry: An Act of Mischief

Open to all

Limited to 12 participants

American poet Theodore Roethke (1908-1963) once called poetry ‘an act of mischief.’ In this online, hands-on workshop participants will be encouraged to ‘play’ outside the boxes they habitually construct for themselves, to venture into dubious territory, to be mischievous. Sessions will be tailored to meet the needs and interests of the group, with writing triggers designed to coax out your dormant little ‘gems.’ Some of the topics we will explore include imagery, line breaks, and poetic language. What makes a good poem? What are some practical ways of incorporating this knowledge into your own writing? Roughly half of each class will be devoted to theoretical concerns and/or writing exercises; the second half, to workshopping the pieces produced in class and tweaked at home. No texts are specifically required, but you are strongly encouraged to read poetry and/or essays on poetics outside class time and share materials that might be of interest to the group. Beginning, emerging, and intermediate poets welcome.

Carolyn Marie Souaid is the author of eight poetry books and an award-winning novel. She has performed at festivals and literary events in Canada and abroad, and her work has been featured on CBC Radio and in a variety of national and international publications. Her controversial videopoem, Blood is Blood, won a top prize at the 2012 Zebra International Poetry Film Festival in Berlin.  Other books have been shortlisted for the Pat Lowther Memorial Award and the QWF’s A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry.  Carolyn has been guest faculty in creative writing at Bishop’s University and has led several previous QWF workshops.