Description
Three Saturdays, Sep 21-Oct 5, 10:30am-1:30pm
Open to all
Limited to 12 participants
Hybrid Workshop*
“Your Life in Verse” is a beginner-friendly workshop for writers who dare to be the undeniable speakers of their poems. In this nine-hour workshop spread over three Saturdays, writers can expect to be guided in a series of exercises that will immerse them in the poetic and narrative qualities of their memories. Participants will also examine examples of performance poetry to prompt and inspire their own storytelling. Writers will choose life stories they are ready to share in verse and write poems that are begging to be said out loud. This workshop will be a nurturing environment for brave poets of any experience to take risks with the vulnerability of their writing, editing, and performance processes.
Weekly summary:
Week 1: Introduction to Spoken Word Poetry & Writing Exercises
Between weeks 1 & 2: Complete a draft of a poem inspired by a prompt in week 1.
Week 2: Editing Practices for Storytellers & Introduction to Performance Skills
Between weeks 2 & 3: Finish editing the poem started in week 1 & start rehearsing it (familiarity with the words of your poem is highly encouraged but memorization is entirely optional).
Week 3: Performance Skills Continued & Mock Open-Mic
*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Westmount, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you can’t attend in person and would like to request a virtual slot, contact Riley at riley@qwf.org and wait for confirmation before registering. Please do not register until after you receive confirmation that there is a virtual spot for you.
