Surprise the Line
All-Levels Generative Poetry Workshops
Since 2017, I’ve been offering community poetry workshops to the greater Long Beach area. Surprise the Line invites writers of all interests, backgrounds, and experience levels to write and learn in a fun, supportive workshop setting.
Writing is good for the soul, and poetry allows room for your imagination to roam. Whether you are most interested in finding your voice, honing your craft, learning new writing techniques, facilitating healing, or simply connecting deeply to yourself, others and the world around you, I welcome you to join us in one of our all-levels poetry workshops!
Motivating Philosophy: Structure allows room for experimentation. Taking our work seriously doesn’t mean taking ourselves too seriously! Invite surprise onto the page. Have fun! Poetry is discovery. What else is there to do but create?
Feedback Philosophy
We first give feedback as witness rather than critic. We express what we like, what we observe, how we are responding to the work, questions we may have, and what we want to know more about. Learning from what IS working is just as valuable as what’s NOT. We treat the work with respect and care. The poet may indicate if they are open to more in-depth craft-level critique, otherwise we appreciate what is on the page as a first draft.
Why do it this way? The focus of these generative workshops is to simply generate words on a page. Writing our lived experience and exploring our thoughts and feelings is valuable. Practicing writing consistently makes us better writers. Practice over perfection. We meet each other where we’re at. These workshops are designed to be a safe and brave space for us to leave feeling connected and inspired. All experience levels are welcome because we all learn from each other.
Pandemic Update
As we all adjust to the enormous impact that the coranavirus is having on everyday life, I am offering a virtual version of my Surprise the Line workshops. These workshops are designed to inspire your creativity, propel you forward in your craft & spark joy and connection in this strange time we’re all living in.
I’ll provide some writing inspiration and prompt, but you are also welcome to bring whatever you like to share, whether it adheres to the prompt or not. This is a low-pressure environment to get what you want out of poetry and have a good time!
All levels means you
Even if you don’t identify as a writer, you belong here. This is a supportive space and you will be welcomed with open arms.
Experienced writers, you know the deal: A prompt and a deadline spurs us to actually write something. Give yourself the gift of workshop!
Weekly Workshops Are Paused Until 2021
Please sign up for my email list to be informed of the next round of in-depth weekly workshops.