New Workshop—The Joy of Poetry Begins Us

A special writing workshop with author and editor Megan Willome

Begins Monday, September 7. Sign up by August 28 to avoid a late registration fee.

“Can you recommend a book?” a friend recently asked.

I replied, “What do you like to read?” because this is a new friend. She runs a domestic violence shelter.

“I need something not-heavy,” she said. “Something to inspire me.”

She needs poetry.

In these days of vitriol and disorder we call 2020, we crave something that can carry our heaviness for us. Something that spurs us on to show up on the page. Something that enables us to show up for each other even when we have to stay masked, six feet apart.

We need poetry — now more than ever. We need to read it. We need to write it. We need to share it. We need to become poetry literary citizens.

The Joy of Poetry Begins Us is an 8-week class about fostering community among those who love the written word. It’s about becoming people who move beyond the beautiful world of the poems themselves and into friendships and love. There is healing to be found, and we’ll find it together.

We’ll read two books: Neruda’s Memoirs, a poetry collection by Maureen Doallas, and Waiting for Neruda’s Memoirs, by Laura Boggess. Maureen’s poems invite us to Enter, Listen, Exit, and Remember, and Laura’s novella gives us a character who does just that.

Along the way you will practice keeping, saving, and making your life with poems and finding ways to spread the joy of poetry, one person at a time.

8-Week Course Includes

• Reading Laura Boggess’ Waiting for Neruda’s Memoirs (free digital copy included with the workshop)

• Keeping a poetry journal as we read Maureen Doallas’ Neruda’s Memoirs (free digital copy included with the workshop)

• Saving a list of people with whom you can enrich community using the written word

• Making jealous (or not so jealous) poem stacks to aid you in writing unexpected poems

• Engaging (or not 🙂 ) with a daily writing prompt or a question drawn from our readings

• Six online discussions you can participate in at your convenience and two live Zoom video chats (also recorded to access later)

8-Week Course Premium Includes

• The opportunity to submit either a piece of prose or poetry (no more than 800 words, please) and receive encouragements and suggestions

• Maintain lifetime access to the workshop classroom and all its materials

How It Works

The workshop will take place in a secure forum and will primarily unfold in your own quiet writing space. Once a week we will have an online, come-and-go, take-it-at-your-own-pace discussion.

Each day I will present a writing prompt or a question drawn from our readings. You are welcome to respond in the comments or privately, in your own journal.

For You

Private online group classroom where you can be assured of a setting that’s been set aside just for you. No distracting social media setup to contend with.

Note to Teachers 

You may be able to get professional development units for our courses. We recommend this service offered by Courses4Teachers (and that you check with your district beforehand).

You Will Need

A computer or mobile device with an Internet connection capable of accessing our interactive online space and participating in Zoom chats. And you’ll need your favorite writing devices: computer, tablet, pencil, pen, notebook paper, Moleskine, spiral, or other creative tool.

Your Workshop Leader

Megan Willome is an editor at Tweetspeak poetry and a writer for Wacoan magazine, Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, Chronic Joy, and Magnolia Journal. She is the author of The Joy of Poetry: how to keep, save, & make your life with poems. Her day is incomplete without poetry and tea.

8 Week BASIC Workshop—$350 + $10 Late reg fee = $360 BUY NOW

8 Week PREMIUM Workshop—$395 + $10 Late reg fee = $405 BUY NOW

From Past Tweetspeak Workshop Participants

Sharon Gibbs: Thank you for making Tweetspeak Poetry such a rich area of living and learning. The workshops are not only life-changing, but they have blessed me with friendships and community outside the classroom(s).

Laura Lapins Willis: The writing workshop I’m taking with Tweetspeak Poetry has been transformational. I’ve had a great teacher/mentor who has encouraged our group with interesting readings and assignments. My classmates have broadened my perspective and challenged me to be a better reader and writer.

Brad Grout: I am personally getting so much out of this memoir workshop…you people are AMAZING!

Lane Arnold: I struck gold. An afternoon session of writing poetry is good for the soul. The poetry workshop is a catalyst for creativity.

Lexanne Leonard: The most important step I’ve taken is to join Tweetspeak’s Poetry Workshop with Anne Doe Overstreet. I cannot begin to thank Tweetspeak, Anne, and my fellow students for this journey.

Darlene S.: I don’t think I can put into words both the overall value of the lessons learned and the encouragement I got.

Debra Hale-Shelton: My writing had become formulaic after so many years having to write the facts and just the facts. For the first time in years, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my craft, again dreamed of becoming what I dreamed of at age 18—a writer, not a reporter.

Rhonda Owen: Both of the Tweetspeak workshops I’ve taken this year have nourished me on so many levels. I also feel energized and revitalized through the relationships I’ve formed with the lovely, talented, kind people I’ve met in the workshops. Transformative is the best word to describe it…

Sandra Heska King: This was absolutely the single best whim I’ve followed.

Photo by Yancy, Creative Commons, via Flickr.