Reading Contemporary Poetry - January 2025 (FULL)

NOTE: This class is now full, and we are no longer accepting registrations. Sorry! In the meantime, we invite you to check out our other offerings, sign up for our newsletter, and become a member to be the first to hear about newly added classes.

You may have completed a draft, but the story doesn’t end there. In this workshop, learn about the necessary art of revision for fiction projects. From the big-picture, structural overhauls to the line-level details, revision is the key to a stronger manuscript that most closely matches your vision—and that can give you the best shot of publication. Participants must have a piece of fiction (short stories, flash pieces, and novel excerpts are all welcome) ready to submit at the beginning of the course. After an initial workshop, writers will share their revisions by presenting their process to the class while also receiving more feedback and discussing ideas and potential goals for the piece. Workshop pieces will be limited to 20 pages in standard manuscript formatting (double spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font).

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‍‍Details: Fiction Revision with Laura Maylene Walter takes place Monday, March 3, March 10, (not March 17), March 24, March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21, and April 28 from 6:30-8:30pm remotely online via Zoom.

Prerequisite: None

‍Genre: Fiction

‍Level: Intermediate/Advanced

‍Format: Workshop

‍Location: This class takes place remotely online via Zoom.

‍Size: Limited to 8 participants.

‍Scholarships: Two scholarship spots are available for this class for writers in Northeast Ohio. Apply by December 16.

‍Cancellations & Refunds: Cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the first class meeting to receive a full refund. Email info@litcleveland.org.

Join Marion and Barbara to discuss books by three contemporary poets for whom English is their second language. In their own ways these writers write beautiful poetry exploring the insights and tensions provided by their multicultural backgrounds and varied heritages.

Beginning with German born Lisel Mueller, we will read her imaginative and lyrically reflective book, Second Language. In our second session we’ll move to Pure Lizard, by Sujata Bhatt, who grew up in Prune, India and then moved to the United States. Bhatt uses fascinating juxtapositions and the natural world to explore themes of transformation. For our final session we’ll read Nebraska, by Kwame Dawes. Born in Ghana, raised in Jamaica, Dawes now lives in Nebraska and uses that state’s broad, sweeping landscape as a background to explore themes of displacement.

No matter how familiar you are with poetry, we invite you to an open and welcoming conversation. Every session will offer several generative prompts based on the topics and poetic style exemplified by each of the three books.

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Details: Reading Contemporary Poetry takes place Tuesdays January 21, February 4, and February 18 from 1-3pm remotely through Zoom.

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Genre: Poetry

Level: All experience levels welcome.

Format: Literary analysis and discussion with generative writing outside of class.

Location: This class takes place remotely online via Zoom.

Size: Limited to 15 participants (including scholarships).

Suggested Sequence: Follow this class with a craft and/or generative poetry workshop.

Scholarships: Two scholarship spots are available for this class for writers in Northeast Ohio. Apply by April 15.

Cancellations & Refunds: Cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the first class meeting to receive a full refund. Email info@litcleveland.org.