"I have always been most inspired by poets who take big risks," says instructor Alison Luterman. "Whether that’s in terms of content or form, I like poets who are in touch with the wildness inside themselves, who push the boundaries in order to sing the almost-unsayable."
In this 3-week class, we'll look at poems by risk-taking poets like Diane Seuss, Danez Smith, and Chen Chen, among others. We’ll use these poems as jumping-off points for our work, doing prompt-driven writing inspired by what we find there. We'll discuss taboos--what do we feel we cannot write about? What would we write if we had no fear, no desire to please the grown-ups? Our conversations will stimulate our creative process and give us permission to take greater leaps in our own work, whether through using charged content or formal techniques like fragmentation and juxtaposition.
Though this class is not a workshop, there will be opportunities to share your work and receive light feedback from Alison and the group. Beginners through experienced writers are warmly welcomed.
About The Writing Salon's Online Zoom Classes
You will be able to participate in live class meetings via Zoom videoconference. To attend classes, you'll need a phone, tablet or computer and access to the internet. You can participate in the class from wherever you'd like, whether on your living room couch or in your office. Before your class meets, you'll receive an email from The Writing Salon with more information about Zoom and your remote class. If you have any questions about remote learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@writingsalons.com.
Alison Luterman is the author of four books of poetry, including In the Time of Great Fires and Desire Zoo, and an e-book of personal essays, Feral City. Her work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, The Sun, Rattle, The Atlanta Review, Catamaran, and many other journals and anthologies. She also writes song lyrics, plays, and is interested in hybrid forms. She has been teaching at the Writing Salon for over twenty years, and has also taught through Poets in the Schools, at New College, at Esalen and Omega Institutes and at workshops and conferences around the country. To learn more, you can visit www.alisonluterman.net.
- Live Zoom Meeting: Thursday, March 06, 2:00pm-4:30pm
- Live Zoom Meeting: Thursday, March 13, 2:00pm-4:30pm
- Live Zoom Meeting: Thursday, March 20, 2:00pm-4:30pm
Alison is a wonderful facilitator! Her openness and enthusiasm are infectious. She's skilled at reading the room and tailoring the pace accordingly. She ensures that everyone's voice has a chance to be heard and encourages us to share our writing as well as our process. As we move through the readings together, she also weaves in many valuable gems related to craft and the creative process.
Alison is not only a fine poet but she is a fine teacher giving each student full attention without making others feel left out. She listens, a huge skill. She gives good feedback, gives you time to write in class, is non-judgemental, everything a student would want in a teacher. She is a charming person and makes everyone feel welcome and valued. And she has an adorable cat.
Alison's class was wonderful. She makes it look easy but it takes a tremendous amount of skill, attention, knowledge and compassion to teach a class as well as she does.