“Cc Me!” Writing Letter Poems

"Writing can be a lonely act, and it often seems no one's listening," says instructor Cate Lycurgus. "In this class we'll explore the letter poem and its potential for connection, discovery, and catharsis. Whenever I’m discouraged by writing or its ability to reach and move people, I turn to letter poems which bring me closer to the root of poetry—that lyric song, that little whisper in one person’s ear that the best poems always feel like.”

Each meeting of this 3-week class will begin with a generative exercise to stretch our writing muscles and get ideas flowing for writing letter poems. In the 2nd and 3rd weeks, we’ll share pieces from the previous week’s take-home prompt and offer light feedback. "The group will provide statements of observation," says Cate, "but not fix-it critique." 

Throughout the class we'll read letter poems by poets including Matthew Olzmann, Danez Smith, Emily Dickinson, and June Jordan, and discuss, among other topics, what content a letter poem can hold (whether confessions, apologies or secrets), how to tell a story in a letter poem, and how to navigate the triangle of poet, addressee, and reader. To try out the strategies we've discussed, we'll engage in bold and playful writing exercises, both in class and at home, and close out the class with a take-home prompt to keep the writing going.

Cate says, “By the end of three weeks, you’ll leave with a greater appreciation for letter poems, three new drafts, and many opportunities for writing (and perhaps sending off!) new work.”

About The Writing Salon's In-Person Classes

Before your class meets, you'll receive an email from The Writing Salon with more information about the class. If you have any questions about in-person learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@writingsalons.com.