AIM Professional Development Seminar Series

THREE DAY POETRY WORKSHOP

FACILITATOR:  Frank Shimerdla

DATES:  Tuesdays - September 16, October 7, October 21

TIME:  10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each day

LOCATION:  ETC Conference Room

SUMMARY:

Creativity in the workplace promotes innovation and enhanced employee engagement.  Culling creative energy, however, is extremely difficult. Like any other skill – and it is a skill – creativity must be honed and regularly exercised to strengthen what I half-jokingly refer to as one’s creative muscles. Simply put, the more one does something, the better he/she will become at that exercise.  Poetry is a medium where the poet is presented with many choices to include issues spanning form, structure, image, sound, subject matter, and voice.  The three-session workshop will guide you in identifying (1) common aspects of good poetry (sorry guys, the work of Rod McKuen is not considered “good” poetry); (2) the various decisions a poet must confront (and conquer) in striving to write good poetry and the lyrical and contextual consequences of these decisions; and (3) language to express the complex reactions we often experience after reading a good poem.  The course will culminate with a true workshop experience, adapted from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop model.  Handouts will be provided in advance of the first session.

Enrollment limited to 8 participants.