Meaningful Steps Into Poetry Course

Program Overview

This one-day poetry workshop, led by acclaimed poet Gustavo Hernandez, explores the fundamentals of modern poetry. Students will delve into the works of renowned poets and learn techniques for crafting impactful poems through vivid imagery, surprising syntax, and conciseness. The workshop is suitable for both aspiring and experienced writers seeking to enhance their poetic skills.

Program Outline

Outline:

This course is designed for beginning and intermediate writers of poetry and those curious about entering the world of poetry. Students will discuss some of the basic characteristics of modern poetry and will explore how their own individuality and experiences together with a focus on fine detail, surprising syntax, and conciseness can be used to create memorable, impactful poems. Students will read work by Louise Glück, Saúl Hernández, Diane Seuss, Christine Garren, and others.

Teaching:

This one-day event will be led by guest instructor Gustavo Hernandez, author of the acclaimed poetry collection Flower Grand First (Moon Tide Press) and the micro-chapbooks Form His Arms and Little Fleece (Ghost City Press). His work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Harvard Review, The Slowdown Podcast, and The Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-Day series. In January 2024, Hernandez was appointed Poet Laureate of Orange County, California. He was born in Jalisco, Mexico and was raised in Santa Ana, California, where he still resides.