Reading a poem before you write can unlock images and memories that take you in an exciting direction. Whether you write poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, using poems as prompts can be a valuable addition to your writing practice. Poems can help you discover topics that move you, as well as help you create settings and develop characters.

In this generative workshop, we’ll read several poems by contemporary poets and use their metaphors, music, and meaning to spark new work of our own. Participants will leave class with several beginnings to new projects.

StoryStudio classes are typically limited to 15 participants or fewer. This intimate setting allows for greater interaction and personal attention.

Related Courses:

Poetic Imagery for Non-Poets

Who Should Attend:

Adults, 18 and over
Writers at all levels

About the Instructor: Laura Ramos Hegwer is a former magazine editor and has been a full-time freelance writer since 1998. Her specialty is writing about “sex, drugs, and health” for patients, families, and healthcare professionals. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, she won a national magazine writing award from the Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. For her creative work, she has been awarded three Ragdale residencies for creative nonfiction and poetry, and was a Glimmer Train finalist for short fiction. She is currently working on a poetry manuscript exploring intimacy, identity, and science.