The writing of a poem is like a child throwing stones into a mineshaft, said James Fenton. You compose first, then you listen for the reverberation.
“In this workshop course for continuing poets with some prior experience,” says instructor Steven Winn, “we will bring our work to class, listen closely to the reverberations and refine them into the very best poems they aspire to be.
“Students will exchange their work online in advance of each class, to make our time together as productive and fruitful as possible. The emphasis will be on honing and sharpening the thought, form, language and sound of each poem.
“While some outside reading of published verse will help frame and sharpen our discussions, this is primarily a workshop, with a tight focus on each student’s writing. Poetry requires both the silent, daring space of that child at the mineshaft and the communal attention and mutual support of the seminar room.
“This course offers the impetus to persist and a place to be carefully heard.”
Steven Winn has taught writing at the University of Washington, guest lectured at the University of California, Albion College and others and led courses for the Road Scholar program. A former Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and frequent interviewer for City Arts & Lectures, he has published poetry in Antioch Review, Cimarron Review, Poet Lore, Prairie Schooner, Southern Poetry Review, ZYZZYVA and elsewhere. His work has been re-printed by Poetry Daily and Verse Daily. He spent 28 years as an arts and culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and continues as a freelance contributor. His memoir Come Back, Como (Harper) has been translated into nine languages.
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“In this workshop course for continuing poets with some prior experience,” says instructor Steven Winn, “we will bring our work to class, listen closely to the reverberations and refine them into the very best poems they aspire to be.
“Students will exchange their work online in advance of each class, to make our time together as productive and fruitful as possible. The emphasis will be on honing and sharpening the thought, form, language and sound of each poem.
“While some outside reading of published verse will help frame and sharpen our discussions, this is primarily a workshop, with a tight focus on each student’s writing. Poetry requires both the silent, daring space of that child at the mineshaft and the communal attention and mutual support of the seminar room.
“This course offers the impetus to persist and a place to be carefully heard.”
Steven Winn has taught writing at the University of Washington, guest lectured at the University of California, Albion College and others and led courses for the Road Scholar program. A former Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and frequent interviewer for City Arts & Lectures, he has published poetry in Antioch Review, Cimarron Review, Poet Lore, Prairie Schooner, Southern Poetry Review, ZYZZYVA and elsewhere. His work has been re-printed by Poetry Daily and Verse Daily. He spent 28 years as an arts and culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and continues as a freelance contributor. His memoir Come Back, Como (Harper) has been translated into nine languages.
The writing of a poem is like a child throwing stones into a mineshaft, said James Fenton. You compose first, then you listen for the reverberation.
“In this workshop course for continuing poets with some prior experience,” says instructor Steven Winn, “we will bring our work to class, listen closely to the reverberations and refine them into the very best poems they aspire to be.
“Students will exchange their work online in advance of each class, to make our time together as productive and fruitful as possible. The emphasis will be on honing and sharpening the thought, form, language and sound of each poem.
“While some outside reading of published verse will help frame and sharpen our discussions, this is primarily a workshop, with a tight focus on each student’s writing. Poetry requires both the silent, daring space of that child at the mineshaft and the communal attention and mutual support of the seminar room.
“This course offers the impetus to persist and a place to be carefully heard.”
Steven Winn has taught writing at the University of Washington, guest lectured at the University of California, Albion College and others and led courses for the Road Scholar program. A former Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and frequent interviewer for City Arts & Lectures, he has published poetry in Antioch Review, Cimarron Review, Poet Lore, Prairie Schooner, Southern Poetry Review, ZYZZYVA and elsewhere. His work has been re-printed by Poetry Daily and Verse Daily. He spent 28 years as an arts and culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and continues as a freelance contributor. His memoir Come Back, Como (Harper) has been translated into nine languages.
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“In this workshop course for continuing poets with some prior experience,” says instructor Steven Winn, “we will bring our work to class, listen closely to the reverberations and refine them into the very best poems they aspire to be.
“Students will exchange their work online in advance of each class, to make our time together as productive and fruitful as possible. The emphasis will be on honing and sharpening the thought, form, language and sound of each poem.
“While some outside reading of published verse will help frame and sharpen our discussions, this is primarily a workshop, with a tight focus on each student’s writing. Poetry requires both the silent, daring space of that child at the mineshaft and the communal attention and mutual support of the seminar room.
“This course offers the impetus to persist and a place to be carefully heard.”
Steven Winn has taught writing at the University of Washington, guest lectured at the University of California, Albion College and others and led courses for the Road Scholar program. A former Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and frequent interviewer for City Arts & Lectures, he has published poetry in Antioch Review, Cimarron Review, Poet Lore, Prairie Schooner, Southern Poetry Review, ZYZZYVA and elsewhere. His work has been re-printed by Poetry Daily and Verse Daily. He spent 28 years as an arts and culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and continues as a freelance contributor. His memoir Come Back, Como (Harper) has been translated into nine languages.
show less
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The Writing Salon
2121 Bonar Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
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