Join us for A Formal Feeling Comes, a six-week poetry workshop led by Sebastian Merrill, where we’ll dive deep into the world of poetic forms. Running from September 11th to October 23rd (with a break on October 16th), this workshop meets every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 PM EST, offering a unique opportunity to explore how structured forms can actually unlock creativity rather than constrain it.

In this workshop, we’ll explore how formal constraints can serve as vessels for evoking deep emotional experiences and uncovering new meanings in your poetry. Each week, we’ll focus on a different poetic form—from sonnets to villanelles, ghazals to pantoums, and even innovative forms like The Golden Shovel and Duplex. Through a combination of discussions on published works, generative writing assignments, and collaborative workshops, you’ll be encouraged to both work within and push against these traditional structures.

What to Expect:

• In-Depth Discussions: Each session begins with a focused discussion on a specific poetic form, complemented by an analysis of published poems that exemplify or subvert the form’s conventions.

• Generative Assignments: Every week, you’ll receive a writing prompt related to the form discussed, encouraging you to create new work between sessions.

• Collaborative Workshopping: We’ll spend significant time in peer review, where you’ll submit one poem each week for group feedback. This supportive environment will help you refine your craft and expand your poetic repertoire.

Workshop Breakdown:

• Week 1: September 11th - Introduction to Form & The Sonnet

• Week 2: September 18th - Villanelle

• Week 3: September 25th - Ghazal

• Week 4: October 2nd - Pantoum

• Week 5: October 9th - Abecedarian

• Week 6: October 23rd - The Golden Shovel, The Duplex, & Creating Your Own Forms

Important Dates:

• Workshop Dates: September 11th, 18th, 25th, October 2nd, 9th, and 23rd

• Time: 6:30-8:30 PM EST

• Location: Zoom