Spring Forms
A new online course on formal poetics, coming March and April 2026
I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions because I already let myself down plenty during the regular calendar year. But I do believe in continual growth, which is why, with great excitement, I have decided to offer a seven-week, six-session online course on poetic forms and formal experimentation in the spring of next year. Six Saturdays, Mach 28 to May 9. April 18 will be off.
With the shuttering of my beloved Iowa Summer Writing Festival, I was mourning the widespread loss of online poetry programs in recent years. I counted on my income from teaching for the festival, and was fed heart and soul by my once- or twice-annual teaching experiences there. I know many writers and educators are feeling this way, whether they attended the festival once or fifteen times. And I know that others are feeling the hit in other communities, as arts organizations struggle to keep their doors open.
My remedy is to take matters into my own hands, meaning that I will be running this course on my own, without the scaffolding of a major institution. (My standard poodle, a minor institution indeed). I have been teaching poetry and literature courses in online modalities for almost a decade, including the last six months, when I have launched multiple weekly writing workshops, and so I feel ready for this next challenge. I hope that this means I can offer a truly bespoke, experimental, and affordable course.
We will deeply engage with one poetic form (as well as many of its propagations, manifestations, and spin-offs) each week. Writers of all experience levels are welcome, including beginners and experts. Each session will be three-hours long with a break at halfway. Lectures will be recorded and distributed, in case you need to miss a session, You can expect lectures from me, rich discussion with your peers, generative writing opportunities, and feedback on (optional) weekly submissions.
Reach out here, on social, or by email if you have questions, and register for the class by clicking the button below and scrolling to “Spring Forms.” I hope to see you in the spring.