Community Poetry Group & Workshop

Calling all writers and poets! Join us for an eight-week community poetry group and workshop series. Writer Jasmine Jones, along with other local writers and poets, will lead sessions on the craft of writing poetry. Each session will cover a new topic and include time to write and read poetry. Session details are below. Attendees will be given the chance to workshop their current poems, receiving valuable feedback from other writers.

Please register for each session you would like to attend. Be sure to bring a notebook and pen (or laptop) with you to each session.

1. Basics of Poetry - Jan. 23 - What is a poem? Discuss the basic elements of poetry and what makes a poem “good.” Time to write and share poetry. Explanation on the purpose and goal of writing workshops. 

2. Form and Structure - Jan. 30 - Discussion on common forms of poetry and how to choose the best structure for a given poem. Exploration of line breaks and emphasis. Time to write and share poetry. Workshop poetry submitted before class.

3. Sound - Feb. 6 - Guest speaker Amanda Flinn, published children’s author and freelance writer, will discuss writing for children and a younger audience. Discussion on sound and rhythm within poetry. Time to write and share poetry. Workshop poetry submitted before class.

4. Creating Vivid Images - Feb. 13 - Discussion on creating vivid, specific imagery within our poems. How can the specific help ground our poems and make them more impactful to the reader? Time to write and share poetry. Workshop poetry submitted before class. 

5. Reading and Reciting Poetry - Feb. 20 - Guest speaker Kelly Downes, director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, will discuss methods of reciting and performing poetry. Discussion on the art of spoken word poetry. Opportunities to read poetry aloud. Workshop poetry submitted before class.

6. Finding Inspiration - Feb. 27 - Guest speaker Dr. Robert Hamblin, published author, poet and founder of the Center for Faulkner Studies at Southeast Missouri State University, will discuss ekphrastic poetry — poems inspired by art. Time to write and share poetry. Workshop poetry submitted before class. 

7. Deepening Craft - March 5 - Guest speaker Mia Pohlman, editor and writer of special publications at rustmedia and founder of Here. Literary Magazine, will discuss poetry and writing. Time to write and share poetry. Workshop poetry submitted before class. 

8. Publishing/Final Workshop - March 12 - Guest speaker Dr. Jenny Yang Cropp, published poet, associate professor in the Department of English at Southeast Missouri State University and poetry editor for Big Muddy, discusses the craft of poetry. Discussion on methods of publishing your poems, places to submit and opportunities to look for. Time to write and share poetry. Final workshop.

Jasmine Jones is a Project Manager and writer for rustmedia's publications. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and online magazines. She self-published her poetry book, "Ghosts We Become" in 2020 through Barnes & Noble.