POET CAMP Registration

In this four-hour class, students will explore the exciting possibilities of integrating prose and poetry into “hybrid” and “mutant” forms of writing, those methods such as the “prose poem” and the “lyric essay” that defy straightforward categorization. These forms of writing allow us to “fetch the bolt-cutters,” in the words of the great songwriter Fiona Apple, and experiment with what happens when we release our grips on the usual parameters of traditional genres. Students will have the chance to closely examine examples of “hybrid” literature written by contemporary authors in a fun and guided environment, with the goal of extracting tools and practices they can use to create their own “mutant” pieces. Students will also have the chance to practice these new skills during the session: they should expect to engage with some fun and generative free-writing and experimentation in real time. This workshop is appropriate for writers of any experience level who is seeking a fun, low-pressure learning environment where risk-taking and laughter are encouraged and welcome. Students will have the chance to share their work with the group only if they choose to.