In this course, students will envision and write a chapbook of poetry from start to finish. Using a creative approach to conceptual development, each student will spend the semester outlining, writing, and compiling a book of poems. Each week, participants will write and workshop poems with the class, focusing not only the individual pieces, but their work as a whole. The goal is write a book that is both interesting line to line, and didactic in its completeness. By the end of the semester, students will learn what it takes to plan and execute a writing project; as well gain and enhance their knowledge in creative workshopping, and preview an introduction to some of the fundamental elements of poetry. The class is open to writers of all experience and there are no prerequisites.

During the course of the semester, we will examine published chapbooks, books, and poems from an array and diverse selection of authors. By learning from these examples, we will identify and discuss key tenets in writing poetry, and how to adapt them into our own work. The purpose of the class is to confront the often anxiety inducing act of completing a creative writing project, and by leaning on the class structure and on peer support, finish a book that is ready to be published. NOTE: The primary result will be creating the content of our books, but we will briefly begin learning how to format our work, and the steps to attempt publishing.

Each week, students will be required to write a poem and workshop it with the class. Because of this, attendance and participation will be mandatory and constitute the majority of the class. In addition to weekly meetings, we will be reading and discussing already published work. While all readings will be available online, it is encouraged to purchase the books we review, as it will help inspire us in our own vision for a finished product.

The class will be open to 30 students who arrive on the first day of class (Tuesday Jan 21st 6-8pm; 183 Dwinelle) - in the event that more than 30 students arrive, a brief application process will be implemented.