Reading Groups and Classes

SIGN UP FOR A READING GROUP OR CLASS

Reading Groups

Reading Groups are facilitated sessions guiding committed poets and poetry readers in a practice of reading more deeply, creatively, and intentionally. Each month, groups perform a close reading of a current book of poetry—books that are overlooked and underrated, books that have something important to tell us about what it is to be alive today.

Groups meet once a month for two hours. Outside of meeting times, I’ll support your reading with prompts, guiding questions, and supplementary materials with a special focus on issues of craft. Together, we’ll develop a deeper understanding of how great poetry is made: reading not just for content (what poets write), but for structure, process, and choice (how poets think). Reading this way can help us to think more fearlessly and creatively about the choices we face: in our own writing, and in how we live. 

Reading groups typically meet the last Sunday of the month or the last Thursday of the month. The Sunday and Thursday groups read different books. I provide supplementary material including links to reviews, interviews, and other relevant information, guided reading questions, and writing prompts for each book. These and the syllabi are contained in a shared Google document.

Classes

I offer classes on a variety of topics related to craft, form, technique, and topics in literary culture. Current class offerings appear below; please follow me on Instagram (@the_sharpener_poetry) and Facebook for news about upcoming classes, or come back to this page for updated listings.