Quebec Writers' Federation Workshops

Fall Session 2010

Saint-Exupéry's Little Prince drew a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. Grown-ups saw only a hat. The Little Prince listened to the feedback: he drew another picture showing the inside of the boa so the elephant could be seen. Now, had he wanted to, the Little Prince might have recycled the unplanned "hat" of his first draft—perhaps by adding a turquoise feather and a smudge of guano. Sometimes an early draft of a poem doesn't render the original inspiration but can itself be an inspiration. In this workshop we'll focus on how to choose and organize words to make visible the "elephant" and/or to add character to the "hat." But the main goal will be to have fun creating and shaping poems.

This workshop is open to poets with all levels of experience. Each session, we'll plan to discuss poems by 2 or 3 participants (we'll set up a rotation on October 7th) to provide feedback useful to revision—to reveal the elephant inside the boa, or to add character to the hat. We'll discuss processes within a poem that give it direction (poetics), and on occasion, limber up with some writing exercises.

For discussion at the first meeting, participants are asked to bring a published poem (by a poet other than yourself) that you love or find interesting. Also, think about what typifies your own writing, perhaps with a brief excerpt to illustrate your concerns.

Pen and paper are always a good idea.

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