Poetry Workshop: Exercises to Spark New Poems

When: Tue, June 7, 2022, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM PDT
Where: Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6P 2N4
Cost: $15 or free for members

“Where do you get your ideas?” “How do you deal with writer’s block?” Authors hear those questions a lot. Writers of all kinds, poets and otherwise, are always on the hunt for that next inspiring idea.

But sometimes it works in reverse: sometimes by simply writing—putting one word in front of another, finishing one line and then the next—a poet can uncover a theme or idea they didn’t realize was already there. Finishing a first draft, no matter how basic, is one potential path to inspiration.

In this ninety-minute workshop, writer-in-residence Peter Norman will lead participants through a series of exercises and prompts designed to generate first drafts of poems. Participants will enter with blank pages and leave with a set of drafts—and tricks and techniques that they can use again and again. Those who’d like to share their work will have the chance to do so, but that’s entirely optional; our priority is to create.

Portrait of C.E. Gatchalian

Peter Norman is the author of four poetry collections and a novel. His first book, At the Gates of the Theme Park, was a finalist for the Trillium Poetry Book Award, and his novel, Emberton, was longlisted for the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic.

His poems, essays, and short fiction have appeared in The Walrus, The Malahat Review, Pulp Literature, and numerous other periodicals and anthologies. He has been selected for two editions of the annual Best Canadian Poetry series and shortlisted twice for the Montreal Poetry Prize.