August 5 @ 7:00 pm - August 7 @ 7:00 pm
Online
$59Overview
A Two-Night Mini Online Course
This short, generative course has been thoughtfully constructed to engender creative connections, inspiration and abundance. Verse has a unique power to give voice to our inner stories—our memories, joys, challenges, and more—and poetry can unblock this expression to create flow as we access pieces of ourselves and bring them to the page.
If you are unable to attend live, this session will be recorded and sent to registered participants. This program is a great fit if you’re looking for a short course of two, 75-minute sessions offering limited interaction with the community, and engaging poetry prompts.
- Tuesday, August 5, 2025 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Thursday, August 7, 2025 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Webinar-style program with closed captioning available and limited interaction in the chat
- IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND LIVE: If you are unable to attend either session for any reason, you’ll have access to the recordings (with closed captioning) through September 30, 2025.
- Please note that if you register for the course after the start of the first session, you will not receive recordings immediately. You’ll receive both recordings after the close of the last session, usually within 24 hours.
Why This Workshop?
Writing poetry can be a transformative process—particularly because it gives language to experience, creating an effective entry point of connection between your own self, the page, and the world.
It is an especially poignant way to navigate through crisis and fear, into creative abundance.
Join award-winning author Aida Salazar for this short generative course that explores ways to access creative flow through writing prompts, and exercises. Aida will guide us through poetic experiences to bring ideas to the page, as we:
- Use meditation and poetry writing exercises to help find your poet’s voice;
- Add tools in your toolbox to evoke resonance and connection in your poetry;
- Discover ways poets invite readers into memories, joys, and traumas;
- and spend time generating words on the page.
Feedback Expected
- None included in the course. There will be limited interaction in the chat feature of the webinar-style program.
It’s a Great Fit If…
- You are a poet looking for idea generation among fellow poets. Generative sessions should help you explore new ideas and uncover new poems.
- You are working on a verse novel. You can be at any experience level or point in the process. The sessions are geared towards your personal experiences, but could be applicable to character discovery. Also see: Intro to Novels in Verse: Drafting and Deepening.
- You love poetry. We’ll read, write, and appreciate the power of verse.
- You’re stuck on a story in another format or genre. Using poetry to access your inner story can help bring your voice to the page in new ways.
- You’re looking for something short and smart! This is not a full workshop. Instead it is two, 75-minute sessions meant to engage and grow your poetry skills and deepen your care for one another.
Tentative Agenda
At registration: You will receive a Zoom link to use each night of the course.
IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND LIVE:
- If you are unable to attend either session for any reason, you’ll have access to the recordings (with closed captioning) through September 30, 2025.
- Please note that if you cannot attend live but you’d like to receive recording links by email, you must register for this course. Recordings are not sold separately; they are only available to those who register.
- Please also note that if you register for the course after the start of the first session, you will not receive recordings immediately. You’ll receive both recordings after the close of the last session, usually within 24 hours.
All Times are Eastern Time.
Click on the headings below to explore the agenda in more detail.
Part One: Monday, August 5, 2025 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Welcome
- Craft review: Poetry terms and tools
- Meditations & Poetic Exercises:
- What is creative flow – and how can we access it?
- The Ancestor Hour: tapping into memory and history
- Q&A
Part Two: Thursday, August 7, 2025 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Meditation & poetic exercises:
- Powerful tools for accessing inspiration: wonder, longing, fear, and witness
- Navigating through crisis into creative abundance
- Q & A
How It Impacts Kids
As writers for kids and teens, we are called to explore our own experiences and emotions. This two-night mini workshop can help you discover the poetry behind these personal conversations and connections.
Testimonials from Our Community
“Thank you for this inspiring program. I am eager to return to poetry after being away from it for years.”
“I knew I could not attend in person but I signed up because you offered the recording. Having that option was invaluable.”
“Keep the mini courses going for those of us that can’t attend at the Highlights Foundation Campus! It helps us stay in touch and keep our skills growing!!”
