So many people tell me they suffered in English class—that they felt fear and shame, and that they had a sense sense they were failing at “unlocking,” “decoding,” or “understanding” literature “correctly.” They were taught that literature is a thing apart, somehow mystical and exclusive, and that they don’t belong unless they have the “right answer.” It’s no surprise many of these folks have shied away from reading books they might otherwise have found pretty juicy, or felt that their own efforts at composition are lacking.
I’m here to rehabilitate that mindset!
Words, poems, and creating ARE for everyone. With the right mindset, a few tools, and some encouragement and practice, both reading and writing (and speaking/performing) poetry can be a delight, a form of freedom, and a way to grow and thrive, especially when things are tough.
If you’re ready to give yourself permission to jump in, go for it, and learn— REALLY learn, the way kids do, through curiosity, playful exploration, exchange of ideas, mimicry, trying and failing and trying again, and then whizzing off without training wheels (as opposed to sitting at a desk sweating over multiple-choice bubbles)— this 6-week adventure is worth considering (see hasty crayon-made poster below).
In summary, though, here are the pertinent details:
WHAT: A 6-week session that meets on Wednesdays during lunch for ANYONE who’s interested in reading **AND/OR** writing poetry. To that end, there are two distinct but not exclusive sections: “Readers’ Heaven” and “Writers’ Playground” which meet in back-to-back 45-minute sessions and are designed to be taken either alone or together. (Plus you have an option to wait and see what you think— there’s a mix-and-match package.)
WHEN: Wednesdays from April 6 - May 11. Readers’ Heaven meets 11:30am-12:15pm, and Writers’ Playground goes from 12:20pm-1:05pm.
WHERE: On Zoom, so, you know, your couch or closet or garage. NO PANTS NECESSARY! HURRAH!
HOW: register via link below; pay via PayPal, Venmo, paper check, or other agreement* once you’ve decided which package you want. You can reply to this email with any questions you might cook up.
*Let me know if you’re interested but this doesn’t fit your budget. We can work something out.
Cameos may include: one cranky bird, two cranky toddlers.
You can register here
xx, Caroline at the DC