BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Writers Alliance of Gainesville - ECPv6.16.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Writers Alliance of Gainesville
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://writersalliance.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Writers Alliance of Gainesville
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20170312T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20171105T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20180311T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20181104T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20190310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20191103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20200308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20201101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20210314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20211107T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20220313T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20221106T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20230312T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20231105T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20240310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20241103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260428T180000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20260413T025712Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T140142Z
UID:31958-1776164400-1777399200@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:April is National Poetry Month -- Local Activities Continue
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/april-is-national-poetry-month-local-activities-continue/
CATEGORIES:Poetry
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/JPEG-image-449C-8FE7-87-2-scaled-e1776088885229.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="ARTSPEAKSgnv":MAILTO:info@ARTSPEAKSgnv.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260412T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260412T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20260125T130234Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260126T051045Z
UID:31488-1776004200-1776009600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Poetry Play: The Journey of Finding Surprise\, by Aliesa Zoecklein
DESCRIPTION:Come join us on Sunday\, April 12\, 2026\, at 2:30 p.m. when Aliesa Zoecklein will talk about poetry. \nZoecklein’s poems have been published in New Feathers Anthology\, Bacopa Literary Review\, Thimble Literary Magazine\, River Heron Review\, and other journals. Her chapbook At Each Moment\, Air won the Peter Meinke Poetry Prize and was published by YellowJacket Press. \n“The thrill of writing poems is in the discovery\,” Zoecklein says\, “so I love to talk about how we can journey ourselves toward that surprise. I’ll share some practices I use when first searching for my poems and then drafting.” \nShe will offer ideas about how to keep our initial attempts playful and wide-ranging. And how\, if we’re lucky\, these practices can dispel resistance or boredom. She’ll also discuss how shaping the poem—deciding on line breaks\, for example—can help open the poem in a generative way. \n“I am always learning anew how to trust language to lift me toward what I don’t already know. I look forward to exchanging ideas and taking the group through one or two fun exercises. \nZoecklein taught writing for twenty-five years at Santa Fe College. Happily retired\, she lives with her wife in Gainesville\, Florida\, where she writes\, gardens\, and studies Spanish. \nThe program is free and open to the public.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/the-thrill-of-writing-poetry-by-aliesa-zoeklein/
LOCATION:Millhopper Branch\, Alachua County Libraries\, 3145 NW 43rd St.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Poetry,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_1620-e1769202457417.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260308T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260308T190000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20260220T185203Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260220T185203Z
UID:31749-1772985600-1772996400@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:An Invitation to Area Students: ARTSPEAKS
DESCRIPTION:INVITING ALL ALACHUA COUNTY and AREA STUDENTS \nARTSPEAKS: Bringing Poetry & People Together \nPresents the \n12th Annual “COURAGEOUS YOUNG VOICES” Youth Poetry & Creativity Showcase \nCelebrating 12 Years of Uplifting the Voices of Young Students \nThe 12th Annual COURAGEOUS YOUNG VOICES \n4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday\, March 8\, 2026 \nHistoric Thomas Center \n302 NE 6th Avenue\, Gainesville\, Florida \nStudents from Alachua County and the surrounding communities come together at the beautiful Historic Thomas Center to share their powerful voices through the Art of Poetry\, Spoken-Word\, Storytelling\, and other forms of Creative Expression. \nCelebrating 12 years of showcasing youth poetry and creativity\, ARTSPEAKSgnv\, Inc.\, continues to provide a safe and encouraging platform for young people to express themselves. \n“COURAGEOUS YOUNG VOICES” is Free and Open to the Public. \nALL students are invited to participate. Sign up or show up. \nEnjoy poetry\, pizza\, creativity\, music\, and fun! \nLight refreshments served. \nThis event is co-sponsored by the City of Gainesville Department of Parks\, Recreation\, and Cultural Affairs\, a CAPRA-accredited agency. \nFor more information & how to participate\, email ARTSPEAKSgnv\, Inc. \ninfo@artspeaksgnv.org or estanleyrichardson@gmail.com \nhttps://www.ARTSPEAKSgnv.org
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/an-invitation-to-area-students-artspeaks/
CATEGORIES:Poetry,Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Picture1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241001T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241015T120000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20240924T224316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240924T224316Z
UID:30101-1727740800-1728993600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Poetry Contest: Peace on and with the Earth
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/poetry-contest-peace-on-and-with-the-earth/
CATEGORIES:Poetry
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240720T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240720T203000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20240707T181715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240708T001827Z
UID:29938-1721502000-1721507400@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:An Evening of Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Wormhole Books & Records will host an evening of poetry readings by touring poets James Norman and Daryl Gussin and Alachua County locals John Weeks\, Charles Ely\, and J.N. Fishhawk on Saturday\, July 20th\, beginning at 7 p.m. The event is a stop on Gussin and Norman’s summer 2024 Wet Heat Dry Heat Overheat Tour. \n\n\n\nDaryl Gussin is a writer and musician who is currently the managing editor at Razorcake fanzine. His writing revolves around the honest\, bittersweet\, and ultimately triumphant aspects of counterculture and its flavorful inhabitants.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nPoet\, drummer\, nomadic carpenter James Norman assumes the open road would recall his name. Most of his poems are instructions for how to survive the desert of self for long enough to understand the thirst that drives us. Find him online at https://www.zeitgeist-press.com/index.php/authors/james-norman/. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohn Weeks is an author\, musician\, and songwriter from Keystone Heights\, Florida. He recently published his first collection of poetry titled Wiregrass Moon. This collection of poetry chronicles one year in the North Florida environment\, while also contemplating themes of time\, change\, death\, and renewal. \nGainesvillain Charles Ely is an artist and performer whose superpower is making people feel things. Find their poetry album Riverbed at https://poetryismytemple.bandcamp.com/album/riverbed. \nNorth Central Florida poet\, author\, farmworker\, and laborer J.N. Fishhawk is editor of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville’s annual Bacopa Literary Review. More info on his kids’ books and other projects is available at www.fishhawkandrocket.com. \nWormhole Books & Records is online at https://www.instagram.com/23wormhole.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/an-evening-of-poetry/
LOCATION:Wormhole Books & Records\, 1801 NE 23rd Ave\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32609\, United States
CATEGORIES:Poetry,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Daryl-James-Tour-Poster_1.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240411T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240411T210000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20240406T135713Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240406T135949Z
UID:29570-1712858400-1712869200@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Bard & Broadside POETRY FESTIVAL
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Thursday night\, April 11\, for a Community Open Mic in the Harn Museum of Art’s auditorium. This event kicks off the 2nd Annual Bard and Broadside Poetry Festival\, April 11-14\, 2024. The festival is co-hosted by: \n\n     ARTSPEAKS gnv\n     Thursday Night Poetry Jam / Civic Media Center\n     Words On Canvas / University of Florida / Santa Fe College\n     Living Poets Society / University of Florida\n\nThis event is free and open to the public. \nFor more information about the Poetry Festival schedule and activities\, visit https://www.artspeaksgnv.org/north-central-florida-poetry…
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/bard-broadside-poetry-festival/
LOCATION:Harn Museum\, 3259 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32611
CATEGORIES:Festival,Poetry,Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434277784_3534018913513987_2346071414252256548_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240404T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240404T190000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20240321T232706Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240321T234443Z
UID:29506-1712250000-1712257200@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:SPEAK YOUR TRUTH - Poetry Slam
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/speak-your-truth-poetry-slam/
LOCATION:Pugh Hall Ocora\, 296 Buckman Dr\, Gainesville\, FL 32611\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32611
CATEGORIES:Poetry
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Speak-Your-Truth-flyer.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230402T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230402T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20230221T173101Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230225T202328Z
UID:27642-1680445800-1680451200@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Celebrate Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Join us at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday\, April 2\, at the Millhopper branch of the Alachua County Library as we celebrate National Poetry Month with two of Gainesville’s most talented local poets and authors\, Jenna Nishida and Reinfred Addo. \nNishida will discuss “Found Poetry” — from poet’s helper to high art. Whether as an end unto itself or as an exercise in creative thinking\, found poetry can be enriching\, enlivening\, and freeing for poets—especially poets who might be feeling depleted or blocked. Learn about a variety of forms of found poetry\, as well as tips and methods for how to write (and cite) and perform found poems. \nNishida\, who served as Fiction Editor of WAG’s 2021 Bacopa Literary Review\, is one of the co-hosts of Gainesville’s Thursday Night Poetry Jam at the Civic Media Center. An educator by vocation\, she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in literature at the University of Florida. She also has an educational specialist degree in the teaching of secondary English and has taught language arts to children\, teens\, and adult learners. She has made a lifelong study of poetry from multiple cultures and has explored contemporary poetry through events such as the Dodge Poetry Festival. \nReinfred Addo will explain how to do a poetry book launch. \n \nAddo is a Ghanaian-American writer\, and author of the poetry collections Washed Over (finalist for Eyelands Book Awards) and The Dedicadas (recipient of the Royal Palm Literary Awards). His works\, including his health humanities creative writing\, have been published by various organizations such as Tampered Press and in publications such as Signs of Life: An Anthology. \nHe has headlined a series of programs centering on poetry and prose. Performances at many local venues in Gainesville have included works published in Washed Over (such as a crowd-favorite poem “Life’s Students”) as well as unpublished works. \nAddo currently lives in Gainesville and enjoys the area’s arts initiatives\, including Bacopa Literary Review (he’s the poetry co-editor)\, Thursday Night Poetry Jam (host)\, DOPEnmic\, and ARTSPEAKS. \nA book signing will follow the program. \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/celebrate-poetry/
LOCATION:Millhopper Branch\, Alachua County Libraries\, 3145 NW 43rd St.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Poetry,Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/wdjrbpl-q3q.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210411T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210411T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20201202T012726Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201202T012726Z
UID:23795-1618151400-1618156800@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Poet and Author Lola Haskins\, Guest Speaker for Poetry Month
DESCRIPTION:We are honored to have author and poet Lola Haskins as our guest speaker via Zoom on Sunday\, April 11\, at 2:30 p.m. She will speak on openings and closings. She’ll begin with how they work in poetry\, and then go on to address how the principles she’s laid out apply (or don’t) to prose. We invite everyone to link to this Zoom program. (See link below.) \nHaskins’ most recent book of poetry (her 13th) is Asylum: Improvisations on John Clare (University of Pittsburgh Press\, 2019)\, preceded by How Small\, Confronting Morning (Jacar) and The Grace to Leave (Anhinga). The latter and Still\, the Mountain (Paper Kite) won Florida Book Awards.  \nHer previous collections include Desire Lines\, New and Selected Poems (BOA Editions) and The Rim Benders (Anhinga). Two of her out-of-print books\, Extranjera and Hunger (which won the Iowa Poetry Prize) will be re-issued by Red Hen this year. \nHaskins’ prose works include Fifteen Florida Cemeteries\, Strange Tales Unearthed (University Press of Florida)\, and a big-sister advice poetry book\, Not Feathers Yet: A Beginner’s Guide to the Poetic Life\, originally from Backwaters Press\, now re-issued by the University of Nebraska Press. Her books can be found on Amazon or by contacting her at lolahaskins.com. \nLink to Join this Zoom Meeting:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/89973131287?pwd=UWc4WXRaaDl0OWVQWmgwbTBiNHdVQT09 \nMeeting ID: 899 7313 1287 \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/poet-and-author-lola-haskins-guest-speaker-for-poetry-month/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Poetry,Readings,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Haskins-Lola.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201004T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201004T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20200819T212903Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201004T181948Z
UID:23421-1601821800-1601827200@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:2020 Bacopa Readings
DESCRIPTION:Come hear readings from Bacopa Literary Review 2020\, the print journal published by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. \nLocal authors who contributed to Bacopa Literary Review are invited to read from and talk about their 2020 contributions\, including Renee Agatep\, Justin Blair\, J. Brent Crosson\, Jennifer Grant\, David Maas\, Jenna Nishida\, and Lisa Patterson. \nDigital copies of the meeting’s agenda and journal selections are available for viewing and downloading by clicking here. \n\n\nClick on this link to Join this Zoom Meeting:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/89973131287?pwd=UWc4WXRaaDl0OWVQWmgwbTBiNHdVQT09\nMeeting ID: 899 7313 1287\nPassword: 316819\n\nIMPORTANT UPDATE: We had hoped to give out copies of Bacopa to members on October 11\, but the books were lost in shipment. When a new distribution date is set\, members will be notified by email.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/2020-bacopa-readings/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Book Discussion,Poetry,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/canstockphoto70581-002-e1566429225320.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200712T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200712T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20200225T134907Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200710T171859Z
UID:23100-1594564200-1594569600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:J. N. Fishhawk: The Hunt for Live Language: Finding Poetry Everywhere
DESCRIPTION:Program via Zoom. See Zoom link at end of this article.\n \nJ. N. Fishhawk\, Poetry Editor for Bacopa Literary Review\, will speak on Sunday\, July 12\, at 2:30 p.m. \nUnless we are actually sitting down to read\, listen to\, or compose a poem\, most of us don’t think about poetry much\, if at all. For National Poetry Month\, Fishhawk will speak from his own experience of a life in poetry—reading it\, writing it\, listening to it\, organizing events around it\, watching it performed live on stage\, and seeking it in all aspects of life. He will argue that poetry is all around us\, all the time\, and is easily accessible to all. \nFishhawk is a Florida born poet and writer who has called the swamplands of North Central Florida home for over 26 years. His work has appeared in a variety of print and online journals\, such as Steel Toe Review. \nHe is also the author of two poetry chapbooks\, and his first-in-a-series children’s book Billy and Tugboat Sallyforth\, with coauthor Johnny Rocket Ibanez\, débuted at the 2020 Sunshine State Book Festival. \nJoin the Zoom meeting with this link: \nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/89973131287 \nMeeting ID: 899 7313 1287\n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/j-n-fishhawk-to-speak/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Poetry,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/James-Schmidt-Color-Sq.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191006T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20191006T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20190815T043444Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164352Z
UID:22496-1570372200-1570377600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Bacopa Readings
DESCRIPTION:Come hear readings from Bacopa Literary Review 2019\, the print journal published by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. \nLocal authors who contributed to Bacopa Literary Review will be present to read from their 2019 contributions\, including Robbie Curry\, James Thompson\, Jennifer Grant\, Dror Abend-David\, Zachary West\, Grayson May\, Marie Q Rogers\, Jani Sherrard\, J. Nishida\, Oliver Keyhani\, and Creative Nonfiction First Prize Winner Hugh E. Suggs. \nCopies of the 2019 print issue will be available free to WAG members and $10 for non-members.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/bacopa-readings-2/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Sale,Poetry,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/canstockphoto70581-002-e1566429225320.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180812T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180812T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T212410
CREATED:20180628T201728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180822T140538Z
UID:10489-1534084200-1534089600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Poetry: From Basics to Brilliant
DESCRIPTION:Summary of presentation by Bob Crow and Joan Carter \nRukmini Kalamangalam demonstrated how to bring poetry from basic to brilliant\, showing her passion for poetry and using her dynamic style to inform and involve the audience. \nHer tips for enhancing poetry (and other writing): \n\nGet rid of filler words\nGo farther with everything (connections\, metaphors\, etc.)\nDon’t worry about everyone getting everything\nGo wild – do everything you’ve ever dreamed of\nGet it on paper\nREAD\n\nKalamangalam showed slides and read poems by a variety of authors\, including a standard poem followed by a prose poem\, a pantoum\, and a sestina. She described how the forms differed from each other. \nThe prose poem is easier than free verse because there are no rules about line breaks or form. It resembles prose but reads like a poem. \nThe pantoum\, initially created as a type of song\, consists of four-line stanzas\, the second and fourth lines of which become the first and third lines of the next. It’s an interesting way to play with the meaning of words\, with no need to stick right to the rules. \nWriting the sestina starts by picking six words These are the endings of your lines in six-line stanzas. The chosen words rotate from one stanza to the next—the word ending the first line in the initial stanza will end the second line in the second stanza\, etc. This form plays again with word meanings. It’s a cool way to get into a headspace which views words more carefully. \nKalamangalam encouraged us to make all of our writing more vivid\, breaking rules as poets do. She led us in exercises that challenged our creativity\, so we directly experienced major points she was sharing. First\, we wrote a poem (any poetry form) using nouns as verbs. Then we wrote about a favorite topic without employing our customary descriptive words. Several WAG members said they found this session very informative and fun. \nShe closed with a suggested reading list: \n“Afterland” – Mai Der Vang \n“Night Sky with Exit Wounds” – Ocean Vuong \n“Don’t Call us Dead” – Danez Smith \n“Virgin” – Analicia Sotelo \n“Silencer” –  Marcus Walker \nKalamangalam is a current freshman at Emory University. In 2018\, she was named Youth Poet Laureate of the Southwest and a National Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador. Prior to her induction as Houston’s Youth Poet Laureate (2017-2018)\, she was on Houston’s youth slam poetry team\, Meta-Four Houston. \nHer poem “After Harvey” was set to music by the Houston Grand Opera. She has been published by the Houston Chronicle\, ABC 13 Visions\, Houston Public Media\, Mutabilis Press\, and The Apprentice Writer. She has been recognized nationally by Scholastic Writing Awards. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/poetry-from-basics-to-brilliant/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Poetry,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Rukmini-Kalamangalam.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR