The Light and Dark in Poems and Personal Essays

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Doni Wilson

TIME: Saturday, September 21, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. CDT

PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, September 15. After Sunday, September 15: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here.

LOCATION: Hybrid.  Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map). This workshop is also available via Zoom.

LEVEL: All levels

CAP: 15

When we look at both poetry and prose, how do we strike a balance between the light and the dark? The poems of Mary Oliver explore loss and exuberance. Essayists are able to confront deep issues while also engaging audiences with the poignancy of comforting memories or a philosophical view of hard things. Dave Sedaris even uses humor. In this workshop, we will look at poems and essays, including the instructor’s own about dealing with her only sibling’s untimely death, to explore how we deal with loss and challenges in narrative and poetic forms.

Bring a notebook or laptop to write in class. Participants will leave with a draft of a new poem or prose piece. 

This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance.
​​This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Host or Publisher Writespace