April 2026

Eight Ways to Wake Up Your Poetry: How to Create Surprise, Tension, and the "Unexpected Inevitable"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The best poetry disrupts patterns of thinking. But how does one achieve this? Attendees will learn a variety of strategies and tools to break away from predictability and gain confidence in writing in one’s own unique way. Whether it’s the invention of new words, the creative presentation of existing words, the vulnerability of imaginative leaps on the page, or the use of white space and punctuation to impact suspense and tension, poets will study mentor poems and apply specific techniques to add depth and drama to their own poems, moving the reader ever closer to the “unexpected inevitable.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><b>Critique Opportunity&nbsp;</b></p><div style=""><i>Additional charge. For up to 12 writers. </i></div><div style=""><i><br></i>Irene will provide written comments on your work, plus do a one-on-one 30-minute consultation with you on Zoom.<br><br>What to submit<br><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Submit up to 10 poems, one poem per page.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Or, submit one poem-as-picture book</li></ul>What to expect<br>The face-to-face consultation is a personalized experience to help you get the most out of a written critique. Before the meeting, Irene will read and analyze your submission. She'll return an annotated manuscript to you via email 24-48 hours before your scheduled consultation. This allows the writer time to absorb the notes and formulate follow-up questions. During the 30-minute consultation, Irene will use these notes to guide the discussion. She will offer specific suggestions about developing, strengthening, and enhancing individual poems. For poem-as-picture book submissions, she will also provide additional thoughts and feedback to strengthen your manuscript as a whole. She’ll be available to answer your questions as well.</div><div style=""><br></div><div style="">Schedule 1<br>Apr 28 - You will be invited to schedule your critique slot with Irene<br>May 4 - Deadline to submit your poems to Irene<br>May 12, 13 - Attend your Zoom consult with Irene<br><br>Schedule 2<br>May 15 - You will be invited to schedule your critique slot with Irene<br>May 19 - Deadline to submit your poems to Irene<br>May 28, 29 - Attend your Zoom consult with Irene</div><div style=""><br></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div style="">Irene has blocked her calendar for these Zoom consult dates. That said, if only a narrow window works for you for the consult date, please write to me first before booking!</div><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-265e9064-7fff-53ef-e50d-ed0532947059"><br></span></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-265e9064-7fff-53ef-e50d-ed0532947059">You will get the signup link upon registering for class. If you don't receive it write to us!</span></p>