You may have encountered the phrase “morning pages” before, first coined in Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way, to refer to low-stakes, generative writing. While starting your day with writing can be a great way to engage with a creative routine, it doesn’t always benefit us who like to sleep in, or whose schedules otherwise don’t allow for writing time in the morning.
In this four-session course, you’re invited to generate some new writing one evening per week for an entire month. We’ll do so as a community, holding each other accountable for writing consistently and forming weekly habits. Each week, you’ll have the chance to share work with your peers and receive constructive feedback and encouragement in “mini-workshop” conversations.
Through multi-genre writing exercises and reading examples, we’ll discuss where to find inspiration and how to stay motivated despite our busy lives. You’ll also take home multi-prompts lists devised by writers like Chen Chen and Bernadette Mayer that can keep you writing beyond the class. This course is perfect for anyone looking for the motivation to write more often with the support of other writers looking to do the same. All genres and levels of experience welcome!
Ryan Varadi is a midwestern poet currently living in Chicago, where he writes on the train on the way to work his retail job. He holds an MFA in Poetry from the University of North Carolina, where he received the Bernice Kert Teaching Fellowship. He has served as editorial staff for Ecotone and Chautauqua and as an intern for RHINO Poetry. His work appears or is forthcoming in Poetry Northwest, The Shore, and Collision Literary Magazine, among others. You can find updates at his sporadically updated website: ryanvaradi.com
"Ryan was prepared, patient, and encouraging. He was an excellent facilitator. He is knowledgeable and his love of poetry was evident!"
"I liked the way Ryan made the subject approachable for poets of all skill levels. He did not assume particular knowledge, but adjusted to the level of the participants. He really listened as people shared their work (which can be a scary thing to do with strangers) and responded in specific and appreciative ways."
"Ryan was so warm and welcoming, and made poetry less intimidating for non-poets like me."
"Ryan was really engaging and provided a rich selection of poems to discuss. His prompts were also really fun and inspiring."
