Are line breaks the main difference between poetry and prose? What happens to a poem if you remove the line breaks? In this class, we’ll look at the special subgenre of the prose poem and examine the poetic techniques we can use when the line just won’t cut it. We’ll read contemporary work from poets like Victoria Chang, Richard Siken, and Carolyn Forché. Through guided prompts, we’ll try our hands at our imbuing our prose with poetic devices. No prior experience with poetry necessary! Great for poets looking to try something new or prose writers who want to imbue their writing with more lyricism.
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."
