Teachers: Imani Sims & Amber Flame

Whether you are working up the confidence to try your first open mic or have been competing in poetry slams for years, this class will help you grow as a poet and a performer.  Curriculum includes in-class analysis of performance poetry as it appears on video and on the page.  You will write and revise poems for the stage, receiving frequent, supportive coaching from teachers who are experienced performers themselves. Discussions will explore the elements of compelling spoken word poems, with topics ranging from group poems to stage etiquette. Sign up & step into the spotlight!

Teachers: Shae Savoy & Chris Shorne

Arguably the nerdiest course on our roster, on Tuesday night you are invited to discover the subtle and mysterious elements of a successful page poem. Can a poem be loud, even if it never meets a microphone? Can a poem whisper and still make an impact? What is a line-break? Can a sonnet be sexy? This class features a weekly opportunity for “MFA-style” in-depth feedback on the work of one student, as well as in-class and homework exercises including experiments in form and revision. Would you like to produce publishable poetry, ready for submission? Sign up & write it down!

Teachers: Cole Arden Peake & Cecily Schuler

Many students begin their Bent careers by taking one of our General Writing courses. Ideal for writers and aspiring writers interested in different genres, our General Writing class explores the craft of writing from a broad perspective. In this class, you will read weekly assignments that will introduce you to new styles. In-class writing prompts, free-writes, and exercises will help you generate new material. Your classmates may be working on novels, writing screenplays, or experimenting with poetry for the first time. There is plenty of opportunity (but absolutely no pressure) to share your work and get affirming feedback. Sign up & join us!

Teachers: Cori Jaeger & Patch Avery

Let's take a look at what opportunities science fiction and fantasy give us as queer writers to explore identity, oppression & justice, and other worlds where gender, sexuality, race, and class can look vastly different than our own. We'll discuss, examine writing, and have writing opportunities during each class session.

This class begins the first week of January 2012 and runs through June 2012.