This class is for writers of any level who are looking to tighten their grasp on the craft of poetry and create a sustaining writing practice among supportive peers. If you've taken a lot of short classes and want to step up your game, are preparing for the full academic immersion of an MFA program, or are trying to hold onto that intensity after finishing one, you've found your place.

 

The yearlong course is flexible enough to accommodate poets at a range of stages, but everyone should be familiar with poetry writing basics and have a commitment to the craft. Ideally, this class is intended for those who have studied poetry in a classroom setting or have been seriously reading and practicing on their own. Whether you are in the midst of a book project or simply looking for accountability and community in your writing practice, this course will provide structure and intensity to take you further in your work.

 

We will write new poems in response to prompts each week, workshop each other’s writing, build a strong habit of revision, and drink deeply from the pool of dynamic contemporary poetry being written and published today in order to find essential tools for our own craft. Through this group you will find guidance and instruction from a practicing poet, and a committed set of readers who will challenge you to broaden and hone your own poetics. You will also learn about the pragmatics of publishing and how to build a writing life that sustains you. 

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What you get: 

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• 28 total class meetings, 56 hours of instruction and workshop time. 

• 3 one-hour private consultations with Keetje, including personalized feedback on your work.​

• Access to open monthly office hours for further poetry conversation.​

• Personalized and supportive accountability for your writing practice.

• A close-knit group of classmates who are equally committed to the practice of poetry and are interested in engaging with your work. 

• 30+ new poems written, revisions undertaken, and a toolbox of techniques for engaging further with your drafts.​

• An introduction to magazine and book publishing, book reviewing, and arranging a first collection or chapbook.

• ​Visits and craft talks from 3 published poets.

• ​​Flexible and receptive mentorship tailored to your goals.

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No class: 10/6, 10/27, 11/10, 11/24, 12/22, 12/29, 1/5, 3/2, 3/30, 4/6

 

Private consultations held the weeks of : 11/10, 3/2, and 4/6

 

Open office hours held the weeks of: 9/29, 10/27, 11/17, 12/1, 1/5, 2/2, 3/23, 4/13, 5/4

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Outline:

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Yearlong ​Payment Plan:

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Deposit $500 due upon acceptance.

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Full payment ($4450) or first installment ($2450) due September 1, 2026. Proper payment adjustments will be made for early bird applicants.

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Second installment ($2000) due January 1, 2027.

 

No refunds of course deposit. After first class, students are responsible for full payment for the year-long course. If Left Margin LIT cancels the course before its scheduled starting date, all payments and deposits will be fully refunded.