Poetry with Lauren Berry
Wednesdays July 11, 18, 25, Aug 1
from 6:00 to 9:00
$150
If we are supposed to write about what we know, then writing about the body is a wonderful place to start. There is a kaleidoscope of potential in this one topic: one might celebrate the growth of a child, praise the beauty of a lover, confront trauma endured, question the mystery of disease, or honor the departed. There is inspiration for every writer—and yet writing born out of the physical is personal and intimate. What other subject is simultaneously as universal yet singular?
Participants will discuss literature about the body and complete two to three prompts per session. This interactive class will provide a space for you to generate ideas, ask questions, and receive supportive feedback. No previous writing experience or publication history required—just a willingness to have fun and curiously explore. Although our focus will be on poetry, prose writers who want to experiment with shorter forms are welcome to join us at Grackle and Grackle this summer!
Lauren Berry received a BA in Creative Writing from Florida State University and an MFA from the University of Houston where she won the Inprint Verlaine Prize and served as poetry editor for Gulf Coast. From 2009 to 2010, she held the Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellowship at the Wisconsin Institute. Terrance Hayes selected Lauren’s first collection, The Lifting Dress (Penguin), to win the National Poetry Series prize in 2011. She lives in Houston, Texas where she teaches AP English Literature at YES Prep Public Schools, a charter school for Houston’s most underserved communities. Lauren is currently finalizing her second manuscript of poetry, The Rented Altar.