Some Spring & Summer Poetry Workshops: in LA 4/4 Gail Wronsky–Poems of Vision & Ecstasy

A good writing workshop makes you feel like a Christmas ornament exploding with ideas, colors, textures–just like this high speed photograph by my friend Alan Sailer. To produce his art, he uses pellets shot from an air rifle. This image really is a Christmas ornament filled with small objects. Writers should be grateful that we traffic in paper, not paintballs!

While I’m here in Yosemite, where the days are warm (60s) and the nights are cold (30s), and the waterfalls are roaring along while the grass is zooming in green, I’m remembering how close I came to joining a Natalie Goldberg writing workshop here in April when my son was about 16 months old and deciding it was going to be just too much of  a challenge. Sigh.

Our visit this year, like last year, has been full of adventure–and lots of sleep! Staying up late at home and sleeping only 6-7 hours is how I get any writing done! But every once in awhile, I have to recharge my batteries and sleep more and write less. I do feel some American Sentences coming on! Plus I videotaped my poem “granite lover:” watch for that to be posted here soon.

In the meantime, before I run back to our campsite, let me post a few spring and summer poetry and other kinds of writing workshops to consider signing up for including:

Saturday April 4, 9:30am -4pm
PhD Professor & Poet Gail Wronsky Opening the Spirit: Poems of Vision and Ecstasy

In this workshop we’ll look at poems by Rumi, Lalla, Blake, Rimbaud, Rilke, bhakti poets, and Buddhist poets for whom the act of writing poetry is a spiritual exercise ignited by diverse revelations of the divine. We’ll talk about the function of ritual and spirituality in the development of poetry as an art form; what forms the spirit takes in contemporary poetry; ways to make room in our poetry for vision and ecstasy; how to harness and contain vision and ecstasy when they do enter our poems; and ways to avoid falling prey to religious clichés and/or lifeless New Age-isms.

Please bring one or two examples of spiritual poetry you find compelling, and a poem or two of your own for workshop.

Gail Wronsky is a poet, fiction writer and essayist. Her poetry books include Dying for Beauty (Copper Canyon Press), Poems for Infidels (Red Hen), and the newly released book of poems from India, Blue Shadow Behind Everything Dazzling (Hollyridge Press). She is the Director of Creative Writing and Syntext at Loyola Marymount University and lives in Topanga Canyon.

The Ruskin Art Club 800 S Plymouth Blvd. LA 90005 1 block s of Wilshire/3blocks w of Crenshaw 310-936-7484 Elena Karina Byrne, Literary Programs Director $95 all day includes Breakfast & Lunch $45 audit lecture discussion & Breakfast Checks Payable to Ruskin Art Club No Refunds unless we cancel

Summer writing retreats can give you a mid-year boost to finish a manuscript or recharge your poetic batteries, but they ain’t cheap. Although there are conferences and workshops all over the country, in this year’s economy you might want to support those closer to home. Think of your unemployment insurance as a literary stipend; you could spend your entire summer flitting from one retreat to the next.

Begin down the San Francisco peninsula at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, at the Foothill Writers Conference, July 9-12. Once a weeklong event, the seminars, workshops, and readings now take place over three days. Share your poetry with California’s recent poet laureate, Al Young, or National Public Radio’s book reviewer Alan Cheuse or talk turkey with Sharon Doubiago, Morton Marcus, Tony Tulathimutte, Justin Chin or others, all for $53.

Next, head for the hills and the Squaw Valley Community of Writers near Lake Tahoe, July 18-25 (for the poetry session), or August 1-8 (fiction, nonfiction and screenwriting). Cornelius Eady and Evie Shockley join Squaw Valley veterans Robert Hass, Brenda Hillman and Sharon Olds in teaching daily workshops. Established in 1969, Squaw attracts the literati and publishers alike, which may be why it is one of the most competitive to get into, and one of the most expensive ($750 plus cost of accommodations) and you’ll want some “beer money” for the frequent outings to local restaurants, casinos, and events. Still, attendees attest to the innovative program and the good mountain air. Application deadline is May 10.

Wine-sipping is de rigeur as you work on poems and listen to readings at the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference, July 26-31. This year’s faculty includes Elizabeth Alexander, recently seen on the Capitol’s steps as President Obama’s pick for inaugural poet. Carl Dennis, Jane Hirshfield and David St. John complete the poetry workshop faculty. There’s a whopping $775 fee for this one, plus whatever accommodations you may need (unless you want to commute from the City everyday). Apply between April 1 and June 1 (priority is given to early applicants).

The Mendocino Coast Writers Conference takes you 150 miles upstate and by the sea, July 30-August 2. Sponsored by College of the Redwoods, this retreat is a relative bargain at $450 but you may need housing unless you have a friend in the hood. The fee, though, does include breakfasts, lunches, a welcome buffet and a marketing workshop so you can learn how to earn back your investment! Ellen Bass will lead “Taking Risks: Bringing Your Poems to the Next Level,” a workshop to help push writers “into uncharted territory.” Application period is from April 15 to June 15. Most conferences offer some scholarships or financial aid, but you must get your applications in early. All require submission of your work and pre-registration.

To read some poetry, ride the Poetry Train or visit Read Write Poem!