April 11 @ 7:00 pm - April 18 @ 7:00 pm
Online
$59Overview
A Two-Night Mini Online Course
Gutters in poetry bring meaning all their own. Whether you’re writing a narrative poem, a picture book in verse, or a full-length verse novel, words stand in partnership with poetic gutters. How you use stanza breaks, blank space, and the gaps between poems affects the way that readers engage with your story. Join author Laura Shovan for an exploration of how we can use poetic gutters with intention to ensure active reading. This program is a great fit if you’re looking for a short course of two, 75-minute sessions offering limited interaction with the community, but loads of information.
- Thursday, April 11, 2024 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Thursday, April 18, 2024 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Webinar-style program with closed captioning available and limited interaction in the chat
- Recordings available until May 31, 2024
Why This Workshop?
There are opportunities available to poets outside the conventional written word, crafting a narrative in the blank space on the page and unveiling the emotion of all that is left unspoken. Whether you’re writing a narrative poem, a picture book in verse, or a full-length verse novel, words stand in partnership with poetic gutters. How you use stanza breaks, blank space, and the gaps between poems affects the way that readers engage with your story.
Join poet and award-winning author Laura Shovan to explore:
- Ways to use gutters and space to set intention and ensure active reading,
- How emotion unfolds through strategic employment of line and stanza breaks, enjambment, and punctuation,
- Techniques that deepen the meaning of your poetry and verse,
- And much more!
Feedback Expected
- No feedback included in the course. There will be limited interaction in the chat feature of the webinar-style program.
It’s a Great Fit If…
- You are beginning your learning about novels in verse (or other poetic forms for kids and teens), and are looking for advice on how to create verse that echoes with emotional impact.
- You are revising a novel in verse, and want to learn more about the use of conventions such as line and stanza breaks, enjambment, and punctuation.
- You’re looking for something short, sweet, and smart! This is not a full workshop; they are short sessions meant to engage and spark a deeper impact for the verse in your novel.
Tentative Agenda
At registration: You will receive a Zoom link to use each night of the course.
IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND LIVE:
If you are unable to attend either session for any reason, you’ll have access to the recordings (with closed captioning) through May 31, 2024.
Please note that if you register for the course after the start of the first session, you will not receive recordings immediately. You’ll receive both recordings after the close of the last session, usually within 24 hours.
All Times are Eastern Time. Click on the headings below to explore the agenda in more detail.
Part One: Thursday, April 11, 2024 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Line and stanza breaks
- Introduction to poetic “gutters”
- Q&A
- Revision assignments (2 parts)
Part Two: Thursday, April 18, 2024 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Using comic book theory to improve poetic storytelling
- Using closure to compose a scene with poems
- Q&A
How It Impacts Kids
Novels in verse provide an emotional connection between readers and stories unique to this form. This short program will show you how to get the most out of your verse by employing nonverbal conventions of poetry.
Testimonials from Our Community
“It got me motivated to write again. I loved the fact that it was so interactive.”
“I knew I could not attend in person but I signed up because you offered the recording. Having that option was invaluable.”
“Keep the mini courses going for those of us that can’t attend at the Highlights Foundation Campus! It helps us stay in touch and keep our skills growing!!
Resources
- 3 Questions for Laura Shovan About Using Breaks and Blank Space in Your Verse Novel or Poetry
- Conveying and Understanding Emotions Through Powerful Poetry: A Verse Novel Example
- Podcast: Charles Waters and Irene Latham Talk Poetry for Kids
- Podcast: Nikki Grimes
- Authors Take Action: Poetry Prompts for Climate Change
- Auditioning Poetry Devices for your Verse Novel’s Voice
