summer/fall poetry workshop program
Ariana Brown has five years experience as a poetry workshop leader and youth mentor. Now, she wants to lend her experiences to you in a one-on-one poetry course focusing on your individual needs as a writer. Pulling from source texts such as "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran, "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, and "A Guide to Undressing Your Monsters" by Sam Sax, these courses aim to uplift the spirit, discipline the editor, and challenge the writer. The course will focus on themes of journey and displacement, celebration and ceremony, and the use of history in poetry.
cost and requirements
Participants will pay upfront the cost of the course ($10/session) to meet with Ariana via Google Hangouts/Google Drive for two hour-long sessions per week through the duration of the course. Course length is 8 sessions. By the end of each course, participants can expect to have 6-7 new completed poems in addition to new methods of editing, writing, and generating inspiration. A laptop computer is required.
"Demons, Diaspora & Magic" is not currently offered.
"Demons, Diaspora & Magic" is not currently offered.
what to expect
Ariana believes in creating oppression-free spaces for marginalized individuals to claim as their own. Therefore, each course will be an oppression-free space. This means Ariana promises to:
*By enrolling in this course, students agree to refrain from smoking, consuming alcohol or other drugs, and using racial slurs during class. Students agree to keep up with the light homework load and come to class prepared to write, discuss, and work.
- call out students for engaging in oppressive language and behavior
- refrain from engaging in oppressive language and behavior
- listen and offer support
- graciously accept being called out and work to improve if she makes a mistake
- craft a curriculum that centers the work of queer and trans people of color, especially women, especially black and indigenous women
- respect the pain each student carries
*By enrolling in this course, students agree to refrain from smoking, consuming alcohol or other drugs, and using racial slurs during class. Students agree to keep up with the light homework load and come to class prepared to write, discuss, and work.
testimonies for "demons, diaspora & magic"
"The course forced me to go through the healing process and challenged me to articulate myself at each stage of the process. This led to more authenticity in my work." - Jasmine B.
"To be honest, I've paid more for a single session with a therapist, which required me to do a fraction of the personal excavation and offered much less guidance in the process, so..." - Lydia C.
"That this work is necessary. That the stories are what carry us. That the process is more invaluable than the results. That my demons are not immortal." - Ed M., in response to "What was the most important thing you learned in the class?"
"I'm always honest in my writing, but the workshop helped me to be more conscious in translating the stories in my breath and bones from my ancestors to the page." - Ebony S.
"To be honest, I've paid more for a single session with a therapist, which required me to do a fraction of the personal excavation and offered much less guidance in the process, so..." - Lydia C.
"That this work is necessary. That the stories are what carry us. That the process is more invaluable than the results. That my demons are not immortal." - Ed M., in response to "What was the most important thing you learned in the class?"
"I'm always honest in my writing, but the workshop helped me to be more conscious in translating the stories in my breath and bones from my ancestors to the page." - Ebony S.
