Honing the Muse: a Generative Workshop with Yesenia Montilla (Via Zoom)

Throughout history the muses whether fictional or real have been used by artists to hone inspiration. In this workshop Yesenia will use poems, music & visual art to call on these elusive muses in hopes for transformation on the page. We will take a look at some muses throughout history & challenge the notion of the passive muse. We will also create our own muse(s) & tap into their ethereal power to bring forth writing that challenges & surprises. Each piece of art (poem, visual or music) will be carefully curated. Through the use of radical & innovative prompts the hope is that our imaginations will be set free. This workshop is generative & writing intensive. Bring your good pen & your favorite notebook & be set free.

NB: This class will be taught on Zoom and will be capped at 17 students. Registrants will receive the Zoom link to the email address they use to register. It will arrive immediately after registration so please check your spam folder if you do not receive it. It will also be sent the day before class as a reminder. Please review the course policies page before registering for any classes. Please email ask@writerscenter.org with any questions.

The scholarship application for the Altman Person of Color Scholarships, Limp Wrist LGBTQIA+ Scholarships, and the Need-Based Scholarships will be available on May 1 and will be due on May 15 for all summer and fall classes.

Yesenia Montilla is an Afro-Latina poet & a daughter of immigrants. Her poetry has appeared in the Academy of American Poets Poem-a-Day, as well as the literary journals The Gulf Coast, Prairie Schooner, Pittsburgh Poetry Review, Best of American Poets (2021, 2022) & others. She received her MFA from Drew University in Poetry and Poetry in Translation & is a 2014 CantoMundo Fellow & a 2020 NYFA Fellow. Her first collection The Pink Box is published by Willow Books & was Longlisted for a PEN award in 2016. Her second collection Muse Found in a Colonized Body is published by Four Way Books. She lives in Harlem NY.