What’s My Line? Poetry Workshop with Dzvinia Orlowsky (via Zoom)

For some of us, our poetic strength lies in our opening line; for others, it’s the ending, or a surprising turn in between. For others, that’s where we stumble. Then other times, we rely too much on our title to let the reader know what the poem is about. But what about all the lines in between? In this workshop we’ll reconsider lines which tend to act as filler or mere exposition allowing the poem’s progression to be as exciting as its opener or closing. Through extended metaphor, varied voicings, and an innovative way to use centos, we’ll explore fresh perspectives for our poems. Bring two poems for discussion, which you should send to me beforehand. We’ll also engage in prompt writing and revising, time permitting. A handout will be provided to be read before class.

NB: This class will be taught on Zoom (Sunday, August 4, 12:30-4:30 PM ET) and will be capped at 15 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 misty@writerscenter.org with any questions.

All HVWC scholarship applications will be available on May 1 and will be due on May 15 for all summer/fall 2024 classes. 

Dzvinia Orlowsky is a Pushcart Prize and award-winning poet, translator, and a founding editor of Four Way Books. She has published six full-length poetry collections with Carnegie Mellon University Press including her most recent, Bad Harvest, a 2019 Massachusetts Book Awards “Must Read” in Poetry. Her co-translations with Ali Kinsella from the Ukrainian of Natalka Bilotserkivets’s selected poems, Eccentric Days of Hope and Sorrow, (Lost Horse Press), was a finalist for the 2022 Griffin International Poetry Prize and winner of the 2020-2021 AAUS Translation Prize. Her and Kinsella’s co-translations from the Ukrainian of Halyna Kruk’s poems, Lost in Living, is forthcoming from Lost Horse Press in spring, 2024. Dzvinia 7th poetry collection, Those Absences Now Closest, is forthcoming from Carnegie Mellon University Press in fall, 2024. www.dzviniaorlowsky.com