Category Archives: Teaching

I’m Teaching a Poetry Workshop in Syracuse NY This Fall

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Summer is never going to end–I’m clutching onto that thought like inflatable water wings. But just in case it does…I wanted to share the delightful news that I’ll be teaching a poetry workshop on the short poem Wednesday evenings this fall at The Downtown Writer’s Center in Syracuse, NY (see the class description below). Registration is inexpensive and open to the public. To learn more about The Downtown Writer’s Center, download the fall class schedule, and register for the workshop, visit the Center’s website HERE. Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested!
 
The Short Poem with Christopher Citro. Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00. 8 weeks, starting October 4. “But who would believe such a thing? / To build a house out of paper and then abandon it” (Mary Ruefle, “Wasps’ Nest”). In this workshop we’ll explore the challenges and joys of making a poem happen in fewer than 14 lines. We’ll discuss short poems, from the old to the very new, and then use prompts to inspire us in our own writing.

Teaching 2 Creative Writing Workshops This Spring at The Downtown Writer’s Center in Syracuse NY

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I’m thrilled to share the news that I’ll be teaching two eight-week creative writing workshops this spring at The Downtown Writer’s Center in sunny Syracuse, NY — a Monday night workshop on the lyric essay and a Wednesday night poetry workshop focusing on the line. Both classes begin the third week of April (see the class descriptions below). Registration is inexpensive and open to the public. To learn more about The Downtown Writer’s Center, download the spring class schedule, and register for these workshops, visit the Center’s website HERE. Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested!

The Lyric Essay with Christopher Citro. Mondays, 6:00-8:00. 8 weeks, starting April 17. “The lyric essay partakes of the poem in its den­sity and shapeliness, its distillation of ideas and musicality of language. It partakes of the essay in its weight, in its overt desire to engage with facts”(Tall & D’Agata). In this class we’ll explore this exciting hybrid genre, using prompts drawn from our reading to inspire new work.

Listening to the Line with Christopher Citro. Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00. 8 weeks, start­ing April 19. In this workshop, we’ll explore what contemporary poets are doing with the free verse line, how they use line breaks, the tension be­tween the sentence and the line, and more. We’ll use prompts drawn from our readings to inspire us to experiment and grow in our own writing.

I’m teaching at the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing July 16-22, 2017

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I’m hot-damn delighted to announce that I’ll be returning again this summer to teach at the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. It’ll be my 5th year, and it just keeps getting better and better! This year’s first week’s faculty includes Alexander Weinstein, Amelia Martens, Britton Shurley, Sequoia Nagamatsu, Kea Wilson, and the second week’s includes Alexander Weinstein, Robert James Russell, Jennifer Tseng, Allegra Hyde, and me! I’ll be teaching 2 poetry seminar classes from July 16-22. Click below to register for both or either weeks, learn about grants, and enter this year’s contest (deadline March 20th). Come join us on the island!

Contest and registration info

I’m Teaching a Poetry Workshop This Winter at The Downtown Writer’s Center in Syracuse NY

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I’m excited to announce that I’ll be teaching an 8-week poetry writing workshop called “In the Landscape of Contemporary Poetry” starting February 1 at The Downtown Writer’s Center in sunny Syracuse, NY. If you’re in the area come on down!

In the Landscape of Contemporary Poetry with Christopher Citro. Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00. 8 weeks, starting Feb. 1. “A galaxy of wildflowers/ shimmers. Shimmers/and hollers,/’C’mon!’” writes Ross Gay in his 2015 book Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude. In this workshop we’ll discuss poetry from recent books and journals, then use prompts from our readings to inspire us in our own writing.

Registration is inexpensive and open to the public. To learn more about The Downtown Writer’s Center, download the winter class schedule, and register for this workshop, visit the Center’s website HERE. Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested!

I’m Teaching a Poetry Workshop This Fall at The Downtown Writer’s Center in Syracuse NY

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I’m thrilled to be teaching a poetry writing workshop called “The Voices of the Poet” this fall at The Downtown Writer’s Center in sunny Syracuse, NY. If you’re in the area come on down!

The Voices of the Poet with Christopher Citro. Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00. 8 weeks, starting October 12. “Each time my heart is broken it makes me feel more adventurous,” wrote Frank O’Hara. In this workshop, we’ll use the influential New York School poets as a jumping off point for a focus on effective use of voice in our writing. We’ll use prompts drawn from our readings to help us continue the adventure of creating new poems.

Registration is inexpensive and open to the public. To learn more about The Downtown Writer’s Center, download the fall class schedule, and register for this workshop, visit the Center’s website HERE. Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested!

 

I’m Teaching a Spring Poetry Workshop at the Downtown Writer’s Center in Syracuse

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I’m excited to be teaching a poetry writing workshop called “The River That Speaks” this spring at The Downtown Writer’s Center in sunny Syracuse, NY.

The River That Speaks with Christopher Citro. Thursdays, 6:00-8:00. 8 weeks, starting April 21. “Nearly to Milan, suddenly a small bridge,/And water kneeling in the moonlight.” (Robert Bly). In this workshop, we’ll discuss the Deep Image and contemporary poets for whom the image is central, using prompts drawn from our reading to create new poems of our own. 

Registration is inexpensive and open to the public. To learn more about The Downtown Writer’s Center, download the spring class schedule, and register for this workshop, visit the Center’s website HERE. Feel free to share with anyone in the area who might be interested!

I’m Teaching a Winter Poetry Workshop at the Downtown Writer’s Center in Syracuse

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I’m excited to be teaching a poetry writing workshop called “Building the Better Bird” this winter at The Downtown Writer’s Center in sunny Syracuse, NY. It starts the last week of January and there are still seats available!

Building the Better Bird with Christopher
Citro Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00. 8 weeks, starting
Jan. 27, 2016. To quote Dean Young, “We’re not making
bird cages, we’re making birds.” In this workshop
we’ll discuss poetry gathered from recent books
and literary journals, then use exercises derived
from our readings to energize and inspire us to lift
a few more wings into the air.

 

Registration is inexpensive and open to the public. To learn more about The Downtown Writer’s Center, download the winter class schedule, and register for this workshop, visit the Center’s website HERE. Feel free to share with anyone in the area who might be interested!

2016 Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing

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As winter strengthens its grip upon our hearts and our thoughts naturally turn toward where we’ll go for fun and stimulation next summer, I’d like to announce that I’ll again be joining the faculty of the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing! Come join us!

From the Director:

The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing http://www.mvicw.com/ is officially open for registration and scholarship applications for the 2016 Summer Season! We have an amazing line-up this year: Tony Ardizzone, Matthew Gavin Frank, Christopher Citro, francine j. harris, Amy Meng, Phong Nguyen, and Alexander Weinstein. Feel free to share the announcement, and I hope to see you on the Vineyard this summer!

Visit HERE for information on how to attend.

The Downtown Writer’s Center August Occasion Writing Retreat

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A huge, massive, thundering thank you to Phil Memmer, Georgia Popoff, and to my students and my fellow instructors at The Downtown Writer’s Center August Occasion Writing Retreat last month at the Harding Farm in Clinton, NY. That was an amazing and inspiring day.
This was also the first time I read aloud from my new book, The Maintenance of the Shimmy-Shammy. An experience I won’t ever forget.

Teaching August 7 – 9 at the 2015 August Occasion

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I’m thrilled to announce that I will be on the poetry faculty of the 2015 August Occasion, sponsored by The Downtown Writer’s Center of Syracuse, NY.

Three days of writing workshops, readings, food and inspiring company will take place August 7 – 9 at the beautiful Harding Farm in Clinton, NY. My fellow instructors are Sarah Freligh and Jasmine Bailey (poetry); Sarah Freligh and David Lloyd (fiction); Sarah Freligh, Megan Davidson, and Linda Lowen (creative non-fiction).

Registration is inexpensive and open to the general public. For more info and to register today click HERE.