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

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Christopher

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

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Christopher

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

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Christopher

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

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Christopher

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

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Christopher

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.

2016 Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Christopher

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

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Christopher

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

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Christopher

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.

I’m teaching a poetry workshop this spring in Syracuse

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Christopher

I’m thrilled to announce that I will be teaching a poetry writing workshop called “Improving the Blank Page” this spring at The Downtown Writer’s Center in sunny Syracuse, NY.

Improving the Blank Page with Christopher Citro. Weds., 6:30-8:00. 8 weeks, starting April 8, 2015. Nicanor Parra once said, “In poetry, everything is permitted. With only this condition, of course: you have to improve on the blank page.” In this workshop, we’ll read and discuss contemporary poetry from a writer’s perspective and create fresh poems of our own. We’ll share new work based on prompts and exercises, and improve on a few blank pages along the way.

Registration is 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!

Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing 2013

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Christopher

The Classroom

I’ve recently returned from a week on Martha’s Vineyard where I was an instructor in the the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. This was my third year working as an instructor for the institute. This year’s session, the institute’s fourth, was the best of all, with an amazing selection of poetry and fiction instructors and a group of truly inspiring and inspired students all working together in the elegant surroundings of this beautiful island.

West Chop Lighthouse, Vineyard Haven Harbor

If you are interested in attending as a student, I encourage you to keep an eye on the institute’s website early next year as details for the 2014 session become available. In the meantime, here are some of my snapshots of this year’s teaching faculty. [NB: We didn’t actually spend all of our time at the beach, despite how these pictures may appear.]