Category Archives: Teaching

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.

I’m teaching a poetry workshop this spring in Syracuse

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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

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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.]

Institute Director & Fiction Instructor Alexander Weinstein

Fiction Instructors Michael Martone & Phong Nguyen

Poetry & Translation Instructor Rebecca Gayle Howell

Poetry Instructor Keith Leonard

Poetry Instructor & Yours Truly Christopher Citro

Gay Head Lighthouse, Aquinnah

Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing

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I’m delighted to announce that I will be returning to the faculty of the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing for the summer 2013 session, July 7-12. I previously taught there the summers of 2010 and 2011. I will be teaching two seminars, one on the prose poem and one on humor in poetry. You can visit the website for information on how to register to attend. I highly recommend this unique experience. Plus, for writers on a budget, there’s a quite cozy hostel on the island.

The following is a press release from the Director outlining this year’s Institute.

Dear Writers,

I am delighted to announce that The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing’s 2013 Summer Writing Program is now open for registration and scholarship applications. The 2013 Summer Writing Program will be held from July 7-12th on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.  Our program features fiction, poetry, and specialty workshops, evening readings, and one on one editing conferences with award-winning authors and poets, Michael Martone, Rebecca Gayle Howell, Phong Nguyen, Keith Leonard, Christopher Citro, and Alexander Weinstein.

 MVICW offers a comprehensive week-long writing seminar providing writers with the necessary time to devote to their art in the idyllic setting of Martha’s Vineyard. Our goal is to make the writing program experience a personal one that aids in building a writing community, establishing friendships with other writers, and offering contacts in the industry. Participants include individuals of varying ages and writing abilities, from published writers to skilled beginners. The institute also offers the opportunity to engage with faculty outside of the workshop during nighttime readings and receptions, as well as a panel discussion on the craft of writing. These nighttime events and one-on-one editing sessions allow participants and faculty to spend time together, offering a more intimate seminar experience.  In addition to the primary seminar, MVICW offers specialty workshops, and individualized editing sessions to provide a full day of writing, inspiration, and creativity. We hope you will join us this summer!

For full details about the program, registration information, and scholarship instructions, please visit our website at http://mvicw.com

Sincerely,

Alexander Weinstein, MVICW Director