Introduction to Poetry with Julia DeStefano. Mondays, April 10th, 2023 through May 15th, 2023, 6 to 8 PM

Description

Each of us has a poet that lies within. Have you met yours?

My name is Julia R. DeStefano. I am the creator of Introduction to Poetry, a 6-week live online course that provides a dive into the genre of poetry, all while serving to unlock the burgeoning poet within. Have you ever wondered how to choose the right words to create imagery and effect? Are you a poetry lover who wants to learn to appreciate the craft even more? Are you a new or seasoned writer looking to hone your skills? Are you simply curious? Introduction to Poetry is created for poetry lovers and poets alike. Even those embarking on the genre for the first time will find something to love here.

Each class will be divided into two sections. In the first hour, students will explore the genre of poetry with the goal of becoming more engaged and curious. Through lecture, we will determine and understand the meanings of varying forms of poetry from many different time periods – including but not limited to: the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Victorian Era, and modern and contemporary. The second hour will allow for the creation and evaluation of original poetry, and opportunities for in-class workshopping. This course is designed to encourage appreciation of an often-overlooked genre while serving to empower the poet that lives within us all!

Through participation in the course, students will explore and learn to do the following:
1.) Readings of poets included but not limited to: Poe, Shakespeare, Dickinson, Angelou, Frost, Neruda, Cummings, Hughes, Plath, Donne, Eliot, Rumi, Ginsberg, Bukowski, Lovelace, and many others.
2.) Recognize and utilize the devices used in writing poetry.
4.) Discuss the historical, political, social/cultural, economic, and religious influences on poetry and poets to strengthen skills and appreciation.
5.) Express ideas by writing different types of poems based on broad prompts and in accordance with the topics covered.
6.) Create and evaluate original poetry.
7.) Participate in in-class workshopping opportunities.
8.) Appreciate poetry as both a reading and listening experience by becoming a skilled, knowledgeable poet and lover of the art.
9.) And much more!

Julia R. DeStefano is the author of two poetry-photography collections, Whirling Into Flame and Leave Everything, and is currently working on her third collection. She is a longtime educator who, when not writing, can be found teaching 21st century skills, research and evaluation, literary appreciation, and tirelessly inspiring a love of writing within her students. You might have also seen her words and photographs within local and national A&E, lifestyle, and wellness publications. Julia characterizes herself as a confessional poet, capturing moments to preserve them in the glistening amber of language while unapologetically challenging perceptions. Readers of Julia’s poetry are quick to speak of her addictive ability to “ignite soul searching with analogies to ordinary life situations.” They note the ways in which she “twists and propels her readers through a whirlwind of very human passion and deep yearning for connection.” Her first collection, Leave Everything, reached #11 in Poetry by Women at Amazon and her poem, “The Sands,” was recently chosen as a Featured Post by Medium curators. Julia is regularly published on SpillWords Press, and due to readership and popular vote, her Spotlight interview received their Publication of the Month award in June 2020. In August of the following year, the SpillWords community awarded her the title of Author of the Month. For more information about Julia and her craft, please visit www.juliadestefano.com