Free Workshop: Embracing the Non-Linear: Mapping Toward Your Poem

Creating the structure for a poem around a central idea is usually an intuitive process that can often feel uncomfortable and mystifying. For many, stream-of-consciousness does not offer us enough structure for the second draft. And it can feel confining to get it the multiple associations we make in a poem on the page from left to right, top to bottom. Considering poetic attention to an object at the same time as the page as canvas, we can create a fertile and non-linear space to structure a poem.

In this two-hour workshop, you will create a map from which you will begin or complete a confident first draft that holds space for the overlapping/non-linear associations in a poem. We will begin the class with a free write that will generate a prompt and discuss methods of recording ideas and pre-writing. As a group, we will also create a sample collaborative map. The latter half of the class will be dedicated to mapping toward a poem and creating the draft.

For materials, please bring your favourite pen or pencil and larger-sized paper (eg. a large notepad, 8.5x11 sheets, sketchbook or notebook. If you enjoy using highlighters and multicolour pens, drawing tools, feel free to bring those too! Consider bringing your writing book as you may wish to use it for generating your prompt.

Location: Columbia Square, 78 10th Street, New Westminster in the Save-On-Foods plaza, across from Cockney Kings Fish & Chips.