Some poets write poetry accessible to all, with plain language and straightforward forms. Others write complex, abstruse poetry requiring extensive analysis, context, and/or a background in literature to be fully appreciated and understood.

I've always strived to join the two approaches—to write challenging, sophisticated poetry that can yet still be grasped (more or less) by a general audience. I explore, experiment, and trust in my (often unhelpfully weird) poetic voice, but I also prioritize clarity in my communications to the reader—clarity of emotion, story, character, atmosphere, message.

Of course, it isn't possible to be simultaneously obvious and obscure, but there are many techniques and approaches to help subtly light the way for a reader. I've spent nearly a quarter of a century gathering tools from within multiple disciplines—visual & conceptual art, songwriting and composing, improvisation, performance—and poetry, the core of my creative practice. I'll share with you what I've learned about art, audience, form, storytelling, intentionality, and revision, as they pertain to this specific goal.

You'll walk away from this workshop with a set of practical and inspiring tools to help you both expand your practice and write poetry that can successfully bridge the gap between the strange and the familiar.

This workshop will take place on Zoom.