Write Two: The Prose Poem as Diptych Memoir
July 27 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm EDT
This is a class in dualities: two forms, two poems. (In two hours!)
The two forms: We’ll explore the prose poem (a hybrid of prose and poetry) and the prose poem as memoir (a lyric rendering of a narrative or moment from your life).
The two poems: Taking inspiration from the diptych in art (a pair of paintings hinged together), we’ll discover how to bind poems by form and subject (call and response, before and after, shifts in perspective, and other ways) and be mindful of how tightly or loosely poems depend on each other for meaning and impact.
This two-hour generative workshop is for writers of any level and genre who want to explore the prose poem form, break away from linear storytelling, and start thinking about intertextuality—the key to eventually building a series of poems or even a book-length project. Also, once you write a diptych, how (and where) can you submit it for publication?
This generative workshop will include lecture, readings, and generative writing prompts.
Come ready to write and play!
About Cynthia Marie Hoffman
Cynthia Marie Hoffman is the author of two collections of prose poetry: Exploding Head (Feb 2024) and Call Me When You Want to Talk about the Tombstones, as well as two previous collections of lineated poetry. Her poems and prose have appeared in The Sun, Electric Literature, TIME, The Believer, and elsewhere. Recipient of fellowships from the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing, Civitella Ranieri Foundation, and the Wisconsin Arts Board, Cynthia lives in Madison, WI.