Next Session:
Tuesdays, July 9th – August 27th 2024
Time: 2:30-4:30pm PT
Where: Online, over Zoom
Number of Participants: 8 max.
COST:
$300 CAD for 16 hours of instruction + learning resources (more info).
QUESTIONS? Email christine@9creativelives.com
Poetic Disruptions is, by far, the best series I’ve had the pleasure of participating in this year! So glad I got to meet Christine… She does an excellent job addressing the multifaceted ways we experience the writing process.” – Lynette
POETIC DISRUPTIONS – an 8-Week Mindful Poetry Writing Intensive for Teens ages 15-18.
In this 8-week series, teens will explore how to write poetry that honestly and creatively expresses their relationship to ambition, change, belonging, and more — while also strengthening their creative writing skills.
We’ll begin every class with a lively discussion about the language of poetry (see workshop schedule), and then we’ll take what we’ve learned and read poetry written by authors writing from different cultural and historical contexts around the world.
In the second half of class, students explore the process of writing poetry of their own. I refer to this 45 minutes of time as their ‘poetry writing practice’. The time is split into 3 segments: mindfulness, guided freewriting, and 15 minutes of silence to write a poem. The short slice of silence works by encouraging students to jump right in, follow their creative impulses, and notice what they’re capable of creating in even a short amount of time. We conclude every class with sharing, if inspired.
WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR?
Students aged 15-18. No previous experience with writing poetry is necessary. All are welcome.
Questions about this series?
Want to meet me before signing up?
Send me an email at christine@9creativelives.com
THE WORKSHOP STRUCTURE / SCHEDULE
This is an inquiry-focused poetry writing intensive. Your curiosity and imagination belong here. Here’s what you can expect over the next 8 weeks:
Week 1
Voice
In our first workshop together, we’ll define the ‘goal’ and purpose of writing poetry, and you’ll write a poem about your relationship to your voice.
Week 2
Preparation & Perspective
We’ll discuss the impact of first, second, and third person perspective in poetry, and how you might use p.o.v creatively.
We’ll read and write poetry that explores voice and perspective.
Week 3
Community, Home & Belonging
We’ll discuss movement, line breaks, and giving your poem a shape. We’ll explore how this shape influences how a poem is read and experienced.
We’ll read and write poetry about our experience of home.
Week 4
Ambition, Success & Purpose
We’ll explore imagery, and discuss how incorporating a sensory landscape can make your poetry feel tactile and alive.
We’ll read and write poetry about our experience of ambition.
Week 5
Change, Loss & Upheaval
We’ll take a close look at the relationship between sound and sense, and explore how the sounds of words can enhance (delightfully and mischievously) their meaning.
We’ll read and write poetry about our experience of change.
Week 6
Anxiety & Uncertainty
We’ll discuss metaphor, and explore how this powerful literary device shapes the way we perceive reality (and how to play with this in your poetry).
We’ll read and write poetry about our experience of uncertainty.
Week 7
Joy, Delight, & Ease
We’ll discuss the difference between rhythm and music in poetry, and notice how the drum beat of language can be both pleasurable and disruptive.
We’ll read and write poetry about our experience of joy.
Week 8
??? (theme is a surprise)
We’ll bring everything that we’ve explored in this series together and have a brief conversation about next steps (ie. the editing process).
OUR CLASS AGREEMENT
This is a progressive workshop, and in order to get the full benefit of this series we will be making an agreement to create a co-operative learning environment together. This includes: clear expectations of respect for diversity, and individual and group accountability for what is learned and created.
TESTIMONIALS
“I’ve found myself attending lots of writing workshops while quarantining. Poetic Disruptions is, by far, the best series I’ve had the pleasure of participating in this year! So glad I got to meet Christine. Her soothing aura is palpable through the screen. She does an excellent job addressing the multifaceted ways we experience the writing process.”
– Lynette
“I took a poetry workshop with Christine Bissonnette. I find her a thoughtful, intelligent teacher, who really listened to our ideas. She really wants to know what you are thinking/trying to say and she is attentive in listening and accepting everyone’s work and voices. I enjoyed her kind personality and felt safe in her class.”
– Teaghan E.
RESOURCES, TAKEAWAYS & LEARNING OBJECTIVES
During the workshop, you’ll receive a weekly package of 4 poems to read and consider at home. We discuss 1-2 poems from that package at every class.
Additional takeaways/resources include:
- A transcript of relevant in-class conversations + a short summary of the workshop.
- A ‘to-read’ list of all the anthologies and collections used in this course.
- A guide to submitting your work for publication.
Learning objectives are consistent with BC Language Arts Creative Writing Curriculum for grades 11 and 12, and include:
- Development of critical, creative, and reflective thinking skills.
- Learning to purposefully manipulate language in order to illustrate their personal connection to self and world.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
Christine Bissonnette is a performance poet, poetry educator, and authorized teacher of Breathexperience breath work. She has designed and facilitated poetry workshops through ArtStarts in Schools, Vancouver Biennale, CreativeMornings, Kudoz, and more.
REGISTER FOR POETIC DISRUPTIONS
an online poetry writing workshop for teens (aged 15-18)
I’m looking forward to meeting you!