From Wild Writing to Finished Poem:
Turn Raw Words Into Poetry
with writer, Susan Vespoli
Have you wanted to turn the raw writing from your journal pages into poetry?
Sometimes writing wildly is about clearing out, understanding, and getting out of your own way…and sometimes the words feel like they should be crafted into a more finished piece: a poem. If you feel called to write poems, consider joining Susan Vespoli on an eight-week journey to find them in your stream-of-consciousness writing.
Susan is the author of four poetry collections and an upcoming chapbook. Most of her finished poems emerged in rough form while wild writing, and were then edited into final drafts.
In this eight-week class, you will meet with a small circle of writers once a week on Zoom to write together (Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Pacific Time). On these Saturdays, you will get into the habit of letting your words flow, practice saying no to your internal editor, and form a writing community for encouragement, inspiration, and support. Via Zoom, the group will write from prompts and take turns reading aloud to each other (like a regular small-group Wild Writing class).
At the end of each Zoom session, Susan will give a brief overview of that week’s lesson and poem prompt/assignment, which will be posted and explained in detail on Wet Ink, the online classroom platform used to post poems for feedback/critique from Susan and your classmates.
Lessons posted on Wet Ink will refer to In the Palm of Your Hand, Second Edition: A Poet’s Portable Workshop, by Steve Kowitt (recommended, not required!).
From Wild Writing to Finished Poem:
Turn Raw Words Into Poetry
Saturdays – 10:00 – 11:30am PT
September 26 – November 14 (8 Weeks)
$650. Max 8 People
Class Syllabus
Week One: Establish a writing practice.
- Write an image poem.
Week Two: Find the poems.
- Write an imitation poem.
Week Three: Get comfortable with uncomfortable feelings
- Write a poem that begins with a fact.
Week Four: Conjure images with your 5 senses.
- Write a sensory poem.
Week Five: Learn about poetic devices to form a poetry toolbox.
- Write a poem that focuses on metaphor.
Week Six: Learn about haiku and haibun
- Write one.
Week Seven: Learn about abecedarians and anagram poems,
- Write one.
Week Eight: Think about submitting vs. not submitting your poetry,
From Wild Writing to Finished Poem:
Turn Raw Words Into Poetry
Saturdays – 10:00 – 11:30am PT
September 26 – November 14 (8 Weeks)
$650. Max 8 People
Meet Susan
I am a devout believer in the power of writing to heal/transform/illuminate.
After many years running a Montessori school, I earned my MFA in poetry and nonfiction. In 2018, I discovered Laurie and the Wild Writing method and thought, eureka! This is what I’ve been looking for. I so believe in the power of this practice. After finishing the Wild Writing Teacher Training in 2019, I began to lead virtual writing circle workshops based on Wild Writing for writers.com. I love watching people bloom as they let their words flow unedited into their journals.
I continue to write my own essays and poems, most of which emerge in rough form via the Wild Writing technique. My work has been published in Rattle, ONE ART, Nailed Magazine, Anti-Heroin Chic, Nasty Women Poets: An Unapologetic Anthology of Subversive Verse, and others. I have four poetry books, Blame It on the Serpent (Finishing Line Press, Jan. 2022), Cactus as Bad Boy (Kelsay Books, Aug. 2022), One of Them Was Mine (Kelsay Books, July 2023, and Therefore, Illuminated (Kelsay Books, March 2025).
I live in downtown Phoenix, Arizona with my mostly mellow rescue dog: Frida.
try wild writing-free!
SIGN UP HERE FOR 5 DAYS OF WILD WRITING
