Iowa City Poetry

Start the new year with intention. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore the art (and a little of the business) of shaping a poetry manuscript. Together, we’ll trace narrative and thematic arcs, play with sectioning, experiment with hybrid book forms, and uncover the quiet power of a good title. We’ll also touch on publishing paths, submission strategies, and basic formatting.

Whether you’re starting fresh or wrangling pages toward a draft, expect to leave with a map of your next steps, a list of inspiring collections (including work by Tyehimba Jess, Sarah Kaye, Ilya Kaminsky, Patricia Smith and others), and a sharper sense of the book only you can write.