March 2023
Open Writers’ Labs
These peer-driven workshops, held the last Monday of each month, are free and open to writers of all levels and focus on poetry, flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction.
Find out more »April 2023
All Things Are Alive: Animating the Inanimate–Puppetry for Writers with Mobi Warren
Are you looking for a different way to tap into your creativity? Are you ready to experience the curiosity, wonder, and empathy that puppetry naturally inspires? Under the guidance of puppeteer and poet Mobi Warren, workshop participants will build a simple hand puppet from paper mâché and cloth, and breathe life into the personality that emerges. The process may culminate in a poem, a short prose piece, or a monologue puppet script. Participants will be encouraged to sense the livingness in the materials used and to explore unexpected insights that emerge as the puppet acquires form. No puppetry experience is required to attend this workshop, and writers of all levels are welcome.
Find out more »Author Reading & Community Open Mic
Join Gemini Ink for a night of poetry and literary celebration as we partner with our friends at Poetic Republic Cafe to create an inviting space for the writing community to share words, wine, and wisdom, with a little latte or espresso on the side. The featured reader is Leticia Urieta, author of Las Criaturas.
Find out more »Literary Movements with Rod Carlos Rodriguez
We'll examine literary movements and their nature-based connections so that we may draw upon them for our own creativity. We'll be in nature’s classroom, the great outdoors! And we'll share and write from the comfort of the Government Canyon Gallery, which provides an enclosed classroom wrapped in windows and a gorgeous 360° view of the surrounding woods. Class participants will use body movement as a source of creativity, find their own corners of nature to sit in and write from, and participate in small group work. Bring a bottle of water and a folding chair!
Find out more »The Art of Bad Poetry with Abby Murray
What do we even mean when we consider a poem “good” or “bad”? Beginners aren’t the only ones who benefit from conversations that question our assumptions about poetry and the way we practice connecting with our own voices. Established poets also gain from discussing poetry’s rules and reputation, its stereotypes and possibilities. In this class, writers of all levels will strive to expand their understanding of the art of poetry, first by weeding out our judgments of “good” and “bad” poetry, then shaping poetry’s elusive boundaries by playing with work that challenges our notions of value and weakness. Expect laughter. Anticipate letting go of fears that limit us. Plan to write.
Find out more »Open Writers’ Labs
These peer-driven workshops, held the last Monday of each month, are free and open to writers of all levels and focus on poetry, flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction.
Find out more »May 2023
(Poetry) Slam 201 with C.L. “Rooster” Martinez
Imagine stepping up to the mic at a poetry slam with less than 3 minutes to captivate the audience.
What will you say? How will you use your voice, face, and body language to take the audience on an emotional rollercoaster?
(Poetry) Slam 201 is a generative and performance workshop focused on individual and collaborative writing for live competition. We will briefly examine the history and rules of the Slam Poetry genre, write new and exciting work as individuals and teams, use a critique session to delve deep into the poem’s intended message, and focus on moving the written word from the page to the microphone. Participants will receive performance tips and feedback that will add emotional depth and impact to their spoken word delivery.
Find out more »Spot Revision with Mary Helen Stefaniak
How often could someone look up from reading your manuscript and say to the person across the table, “Listen to this!”?
Do you reward the reader with juicy details and interesting word choices to sink their mind into on every single page? In this spot revision class, we will examine our written work and find opportunities to expand, rephrase, and substitute words for attention-grabbing language. We will also discuss ways to make our work fresh and unpredictable and add texture. We are not focusing on small mistakes but on small ways to take our prose to the next level.
Find out more »Open Writers’ Labs
These peer-driven workshops, held the last Monday of each month, are free and open to writers of all levels and focus on poetry, flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction.
Find out more »June 2023
Open Writers’ Labs
These peer-driven workshops, held the last Monday of each month, are free and open to writers of all levels and focus on poetry, flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction.
Find out more »July 2023
Open Writers’ Labs
These peer-driven workshops, held the last Monday of each month, are free and open to writers of all levels and focus on poetry, flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction.
Find out more »August 2023
Open Writers’ Labs
These peer-driven workshops, held the last Monday of each month, are free and open to writers of all levels and focus on poetry, flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction.
Find out more »September 2023
Open Writers’ Labs
These peer-driven workshops, held the last Monday of each month, are free and open to writers of all levels and focus on poetry, flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction.
Find out more »October 2023
Open Writers’ Labs
These peer-driven workshops, held the last Monday of each month, are free and open to writers of all levels and focus on poetry, flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction.
Find out more »November 2023
Open Writers’ Labs
These peer-driven workshops, held the last Monday of each month, are free and open to writers of all levels and focus on poetry, flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction.
Find out more »December 2023
Open Writers’ Labs
These peer-driven workshops, held the last Monday of each month, are free and open to writers of all levels and focus on poetry, flash fiction, and short creative non-fiction.
Find out more »