Poetry Workshop: Demystifying the Line Break

Saturday, March 26, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Library

— from JoEllen Moldoff —

Poetry Workshop with Elizabeth Austen
Poet, Teacher & former Poet Laureate of Washington (2014-2016)

Whether we break our lines deliberately or haphazardly, the right margin has enormous effect on the way our poems move, mean and sing. We’ll look at a few examples and conduct experiments on our own poems in order to expand our range of possibilities. Bring two poems-in-progress to revise during the workshop (and a laptop, if possible).

Elizabeth Austen served as the Washington State Poet Laureate for 2014-16. Her collection Every Dress a Decision (Blue Begonia Press, 2011) was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. She’s also the author of two chapbooks, The Girl Who Goes Alone (Floating Bridge Press, 2010) and Where Currents Meet (Toadlily Press, 2010).

Her poems have been featured on The Writer’s Almanac and Verse Daily, in Poetry Northwest, Bellingham Review and Willow Springs. She is noted for her engaging public performances, and has been featured at Poets House in New York City, Minneapolis’s The Loft, the Skagit River Poetry Festival, Spokane’s Get Lit!, Seattle’s Cheap Wine and Poetry and the Hugo Literary Series, among others. She earned an MFA in Poetry at Antioch University Los Angeles. Elizabeth produces poetry programming for NPR-affiliate KUOW 94.9, and makes her living at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where she also offers poetry and reflective writing workshops for the staff.

Register at the Library. Open to 20 participants on a first-come basis. (wait list will be established in case of cancellations)

Ms. Austen’s workshop is supported by the Orcas Island Library and Friends of the Library, and is free to participants.

Links: wapoetlaureate.org and elizabethausten.wordpress.com.