Creative Writing Course: Reading and Writing Lyric Poetry

In this creative writing course, you'll learn how to transform your emotions into beautiful works of art. From the cherished verses of the Bible to the emotional ballads of Taylor Swift, lyric poetry has been a powerful outlet for expressing our innermost feelings for centuries. This course will explore how the use of the lyric 'I' in poetry allows us to share our love, sadness, anger, joy, and bewilderment with the world, while also examining how different poetic techniques can amplify our personal experiences to make them universally relatable.Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, you'll learn about the historical significance of poetry and discover why it matters to us all. Through a hands-on approach, we'll also read and discuss various lyric poems, with a special focus on Australia's contributions to this rich tradition.At the end of each lesson, you'll be given creative prompts to experiment with writing your own poetry. This will be your chance to explore your own thoughts and feelings and let your creativity run wild. While you'll have opportunities to share your work, please note that this class aims to deepen your love for poetry and inspire your creativity, rather than subject your early drafts to excessive critique.By the end of this course, you'll be a better reader of poetry, with a deeper understanding of how poems speak and sing, and how they generate meaning. Additionally, you'll leave with a toolkit to generate ideas for future poems and the confidence to read your own work to a supportive audience.Course content:

• Poetry as song: the musical history of lyric poetry
• Fun with form: sonnets, haikus, pantoums, villanelles, and more
• Sound and vision: how poetry combines visual and sonic elements to create power and magic
• Poetry as a ‘machine to think with’: poetry as a philosophical tool
• The purpose of poetry in the contemporary world: who reads it? Where is it published? How can I contribute?

This course is for writers of any level.
  Expert advice and a better understanding of poetry.
 

• A pen and notebook (or device for writing)
• Any example of a poem or song lyric that you particularly enjoy and would like to share with the class

This class series runs over 4 consecutive sessions, at the same time every week.