“Crozier writes of a world of imperfection, clumsiness, violence, betrayal, pain, and in spite of everything, delight and love… Always accessible, Crozier speaks a language we understand, but she uses it to tell us things we don’t.”
If you are drawn to poetry as a way of expressing the spirit within you and in the people, places, and things around you, this one-day workshop is for you. Everyone is welcome — beginners and published poets alike.
In this writing workshop, Lorna Crozier will present a series of short calls in both the morning and afternoon sessions. These short calls are meant to both inspire poetic pieces as well as to illustrate various aspects of the craft of poetry, which might include word choice, diction, line endings, and genre. These calls will be interspersed with the work of other poets, presented as illustration and inspiration.
There will be opportunities to share the work you create during the workshop. In so doing, you will be able to raise questions and concerns, and Lorna and fellow poets will offer observations and suggestions. By these means, those attending this workshop will not only explore the craft of poetry but also enhance their abilities to see the ordinary from a new perspective.
Imagine yourself in the room with us. We will read and write in the morning and afternoon sessions, with a lunch served in between. There will be also be opportunities, over the lunch break, to explore the trails at Wintergreen and enjoy the spring bounties offered by the land.
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
9:30 AM Arrival & Welcome
Beverages and snacks will be available on arrival.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Morning Instructional Session
In this first session, Lorna will present a series of short calls on topics germane to the craft of poetry. Participants will write and read and hear a rich collection of poetry as the morning unfolds.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch & Break
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Afternoon Instructional Session
Continuing from the morning session, again there will be a fluid interchange of poetry, ideas, writing, reading, and listening as Lorna provokes new ways of thinking and writing through her passion for poetry.
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Wrap Up & Closing
Lorna will offer inspiration and concrete exercises to inspire fresh material and offer ways of seeing the ordinary in new ways. You will leave this writing workshop at Wintergreen with poem drafts and ideas that will inspire you to continue writing when you get back home.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
An Officer of the Order of Canada, Lorna Crozier has been acknowledged for her contributions to Canadian literature, her teaching and her mentoring with five honorary doctorates, most recently from McGill and Simon Fraser Universities. Her books have received numerous national awards, including the Governor-General’s Award for Poetry. The Globe and Mail declared The Book of Marvels: A Compendium of Everyday Things one of its Top 100 Books of the Year, and Amazon chose her memoir as one of the 100 books you should read in your lifetime. A Professor Emerita at the University of Victoria, she has performed for Queen Elizabeth II and has read her poetry, which has been translated into several languages, on every continent except Antarctica. Her book, What the Soul Doesn't Want, was nominated for the 2017 Governor General's Award for Poetry. In 2018, Lorna Crozier received the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award. Steven Price called Through the Garden: A Love Story (with Cats), her latest nonfiction book, “one of the great love stories of our time.” Lorna Crozier lives on Vancouver Island.
Lorna began teaching at Wintergreen in 2010. She has returned annually much to the joy of poets who have participated in her writing workshops and retreats. Called “a poet to be grateful for” by Margaret Laurence, she has been an ambassador for poetry wherever she goes, and Wintergreen is no exception!
REGISTRATION
$225 + HST includes morning and afternoon instructional sessions and a gourmet lunch. Included in the cost is a $50 non-refundable deposit. Payment in full is required upon registration.
This workshop is limited to 24 guests.
HST is included in the checkout price.
Registration closes June 2, 2024.
If registering for more than one person, please enter the number required as the “Quantity” and you will be charged accordingly.