“Breathe In Experience, Breathe Out Poetry”—
Generating Poems from Our Lives
Summer Poetry Workshops with the Italian American Writers Association
Facilitated by award-winning poets Jennifer Martelli and Julia Lisella
Wednesday June 14, 6-8 PM EST
Wednesday July 12, 6-8 PM EST
The Old South Meeting House
310 Washington Street, Boston, MA
How can we mine our experiences to give them power and shape them into poems? We’ll share poems by writers who take emotional risks to craft powerful poems of grit, honesty, and craft, and together we will discuss their literary strategies.
Then, through a series of prompts, we’ll write in this historic Boston location. Our intention is to form a safe and positive writing community where participants can explore memory and craft together.
After writing, participants can choose to share their work and if wanted, receive feedback. We’ll focus on “what’s working” and share ideas of how to take your work to the next stage.
These workshops are suitable for both beginners and experienced writers who need some summertime inspiration to generate new work. While IAWA’s mission is to support the work of Italian American writers, we invite writers of all backgrounds to write with us.
Workshop 1: June 14, we’ll end class by taking questions and sharing some revision strategies.
Workshop 2: July 12, we’ll end class by taking questions and sharing best practices for submitting poems to journals, anthologies, and other publishing outlets.
Your Facilitators, Julia Lisella & Jennifer Martelli, co-host the IAWA-Boston Literary Series:
Julia Lisella’s latest collection of poems, Our Lively Kingdom (Bordighera Press), is a finalist selection in the 2023 Paterson Book Prize and an Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Finalist and Poetry Honorable Mention. Other collections include Always, Terrain, and the chapbook, Love Song Hiroshima. She is a professor of English at Regis College. Learn more: www.julialisellapoetry.com
Jennifer Martelli is the author of The Queen of Queens and My Tarantella, both named as “Must Reads” by the Massachusetts Center for the Book, as well as a finalist for the Housatonic Book Award. Martelli has twice received grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. She is co-poetry editor for Mom Egg Review.
IAWA Members: $30 per workshop, or $55 for both
Nonmembers: $50 per workshop, or $90 for both
Proceeds support the work of IAWA, a nonprofit literary association; feel free to join IAWA ($30 Annual Membership) at time of Registration for Membership Discount)
Checks payable to:
The Italian American Writers Association; c/o Treasurer; P.O. Box 15 Cold Spring, NY 10516-0015
Workshop Location: The Old South Meeting House; 310 Washington Street (at the corner of Washington and Milk St.), Boston, MA. Directions by T: Orange line to Downtown Crossing or State Street, Blue Line T to State St., or Red Line to Downtown Crossing (More detailed entrance instructions at time of registration!)
For questions please email: italianamericanwriters@gmail.com
