The Makery – Poetic Sequences with Pauletta Hansel
A poetic sequence is a series of poems that work both individually and “converse” to create a cohesive whole. The method of conversation is unlimited: image, metaphor, form, language, story, intersection, juxtaposition… Poetic sequences provide poets a larger canvas on which to develop a subject, and can encourage both experimentation and deepening of expression. They are extremely useful within the process of manuscript development. Plus, they offer individualized writing prompts to keep our pens (or cursors) moving. We will read and discuss examples of poetic sequences and write our own. The workshop will also include group and facilitator feedback on these sequences-in-progress. This will be a three-week synchronous class, held live on Zoom; between-class assignments will include readings, online group discussions, and prompts.
Classes will meet virtually on May 10th, 17th, and 24th from 6:00 – 9:00 PM
About the Instructor
Pauletta Hansel is author of nine poetry collections including Heartbreak Tree, released in March 2022 by Madville Publishing. Heartbreak Tree is a poetic exploration of the intersection of gender and place in Appalachia. An interview in Salon.com about the book can be found here. Read three poems from the collection published in Still: The Journal here and via links below. Reviews of the collection can be found here and here.
Pauletta was the 2022 Writer-in- Residence for the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library. She served as the first Poet Laureate of Cincinnati from April 2016 through March 2018.
Other recent books include Friend (Dos Madres Press, 2020), Coal Town Photograph (Dos Madres Press, 2019) and Palindrome (Dos Madres Press, 2017), which was awarded the prestigious Weatherford Awardfor the best Appalachian poetry book of 2017. Read her blogs about the writing of Palindrome here. Read poet Linda Parson’s review in Still The Journal here.
Pauletta leads community writing workshops and retreats in the Greater Cincinnati area and beyond. She is past managing editor of Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel, the literary publication of the Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative. (Submission guidelines here.) Pauletta also served as Writer in Residence at Thomas More College’s Creative Writing Vision Program and at WordPlay, a literary and literacy organization for younger writers. Pauletta received her MFA from Queens University of Charlotte. Originally from southeastern Kentucky, Pauletta lives in Cincinnati with her husband, Owen Cramer.
