The Big Queer Poetry Class – Full Tuition

Description

In this workshop we will read and write all the brilliance and beauty of what we have survived and what we are building. Using prompts, free-writes, the magnificent muck of our lives, and the full wing-span of our imaginations, we will create new poems and bring them to life. Be prepared to dig deep. In our writing, we will make space for all the fierce, radiant, sexy, disastrous, sacred and profane facets of our truths as queer and gender-fabulous folks navigating a mad mad world. Let this class be your permission to play, work, and risk.

This 5 week online intensive will focus on helping writers of all levels generate new work, build community, explore identity, and craft gorgeous poems. We’ll read numerous queer, trans, and gender-expansive poets and explore juicy writing prompts. Classes will be held live over zoom with homework between sessions. The live class format will include time for free writing, peer workshopping in breakout rooms, fishbowl-format workshopping with the instructor, and Q&A. Recordings will be available if you miss a class. Each student will receive detailed written feedback from the instructor at least once per course.

THE NITTY GRITTY

When:

Classes will be held for 2 hours on Saturdays at 11:30 pacific/12:30 mountain/2:30 eastern time.
Class dates: 5 Saturdays, October 16-November 13, 2021.

Where:

Live classes will be held on zoom. Students will have access to a private facebook group, and assignments and feedback will be delivered asynchronously on the learning platform Edmodo.

How Much:

The full course fee is $175. If you can support another student, please purchase a $225 ticket. If finances are challenging right now, a few sliding scale slots at $125 are available. If you would like to apply for a more reduced scholarship, or would like to subsidize a scholarship slot for another student, please email createdbyjacks@gmail.com.

About the instructor:

Jacks McNamara is a genderqueer poet, artist, activist, educator, performer, and somatic healing practitioner. In 2012 Jacks was selected as a Lambda literary fellow, and their first book of poetry, Inbetweenland, was released by Deviant Type Press in 2013. Co-author of Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness, Jacks has toured across the US and Canada offering readings and workshops. They have also worked as a writer/artist in residence in community organizations and the Santa Fe Public Schools. Their writing has appeared in numerous publications, blogs, and zines. Jacks is the co-founder of The Icarus Project, now known as the Fireweed Collective, a radical mental health support network and media project by and for people living with the dangerous gifts that our society commonly labels as “mental illness.” Their life and work are the subject of the poetic documentary film Crooked Beauty.