Kimberly Simms hosts Poetic Perspectives July 16 and 23.

GREENVILLE, SC. Wits End Poetry is offering a 2-session poetry workshop series hosted by Kimberly Simms on Sundays July 16 and 23rd from 3pm to 5pm to be held in the West End Dark Room off of South Main Street in Greenville. Session One will include discussion of the creative process and transformation. Session Two will discuss strategies and prompts for writing poems based on family stories. Beginners and intermediate writers welcome. Class includes writing exercise, tips, and optional sharing. The cost including both sessions is $25. More info at www.witsendpoetry.com/

Session One: In this first session, we will discuss process as a tool for accessing our creativity and inner selves. We will also look at the idea of transformation in poetry and what is at stake in our writing. Our in-class exercise will include making a miniature folding poetry book integrating a colorful watercolor background with found poetry. No previous art or poetry experience required!

Session Two. In our second session, we will build on the concepts of writing process and transformation. We will create word banks and poem sketches to rough out poems inspired by family stories.

Both sessions for $25. Limit 12 participants. Email kimberly@witsendpoetry.com to sign-up. Or mail your check to Wits End Poetry, PO Box 244, Greenville, SC 29602-0244. Or call 864.525.6957 to leave a mesage.

Kimberly Jane Simms is the director of Wits End Poetry, a non-profit poetry organization in Greenville, SC. In September 2003, fifteen of her poems were published in a limited edition anthology from Ninety-Six Press connected to Furman University: Quintet. She has also been published in many journals and anthologies including The Asheville Poetry Review, The South Carolina Review, and The Millennium Sampler of SC Poetry. She is a first generation American who holds a Master of Arts in English from Clemson University. More information at www.kimberlysimms.com.

 

Past Workshops

October 21st. WORKSHOP WITH JEFF MCDANIEL. Saffrons. 6:00 - 7:00pm. First Floor West End Market at Augusta/Main in Downtown Greenville. $20. Register at Thursday event or email kimberly@witsendpoetry.com. Limit 15.

Jeffrey McDaniel is the author of Alibi School, The Forgiveness Parade, and most recently The Splinter Factory. His poems have appeared in dozens of anthologies and periodicals, including Best American
Poetry 1994, Ploughshares, New (American) Poets, American Poets: The Next Generation, and The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry. A recipient of an NEA Fellowship, he has read his poems in over 40 North American citis and in 7 countries internationally, including Argentina, Sweden, Germany, France, England, the Czech Republic, and Russia. He is a professor of creative writing at Sarah Lawrence in CA. This event is funded by the SE Arts Federation.

Poetic Conversations Series.

Dinners with visiting poets provide an opportunity for local poets to interact with professional poets in an informal atmosphere. Past events include:

October 22nd. Dinner with Jeff McDaniel.

November 6th. Dinner with Paul D.

December 11th. Dinner with Catharine Savage Brosman.

January 8th. Dinner with Ray McNiece.