Event—Adult Education

An Introduction to Short Forms: Reading and Writing Poems and Flash Stories

In this seminar, we consider what can fit on one page, breaking down and opening up our understanding of poems and flash stories. We will first focus on reading and analyzing published work, and then generate our own writing.

Newberry Adult Education Seminars will meet virtually via Zoom. For more information about the Newberry’s virtual seminars, including a Zoom tutorial, please see our Virtual Seminars FAQ page. If you have questions about online learning, please reach out to seminars@newberry.org.

Seminar Description

In this seminar, we consider what can fit on one page, breaking down and opening up our understanding of poems and flash stories. We will first focus on reading and analyzing published work, and then generate our own writing. Our process will include sharing and revising our “shorts” along the way.

Four sessions. Registration – $170

Cindy Juyoung Ok lives in Iowa City. Her recent work can be found in journals like Conjunctions, Bennington Review, and Michigan Quarterly Review. She is also assistant poetry editor at Guernica Magazine, and reads for the Iowa Review, Quarterly West, and One Story.

Materials List

Required:

  • A free digital course packet of additional material, compiled by the instructor and distributed electronically before the seminar begins.

First Reading:

  • For the first session, please read the following selections available in the digital course packet: "Carp Poem" by Terrance Hayes, "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid, "Reflections, While Sitting in Traffic" by Jacquira Diaz, "XIII" by Adrienne Rich, "The Grackle" by Carl Philips.

Registration Information

Registration opens at 9 am (CST) on Wednesday, January 13th. Newberry Associates members at the Literati level and above will have access to early registration beginning January 7 at 10am. Learn more about membership benefits and becoming a Newberry Associate.

Please note: For more information about registration, including a guide to online registration, see our Registration Information page. Questions? Please contact seminars program staff via email at seminars@newberry.org.

We offer a 10% discount to members, seniors, and students.

This workshop has reached capacity. Please email seminars@newberry.org to be added to the wait list.

This seminar is part of the Newberry’s Adult Education Seminars Program. Learn more about registering for a seminar, program policies, or teaching a seminar.