How Not to Be Yourself

Writing as self-expression — an attempt to reach the core truth of ourselves — can be limiting. The problem is that eventually we either run out of material or end up using the same clichés over and over. This workshop introduces some experimental techniques distilled from the practice(s) of different avant-garde poets such as Jen Bervin, Doug Nufer, Niger Christenson, and others. These experimental techniques, like parataxis and writing with constraints, etc., can help us escape our personal clichés in writing, i.e. open up our writing life. Some of these techniques will enrich our writing by allowing the language of other writers into our world.