Or to Begin Again: Beginnings, Endings, and the Art of the Turn
with Christie Valentin-Bati and Noah Zanella
Genres: Poetry
Online
Online Open to all levels
Open to all levels 8 Sessions
8 Sessions In stock
"The last word is not a word"
—Lev Shestov
In this course we will explore how poems begin, end, and turn—pivoting partway through to become something different; creating surprise, dimensionality, and revelation.
From the volta of a sonnet to the conceptual pivot of modern experimental writing and to the bridge of contemporary folk music, we will examine how writers across traditions use shifts in tone, perspective, image, and thought to generate meaning. What does it mean for a poem to “begin again”? How can form “open” a poem rather than “close” it?
This class is for poets of all levels who want to find new ways of unlocking their work so it can say more. We’ll read and take inspiration from poets such as Emily Dickinson, Frank O’Hara, Jericho Brown, Wilfred Owen, Bernadette Mayer, and Renee Gladman. And we’ll produce a series of experiments with form inspired by the masters.
You’ll leave with a sheaf of fresh poetry and a clearer sense of what a poem is, what is does, and how it speaks. Most of all, you’ll leave with an expanded sense of your own work’s possibilities and the tools to continue exploring.
On turns:
In "This Year" by the Mountain Goats, there's this incredible moment in the bridge where, in this song about teenage angst, a moment of religious exaltation appears out of nowhere and just opens the song up so beautifully. The narrator comes home to his angry stepfather, and sings:
I downshifted as I pulled into the driveway
The motor screaming out stuck in second gear
The scene ends badly as you might imagine
In a cavalcade of anger and fear
There will be feasting and dancing in Jerusalem next year
I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me
Just a great turn, brings so much into the song with that one line.
—Noah Zanella, instructor
This class focuses on:
- Generative Writing: Focuses on producing new writing through prompts and exercises.
- Creative Play & Exploration: Focuses on playful, experimental writing activities designed to break creative blocks and spark ideas.
- Craft & Technique: Focuses on improving writing skills, exploring elements like plot, character, or dialogue.
- What to expect:
- Reading & Analysis: Published works will be closely read as part of the learning process.
- Lecture: Instructor-led teaching
- Class Discussion: Facilitated class conversation
- Prompts & Exercises: Class features guided writing activities.
- In-Class Writing Time: Class will include dedicated time to write.
- In-Class Sharing: Students are invited to share their writing aloud or in small groups during class.
- Instructor Feedback: Students receive direct feedback from the instructor.
- Peer Feedback: Students share and critique each other’s work.
- 2-3 hours of reading and/or writing outside of class per week.
Students say…
“I loved the deep engagement with the texts, the wide ranging curation of material to read, and the thought-provoking discussions. Noah was a very engaging teacher and I enjoyed the way they taught, encouraged us to think, and were able to help us all mentality play with ideas that were bigger and different than I think a lot of the writing we had been doing. I would love to take a class with Noah again!”
“Noah is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. The readings and prompts were great. The way the class was structured worked really well.”
"[Christie] introduced me to new voices and new ways of experiencing prose and poetry and boundaries and crossovers…It was great!”
“Christie was great. She introduced me to a lot of new writings and writers; the close reading approach was very helpful…I was really stimulated to read more broadly and expand my exposure, which in turn will help my writing.”
Registration Dates:
- May 19: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- May 26: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- May 31: Last day of Early Bird discount
- June 2: Last day of Early Bird discount
Christie Valentin-Bati
Christie Valentin-Bati is a poetry teaching artist based in Chicago. Her work received honorable mention from the Academy of American Poets, was commissioned by the ACLU, and her micro-chapbook "Journal" was showcased in Porous Gallery. She loves plants and shadows.
Describe your teaching style.
My main goal as an instructor is to bring out the language that exists in all of us and to refine it. We all carry unique life experiences, stories, and idiosyncrasies— often writers think they need to strip themselves of these traits to be a “good writer,” but good writing is just about one's ability to elicit a sense of aliveness in the reader by the honing in on the substantial center of subjectivity.
Noah Zanella
I am a nonbinary writer and musician from Chicago. I have an MFA in Poetry from Columbia College Chicago. I was the recipient of the 2022 Elieen Lannan Academy of American Poets Prize. I'm trying not to miss it all.
Website: noahpzanella.wixsite.com/my-site
LinkedIn: Noah Zanella
Describe your teaching style!
My focus is always on generating work. No matter how far we get into the intellectual or the abstract, my approach is primarily concerned with the development of writing practices (what actually happens, day to day, as we show up to the page—how does the work get made?). There is also an emphasis on the training of one’s attention as being a part of the craft of writing. Henry James’s advice to writers: try to become one of those upon whom nothing is lost.
FAQ
Complete FAQEach class description includes a breakdown of what you can expect in terms of in-class activity, feedback, and homework (if any).
Generative means you’ll be generating new writing, either in class or at home between classes.
Workshop means you’ll be sharing work to be read and critiqued by your instructor and classmates and that you will also be critiquing the work of your peers.
Reading means you’ll be doing close reading of a work with an eye toward craft.
Craft discussion means you’ll be looking at the tools writers use to do that thing they do so well and then trying it out yourself.
Class levels are designed for various stages of the writing journey. Simply self-select the level that sounds best for where you’re at.
Introductory: This is your first creative writing workshop, first writing class since high school, or first foray into a new genre or form. You’re looking to try something new, kickstart your writing, and/or establish yourself in the fundamentals.
Intermediate: You have a strong understanding of writing fundamentals and are eager to deep dive into craft. You’re honing your writerly identity and voice through independent projects. In workshop, you look for constructive feedback and are ready to do writing and reading outside of class.
Advanced: You’ve written a significant body of work and have taken it through several stages of revision. You’re getting ready to publish or are in the early stage of publishing, and you’re interested in refining the skills that will take you to the next level in the literary industry.
All Levels: You are any of the above and are looking to play with new possibilities.
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You’ll also receive an email including Zoom information three days before the first day of class.
If you have any questions please contact us at welcome@hugohouse.org
Write With Hugo House is our free monthly write-in program that takes place online via Zoom.
We also have payment plans available for most of our classes. These payment plans are available to all students. Additionally, we offer partial scholarships (covering up to 40% of class tuition) for students who meet our income guidelines.
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Payment plans are available for all classes and can be purchased through our website. To register for a payment plan, select “Pay in installments” on the class details page, select your preferred option, and proceed to add to cart usual. The following policy applies to all payment plans:
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- Extended payment plans up to 8 monthly installments and 16 semi-monthly installments are available upon request.
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Asynchronous classes are perfect for students that need flexibility!
During an asynchronous class, instructors release new lessons once per week. Students then have one week to complete that lesson and any accompanying coursework. You’ll learn as much as you would in a traditional class but with the flexibility to work at the best times for your schedule!
While there are no live sessions, asynchronous classes are still a lively and rigorous experience. Async classes are not static lessons but an adaptable and energetic community space. Be ready to work in a collaborative environment, giving and receiving feedback on your writing, participating in discussions, and growing your writing practice in a way that works best for you.
Asynchronous classes take place through the website Wet Ink. Students receive an invitation to the class and to set up a Wet Ink account on the start date of the class. Each week of the class, a new lesson will be available through the Wet Ink portal. Classes close two weeks after the end date, and students receive an email containing their content from the class when it closes.
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To request a refund for class credit, please note such in the message section of your refund request.
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Due to the limited number of scholarships, please only request up to two scholarships for two different classes per quarter if you truly meet the financial need requirements.
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