Replay: Kim Addonizio shares the Five Things She's Learned about The Poem’s Progress
Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.
“Poems also promise the reader more than surprise – they promise a kind of intimacy with the writer’s imagination and experience, and a fulfilling of expectations. If a piece is too predictable, we lose interest; too surprising, and it leaves us foundering.”
– Kim Addonizio, Five Things I’ve Learned about the Poem’s Progress
Last week, Kim Addonizio joined us on Five Things to share all she’s learned about the art of crafting impactful poetry, from creating compelling openings to mastering structure and delivering memorable endings.
Five Things I’ve Learned about the Poem’s Progress offers insights into the five essential elements of poetry—title, opening, middle, structure, and ending—exploring how to craft poems that surprise, move, and connect deeply with readers. Through discussions, examples, and her own creative process, participants gained inspiration and practical tools to enhance their poetic writing.
Kim has authored eight poetry collections, two novels, two story collections, and two books on writing poetry: The Poet’s Companion and Ordinary Genius. Her most recent collection is Exit Opera. She has received fellowships from the NEA and Guggenheim Foundation, and Pushcart Prizes in both poetry and the essay. Tell Me was a National Book Award Finalist in poetry. Recent books include Now We're Getting Somewhere: Poems and a memoir, Bukowski in a Sundress: Confessions from a Writing Life. She lives in Oakland, CA and teaches poetry workshops on Zoom.
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