Writing by Ear: Incorporating the Poetic, with Michael Mercurio
Every writer—no matter how accomplished they may be—feels the pressure of finding the right words to invigorate their manuscripts, to tell stories that resonate with readers and that linger for a long time. In this half-day workshop, writers will explore how the origins of words we use and the sounds of them can enhance their writing across any and all genres. Incorporating these poetic sensibilities into your work can help to create meaning you didn’t know was there and to get your work to stand out when it crosses an editor’s desk. This workshop will include a brief history lesson on the peculiarities of the English language, an opportunity to discuss some tried-and-true strategies for using words as springboards for inspiration, and plenty of time to write.
Saturday, February 6, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ($75)
Michael Mercurio, MFA, lives and writes in the Pioneer Valley, where he serves on the steering committee for the Tell It Slant Poetry Festival (formerly Amherst Poetry Festival) and is the associate editor of the Naugatuck River Review. A graduate of the Lesley University low-res MFA program, his poetry has been published in Rust + Moth, Crab Creek Review, and The Indianapolis Review, and is forthcoming in Sugar House Review and Palette Poetry. Michael also has had critical reviews published in The Lily Poetry Review.
