This summer, I’m teaching a three-week, online class at Politics & Prose, my very favorite bookstore. When I was a child, Politics & Prose was an essential part of my family’s life. We lived five minutes from the original store location. Whenever my mother wanted to give me a treat, she would take me there for a book (or a stack of books!) and a snack. All these years later, I’m delighted to offer a virtual course through their online programming.

The class is called “Poets Writing Prose.” Here’s the description:

What happens when poets decide their stories must extend beyond rhyme, meter, or the line break and into lyric prose? How do poets—with their rigorous treatment of language, their appreciation of the power of images, and their use of vivid sensory detail—apply their training to write a memoir or an essay? 

In this class, we’ll look at books by three distinguished, contemporary American poets (Natasha Trethewey, Mark Doty, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil), examining how these authors transfer the lessons of verse to their work in nonfiction. 

Each session will focus on close readings of poems and excerpts of prose, with Dubrow highlighting the ways that the two genres may overlap but also diverge. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and to offer their insights. Creative writers will come away from the class with a range of craft-based strategies for moving between genres.

If you’re interested in signing up for the class, you can find more information about registration here.