Exploring Personal Truths:
Using Myths and Fairytales in Poetry

Workshop Description:

Many of the traditional stories and myths we know are containers for societal and cultural values and expectations that can be interpreted as warnings or life lessons. Remember "Little Red Riding Hood?” Or Medusa who was turned into a monster by a jealous goddess? But what happens if we change parts of these stories, or if we tell them from a different perspective? In this workshop, we will read work from a variety of poets that have been inspired by characters, objects, and/or other components of fairytales and myths to explore political, social, and personal truths so we can tell our own version of the stories. Each week we will write, read, talk about craft techniques, and offer light feedback to each other so that we can continue to expand and deepen our creative practice.

Workshop Details:

Spring 2025
Four Sessions with Leonora Simonovis on Zoom
Tuesday Evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 PM (ET)
Dates: May 20, 27, June 3, 10
$195
Register for Exploring Personal Truths: Using Myths and Fairytales in Poetry

Workshop Facilitator:

Leonora Simonovis is a Venezuelan American poet and the author of Study of the Raft, winner of the 2021 Colorado Prize for Poetry and Honorable Mention at the 2022 International Latino Book Awards. Her poems consider the intersections of myth, language, and story in connection to the land and to her experience as an exile.  Leonora’s poetry has been featured in or is forthcoming from the Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day, About Place Journal, Amsterdam Review, Whale Road Review, SWWIM, and others. She has been the recipient of fellowships and residencies from the Poetry Foundation, California Arts Council, The Poetry Lab, VONA, Vermont Studio Center, and Esperimento Sul Respiro. Leonora lives in Rochester, NY, with her family and two dogs.

Comments:

"Leonora gave us a fun way to introduce ourselves to each other via email before class, and that was great to get us thinking about fairy tales. I enjoyed her presentation of content, and then poem prompts, then writing and sharing. The three hours flew by!"

"The class was structured so well. Between readings, exercises, and discussions we covered a lot of material in class and got to build a sense of camaraderie with each other."

"I have new ways of looking at and engaging with poetry, as well as my own story and process. I have new writers to read and discover. I am so excited to carry these lessons forward, and I am extremely happy with all three pieces I produced during the course of the session."

"Loved the prompts and will use again to help me generate more writing. The opening exercise is one I can continue to use as well."

Questions: editors@riverheronreview.com

Discount: RHR Discount does not apply to this workshop.

Refunds: Up to one week prior to the workshop start date, full refund minus $15 processing fee. After that time, there are no refunds.

Workshop sessions are not recorded, nor are there make up sessions.