Paris
Poetry Workshop
March 17 to 20, 2003
at Eurocentres, Paris
Workshop
Schedule
Schedule Subject to Change
All morning and afternoon workshop sessions take place at:
Eurocentres, 13 passage Dauphine, 6th arrondissement.
Monday, March 17, 2003
Opening Reception 5 p.m. to 7:30
p.m.
Le Bouillon Racine,
A Historic Monument
-- 
Not far from the Luxembourg Gardens, founded by Camille Chartier in
1906 and classified as a historic monument, this absolutely beautifully
decorated art nouveau 2-level brasserie-style restaurant, bar and salon
de thé has been reinvented as "la cuisine Belge aux couleurs
de la bière," specializing in Belgian dishes and brews.
This is where we have chosen to celebrate the opening of the Paris
Poetry Workshop — with remarks by Adrian Leeds, Director
of the International Living Paris Office and Cecilia Woloch,
Paris Poetry Workshop Director.
If you choose to stay for dinner at Le Bouillon Racine, please
reserve in advance by emailing Nicole
Alexander.
Description of the Workshop
The morning workshops will be conducted by Cecilia Woloch, who has been helping writers at all levels of development find their own sources of creative inspiration, develop their craft, and hone their editorial skills for over 15 years. The workshop format allows all participants to engage in the process of encouraging and responding constructively to one another's work, and thus to become their own best critics, as well. In the workshop environment, all participants also become facilitators whose responses are respected and honored within the group.
Each session begins with the presentation of literary works — poems by a wide range of poets, selected by Cecilia to set the tone for the workshop and introduce themes to be discussed, as well as various writing techniques. Then each participant will have the opportunity to present a piece of their own writing to the group, and Cecilia will lead the critique and ensure that the discussion is pertinent, focused and helpful to the writer, and also that all participants engage in the discussion.
After each participant has presented his or her work, Cecilia will introduce a writing exercise based on specific subject matter and/or literary techniques, such as the catalogue poem, uses of metaphor, juxtaposition, and both traditional and free-verse form. These exercises are designed to be stimulating, playful and sometimes difficult, and to surprise participants into producing work they might not have otherwise produced. (Past participants in Cecilia's workshops have likened her exercises to sorcery or magic spells.) Cecilia will provide model poems for each exercise, as well as specific instructions, which participants will be free to interpret in their own way, and to use to stimulate their own writing process. Participants will use the afternoon writing time to complete the assignment, and then will bring the results to present to the workshop in the following session. If they wish and are able to, participants may bring copies of their new work for the group; if they choose to simply present their new work orally, it will be discussed as work-in-progress and suggestions will be offered as to how they can bring the work to its fullest fruition.
At the end of the four-day workshop, it's expected that each participant
will have drafts of at least three new poems, a trove of ideas for future
poems, and new skills for editing and crafting their work.
Tuesday, March 18,
2003
9 a.m. to 10:15
a.m.: Workshop
Introductions and critique of works in progress (bring 10 copies
of a poem on which you would like feedback)
10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Coffee Break
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Writing exercise, assignment for afternoon
writing
12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Lunch Break
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Writing
time -- workshop assignment
3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.:
Coffee Break
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.:
Roundtable Discussion with Panel
of Poets "Writing and Living in Paris " -- Ethan Gilsdorf,
Kathleen Spivack, Ellen Hinsey
5:00
p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Guest speaker : Elizabeth Reichert, author of
The Writers Insider Guide to Paris, http://www.insiderparisguides.com
and tour leader of the Literary Tour
about "Literary Paris."
A comment from a past workshop attendee about Elizabeth Reichert:
"A fantastic intellectual on a passionate mission - a wealth of
knowledge, Elizabeth was really interesting; a nice touch for a workshop.
Evening Event 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Reading at the Famous Café de Flore
Walk over just a few blocks to the famous
Café de Flore for cocktails (choice of drinks offered)
and poetry readings by well-known poets Ethan Gilsdorf, Sarah Luczaj,
James Baker Hall and Mary Ann Taylor-Hall. The Café de
Flore was at the heart of the Existentialist Movement during the
early part of this century with Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Camus and
others regularly meeting here. This is your opportunity to sit in the
same seats on the first floor (one flight up) where many of these famous
writers sat and composed their poems, memoires and existentialist ideas.
Invite your
friends...Non-workshop participants may join us for the reading at the
Café de Flore, limited to seating capacity. Register
in advance to insure your place by emailing [email protected].
The fee is $20 (or 20 Euro) which includes one drink (Kir, wine, beer,
soft drink, water, coffee).
Café
de Flore
172 boulevard St Germain, 6th Arrondissement
01 45 48 55 26
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.: Workshop
Instruction -- bring the results of your afternoon assignment or a revision
of the previous morning's work for critique
10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Coffee
Break
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Workshop
continues -- writing assignment, affernoon assignment
12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Lunch
Break
2 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Writing
Time -- Workshop Assignment
3:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.:
Coffee Break
3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.:
Roundtable Discussion with Panel
of Writers on "The Writing Life" -- with Sarah Luczaj,
James Baker Hall and Mary Ann Taylor-Hall.
4:30
p.m. to 5:30 p.m.Guest speaker: Lecture
by Jeffrey Greene, author of two books of poems, American
Spirituals (chosen by Carolyn Kizer for the 1998 Samuel French
Morse Prize, Northeastern UP) and To the Left of the Worshiper
(Alice James Books 1991), a chapbook, Glimpses of the Invisible World
in New Haven (1995) and his latest memoires about renovating a home
in France, French Spirits.
Evening Event 7:00 p.m. to
8:30 p.m.: Reading at The
Village Voice
Reading that evening are poets Cecilia Woloch, Jeffrey
Greene and Kathleen Spivack, with presentations by Ellen Hinsey!
This event is open to the public so that all of Paris may enjoy these
fine talents! (Their books will be on sale at the Village Voice,
so now is your chance to get signed copies!)
The Village Voice
6 rue Princesse 75006 Paris/France
6th Arrondissement
Tel: 01 46 33 36 47
http://www.villagevoicebookshop.com/
[email protected]
Thursday, March 20, 2003
9
a.m. to 10:15 a.m.: Workshop
Instruction -- bring the results of your afternoon assignment or a revision
of the previous morning's work for critique
10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Coffee
Break
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Workshop
continues -- writing
exercise, wrap-up and suggestions for further reading/writing excercises
12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Lunch
Break
2 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Writing
Time -- Workshop Assignment
3:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.:
Coffee Break
3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.:
Workshop: "From Page to Stage:
Reading Your Work in Public" in preparation for World Poetry
Days readings -- with Cecilia Woloch, Mary Ann Taylor Hall and Brendan
Constantine (workshop participant)
4:30
p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Roundtable
Discussion with Panel of Writers on "Not
Interrupting the Dream: Writing the Long Poems, Poems-in-Sequence, The
Novel-in Verse," with James Baker Hall, Ellen Hinsey and Cecilia
Woloch.
Evening Event 8 p.m. till...: Farewell
Dinner at Adrian Leeds' Marais Apartment with Special Reading by Cecilia
Woloch and Mary Ann Taylor Hall reading from her novel or short stories.
You must reserve your place in advance!
For more information, click here!
World Poetry Days, March 21 and 22, 2003
As a participant of the Paris Poetry Workshop,
you will have the opportunity to read your work during the two-day World
Poetry Days event March 21 and 22, 2003 held at the Grand Salon
in the Fondation des Etats Unis at Cité Universitaire in Paris.
|
TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP: In the U.S.
or Canada |
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR ACCOMMODATIONS: In France |
Workshop Schedule • Faculty and Presenters • Farewell Dinner and Reading
Reading at the Village Voice • World Poetry Day • Survival French Course
Literary Tour • Tsigan: The Gypsy Poem • Accommodations
Comments from Participants • Poems
