Beth Paulson

Beth Paulson taught college writing for over twenty years at California State University Los Angeles, and now lives near Ouray, Colorado where she teaches writing workshops, directs local poetry events, and writes a popular column for the Ouray Plaindealer.

Her poems have been widely published in literary magazines and her work is included in anthologies published by Houghton Mifflin and University of Texas press. She has two published collections of poems, The Truth About Thunder (2001), and The Company of Trees (2004) as well as a CD of nature poetry, By Stone By Water. Beth's poem, "Hollyhocks," was nominated for the 2007 Pushcart Prize.

Call WCA at (970) 318-0150 or email for a registration form, or Register

Oct 7, 2008

The GO date is the date when, if the minimum number of students has registered, we know the class will be held. If the minimum number of students has not registered by the GO date, the class will be canceled. So be sure and register early to help ensure your class will be held.

This is a workshop for writers and readers of poetry or ......

for anyone who would like to know more about contemporary poetry. The premise of the workshop is that many of us do not have a good knowledge of poetry that is being written today because we remember struggling to understand poetry in school and have not chosen to read it as adults.

The purpose of this workshop is to acquaint students with the work of several contemporary poets whose style and language are accessible and enjoyable. To illustrate this we will read selected poems by writers, such as Ted Kooser, Tony Barnstone, Billy Collins, Lisel Mueller, Mary Oliver, and Naomi Shihab Nye. We will look closely at their poems and learn how each uses specific techniques to create poetry readers can understand and relate to in personal ways.

We will also see how we as writers can use what we read as springboards for our own writing. Using one or more of the poems we have read and discussed, we will craft poems using them as our initial inspiration.

We will also discuss the value of reading poetry, and suggestions will be given on how to read poems to get the most from them. The goal of the workshop is not to make everyone a poet, but to show how reading and writing poetry can be a joyful not a fearful experience.

Pay in full before the GO date and receive a 10% discount on the price of the class.

$ 88 non-members WCA - $ 80 if paid in full before GO date
$ 80 members - $ 72 if paid in full before GO date

We must receive your registration and a 50% deposit by the GO date in order to know if the class will make.

Supply list to be provided by students:

1. Writing materials