Tutorials
I
offer private tutorials for those who would like to work with me
one-on-one to improve their craft and knowledge of poetry and poetic
techniques. In essence, it's a kind of private workshop cum mentorship.
I will offer critiques of poems, assign reading and generative
exercises meant to teach or improve skills including but not limited to:
- Use of syntax
- Description (too much, not
enough, originality)
- Use of imagery/symbol
- Balance of abstract and
concrete imagery
- Diction, voice
- Flow and rhythm of language
(assonance, alliteration, repetition, rhyme, syntax)
- Presence/lack of tension or risk:
(narrative, linguistic, formal, emotional, etc.)
- Capacity to surprise
- Line breaks, punctuation, word
choice
- Point of view
I
recommend one-hour meetings (this can be done by phone if you are
at a distance), and will be glad to tailor tutorials to individual
needs and pocket books (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).
During the meetings, we will discuss your reading experience, and I
will ask you to critique your new poem and then offer my critique in
both verbal and written form (this employs the "Ossmann Method" I use
in workshops intended to teach poets to be better editors of their
own work, adjusted for individual use). I will also offer coaching or
"in class" generative exercises (your choice), and assign a new
techniques exercise and reading.
Fee
I expect my preparation time to be about an hour
including research, lesson-planning, and editing (poems
longer than a page will take more time and cost more), but not
including travel time (or expense) to the hour-long meetings. The cost
for the two hours is $150. Poems of two or more pages will add an
additional $10 per page to the tutorial cost.
Payment
Full payment due is one week in advance of each meeting, with the
submission of your poem for critique. I accept checks or money orders.
Refunds
No refunds
unless I fail to perform the work due to extended illness or injury.
Email address: aprilossmann@hotmail.com