PUBLIC WORKSHOPS, READINGS,
& WRITING PROMPTS
WRITING PROMPTS
Click to the bottom of this page to download the packet of 25 exploratory writing prompts. Enjoy! Also, if you want prompts like this sent to you every week or so, sign up here! It’s totally free.
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RISE & WRITE — wake up your creative brain!
Join me (almost) every week for Rise & Write!
This weekly generative writing workshop takes place online Wednesday mornings from 9 to 10 a.m. central.
Pop over here for details.
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The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free monthly online reading series and generative writing workshop hosted and facilitated by Marty McConnell.
Each reading includes a brief, lottery-style open mic and two featured readers from Chicago and beyond, preceded by an optional, limited-space workshop focused on poem discussion and guided generative writing time.
The name comes from a line by Chicago poet Li-Young Lee, from a section of “The City in Which I Love You”:
I wait
in a blue hour
and faraway noise of hammering,
and on a page a poem begun, something
about to be dispersed,
something about to come into being.
Each event takes place at Haymarket House and includes an open mic and two featured readers from Chicago and beyond, preceded by a limited-space generative writing workshop. Each event includes ASL interpretation.
The name comes from a line by Chicago poet Li-Young Lee, from a section of “The City in Which I Love You”:
I wait
in a blue hour
and faraway noise of hammering,
and on a page a poem begun, something
about to be dispersed,
something about to come into being.
MONTHLY SCHEDULE:
Events occur the third Wednesday of each month at Haymarket House — view the event calendar here.
Workshop begins at 6 p.m. — space is limited and registration is required.
Reading begins at 7:30 and is followed by community gathering time — open mic sign-up begins at 7:15 with five names drawn at 7:30 sharp.
Each event is livestreamed at this link.
Haymarket House is ADA compliant and fully wheelchair-accessible; email marty@poetrycenter.org with any accessibility questions.
ABOUT THE READING:
The Blue Hour reading includes an open mic and readings by two featured poets from Chicago and beyond, followed by community gathering time. Archives are available to view at this link.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:
The Blue Hour generative writing workshop is suitable for writers and poetry fans of all levels. We discuss a poem together, then the facilitator guides the group through individual writing on an exploratory prompt that draws on themes from the poem.
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