WS9. No Poem or Story Begins Until the Word “But” Appears

In this workshop, Steven Heighton will lead the group to consider a literary ingredient that’s both vital and invisible: the emotional or dramatic pivot/hinge marked by the word “but” or some equivalent term. This hinge signals the complication, and thus the conflict, at the heart of any story or poem; it’s a switch that ends the set-up and initiates the action — internal or external — that leads to the work’s conclusion and yields its meanings. Steven will talk about this principle and students will look at examples. Then everyone will do a fun exercise, after which participants can, if they like, share the new work with the group.

Steven is supported by Author Patron Rebecca Luce-Kapler.

1:00 – 3:15 pm EDT
$30 (incl. HST, handling fee)