WORK WITH ME.
FREE CLASS - Writing Odes, 2/26/24, 7-9 pm EST
How might the ode illuminate & celebrate seemingly ordinary aspects of life in ways that reveal new understandings? Join us to unpack how form & content come together to celebrate both the elevated & the mundane in a curated packet of poetry. Together, we’ll identify the key craft strategies at play in several contemporary odes, including work by Safia Elhillo, Ellen Bass, Lucille Clifton, & Kevin Young. In addition to our discussion, this class will include quiet writing time with poetry prompts inspired by key examples.
Get the writing support you need.
Individualized coaching for writers at every stage of the writing process: brainstorming, drafting, revising, & submitting for publication. My students are beginners, pre-MFA, mid-MFA, post-MFA, published writers, & aspiring authors of micro-chapbooks, chapbooks, and full-length poetry collections. Register>>
Produce, polish, & publish your poems.
Searching for a supportive community to nurture your writing?
Craving conversations about craft to feed your poems?
Longing for advice & accountability around generating, revising, & submitting poems?
Tired of an inconsistent, intermittent writing practice? Learn more about The Inkubator>>
For additional classes with Ruba at Hugo House & beyond, see EVENTS & CLASSES. >>
What Participants Say:
“Thank you, Ruba. You are a brilliant poet & extraordinary teacher.”
—Isabel, NJ
“Your enthusiasm, excellent listening, preparation, generous sharing, and encouragement are such a potent combination for an educator. Your creative writing students are in for a top notch mind-expanding experience.
—Richard, Tacoma, WA
“Ruba, you are a great teacher—kind & empathetic while still giving valuable assistance to further the work. I will be back!”
—Sabrina, Pittsburgh, PA
“Your class, and the lively discussions, are a highlight of my week!”
—Jean, WA
“In a few hours, you opened many windows into the craft strategies at play in iconic poems. Your deft discussions and detailed handouts gave me practical strategies to use in my reading and writing practices. Thank you!”
—Jeffrey, Durham, NC
“Thank you so much, Ruba! Great class, clear & supportive structure, good class interaction.”
—Elaine, Greater Seattle Area
“Discussing the poems in a small group was so useful and it was great to see what other people read from the poems. I also found the workshopping of individual poems (mine and others') extremely useful. I love how you make the group feel comfortable and I truly felt in community with the other writers!"
—Yamini, Princeton Junction, NJ
WORKSHOP NOTES
SEE YOU ON ZOOM. Due to COVID-19/Coronavirus, THE WRITING LAB has moved ALL courses to an online format via Zoom. Zoom is free with minimal set-up needed. To participate in class, you’ll need a reliable high-speed Internet connection, a computer with microphone and webcam.
GET READY TO WRITE. You'll need a quiet place to write during class, free of background noise & distractions, as well as paper, pens, & charged laptops. You may want to print a hard copy of materials you receive in advance. Brewing your own pot of coffee is optional. : )
ENROLLMENT NOTES. If a workshop is cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, you’ll receive a notification 1-2 days in advance, along with a full refund. Workshops need a minimum of 4 attendees in order to run, so please register with a friend!
INQUIRIES? If you need special accommodations to participate, please contact the instructor at ahmed _ ruba @yahoo.com well in advance.
SPECIAL REQUESTS. Working with a small group? Request a class: ahmed _ ruba @yahoo.com. Choose from the topics below, email your specific interests, or request a workshop that provides participant & instructor feedback.
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Hermit Crab Forms for Poets & Prosers
Spring into Writing: Jumpstart Your Poems & Prose
Creative Nonfiction: Shapes & Containers
Cooking up Magic with “Recipes” & Incantations
Feeding the Muse: Reinvigorate your writing practice
“Sweet Dream” & “Rude Awakening: Crafting Contemporary Pastoral Poems
Saying the Unsayable: A Poetry Workshop
As Stones From a Necklace: Repetition & Surprise in the Ghazal Form
Recharge Your Revision Process
Poetry Publication Support
PERSONAL & POLITICAL: Unpacking Rick Barot’s The Galleons
