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Meaningful Steps Into Poetry

Woman writing in a diary sitting at the window
WRITING 731.5

Take a guided approach to writing poetry by reading and discovering what makes poetry tick in this workshop perfect for beginners.

Duration
As few as 1 day
Units
0.0
Current Formats
Live Online
Cost
$0

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What you can learn.

Encounter examples of contemporary poetry and discover poets you may not have read
Discuss the basic characteristics of contemporary poetry to get a sense of what makes poems powerful
Learn to imbue your poems with the wisdom and perceptions of your lived experiences
Explore the role fine detail, surprising syntax, and concise language play in poetry writing

About This Course

This course is geared toward beginning and intermediate writers of poetry and those curious about entering the world of poetry. We will discuss some of the basic characteristics of modern poetry and will explore how our own individuality and experiences together with a focus on fine detail, surprising syntax, and conciseness can be used to create memorable, impactful poems. We’ll read work by Louise Glück, Saúl Hernández, Diane Seuss, Christine Garren, and others. 

Spring 2026 Schedule

Date
Details
Format
 
Thursday 5:00PM - 7:00PM PT
REG#
407402
Live Onlineformat icon
UCLA X Open
Updating...
Notes

Enrollment limited. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.

This one day event will be led by guest instructor Gustavo Hernandez, author of the acclaimed poetry collection Flower Grand First (Moon Tide Press) and the micro-chapbooks Form His Arms and Little Fleece (Ghost City Press). His work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Harvard Review, The Slowdown Podcast, and The Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-Day series. In January 2024, Hernandez was appointed Poet Laureate of Orange County, California. He was born in Jalisco, Mexico and was raised in Santa Ana, California, where he still resides.

 

Course Requirements
Internet access required to access course materials.
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Online
Thu Apr 9, 2026
5:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
UCLA X Open
writing and journalism

Explore the UCLA Extension Writers' Program.

Learn from successful writers. Finish a novel. Complete a screenplay. Publish poetry. Write with purpose and impact.