Confessional Writing Re-visited
Poets typically draw on personal experiences. But how do we do this without slipping into banality and the same old same old? Since Robert Lowell’s Life Studies changed the nature of personal revelation – ‘Yet why not say what happened? ‘ – apparent candour of one sort or another has played a role in shaping twentieth century verse. However, personal writing is not straight forward and it
calls for poetic nerve. It also draws on fictive processes. The act of remembering and editing can create a powerful amalgamation, and truth to experience is not the same as truth. Ultimately we want a good poem! Taking a lead from poets such as Lowell, Ginsburg, O’Hara, Sharon Olds, Hugo Williams, Selima Hill, Michael Hofmann, Fleur Adcock and Andrew McMillan, the sessions will create ample space for presentation and workshopping, feedback, and due attention to editorial processes.
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