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About August's Workshop
What makes a poem stand the test of time? The U.S. Poet Laureates have shown us it’s a mix of craft, voice, and fearless creativity. This four-part workshop takes you into the minds of some of the most celebrated poets in American history, exploring how they write, what inspires them, and how you can apply their techniques to your own poetry.
Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of poetic craft—and the confidence to create work that will be remembered.
Workshop Takeaways
Discover and analyze the most well-loved works of U.S. Poet Laureates to uncover what makes them resonate with readers
The key craft techniques that make Laureate poems iconic—and how to incorporate them into your writing.
Insights into the daily habits and practices of Billy Collins, Ada Limón, Rita Dove and Joy Harjo.* Gain practical tips to structure your day like a Laureate.
Tips for building a poetic legacy you’ll be proud of.
*subject to change. I haven’t quite decided on which laureates we’ll look at.
This workshop begin’s on August 4, 2025. Paid subscribers will receive full access to this and all of our workshops for $10/mo
How It Works
Maria will publish a new lesson every Monday in August. If you're subscribed, they'll be sent directly to your email. Our workshops are self-paced, so you can take them anytime that works for you.
In the comment section of each lesson, writers taking the workshop do assigned exercises, swap feedback, and engage with each other.
At the end of the month, this workshop will be added to our collection, and a new instructor will take over to teach something else!
About The Instructor
Maria Giesbrecht is a Canadian poet whose writings explore her Mexican and Mennonite roots. Her work has previously been published in Contemporary Verse 2, Talon Review, The Wild Umbrella and elsewhere, and is forthcoming in Queen's Quarterly and Canadian Literature. She is the runner-up for the 2022 Eden Mills Poetry Contest and a graduate of the post-grad Creative Writing program at Humber College. Maria is the founder and host of the well-loved writing table, Gather, and spends her days nurturing creative folks to write urgently and unafraid.