Entering Liminal Space, facilitated by Michael Favala Goldman, combines generative writing, inspirational meditations on writing and life, and learning four tai chi sequences. This one-day workshop will cover liminal space, non-doing, sensory awareness, and other concepts relevant to both writing and tai chi. Participants will learn and practice the Tai Chi Walk, Repulse Monkey, Cloud Hands, and Four Corners. The workshop will move back and forth between writing and discussion indoors, and learning tai chi practices outdoors, weather permitting. Wear flat-soled shoes, loose fitting clothing, and dress for the weather. Bring writing materials. There will be a one-hour lunch break. No experience necessary.

To register, please email programs@nohoarts.org with your name, address, and phone number. Payment can be made via PayPal here, or by mailing a check made out to NCFA to PO Box 366, Northampton, MA 01061.

*Payments on the upper end of the sliding scale help support our continued commitment to accessibility, including sliding scale models and the NCFA Community Fund.

Michael Favala Goldman is an award-winning poet, jazz clarinetist, and translator of Danish literature. Michael’s eight books of original poetry include Small Sovereign, which took first place at the 2022 Los Angeles Book Festival. Among his seventeen translated books is Dependency by Tove Ditlevsen, which made the New York Times Best Books of the Century as book three of The Copenhagen Trilogy. Goldman has practiced Yang style short form Tai Chi in the tradition of Cheng Man-ch'ing for 20 years. Tai Chi is both a form of exercise and meditation. The combination of slow movements develops balance, concentration, and relaxation, while improving strength and flexibility without danger of injury. It is suitable for people of any age and does not require special athletic ability. https://michaelfavalagoldman.com/

Kelly Silliman

November 12, 2021

Poetry Breakthrough 2025

Kelly Silliman

November 12, 2021

Poetry Breakthrough 2025

Three Wednesday workshops, April 2, 9, and 16, 7:00-9:00pm

Cost: $35-$65 sliding scale* per workshop, Register for one or all three!

Are you creating consistently compelling drafts? Satisfied with your revision process? Comfortable with your ability to share your work publicly? If not, this is your chance to become a poetry triple threat! This series is for poets who want more from their practice. If it’s time to make a bigger commitment to your writing life, increase your current output, and improve your ability to share your work, these intensives are for you! Register for one or all three!

April 2: I FEEL A DRAFT: CLOSE READING AND EXTREME REVISION

This workshop supports participants in turning drafts into poems. We will explore our satisfactions and dissatisfactions with our writing practice. We will discuss and demonstrate close reading, and how this affects revision. We will also discuss steps to achieving finished poems and collections. Each participant will offer one poem to the group for workshopping.

April 9: YOUR WRITING OBSESSION: CONSTRAINT AND VULNERABILITY

This workshop support participants in creating or honing their process for success. Writing can leave us in a dilemma between public exposure and personal vulnerability. This workshop will explore constraints we put on ourselves that can either promote or hinder our creativity. Also, we will practice generative exercises that help us acclimate to discomfort, and produce work that connects deeply with readers.

April 16: GOING PUBLIC: PUBLISHING AND PERFORMING

This workshop support participants in valuing their writing. If you are brave enough to share your writing, how do you deal with the fickleness and competition inherent in the industry? What can you do to make your submissions and presentations more compelling? Each participant will perform a short reading and receive feedback. Limited to 8 participants.

To register, email programs@nohoarts.org (preferred) or call the Center at 413-584-7327. Please include your name, address, and telephone contact. Course fees are payable in advance by check to “NCFA” and can be mailed to the Northampton Center for the Arts, PO Box 366, Northampton MA 01061, or by Paypal here.

*Payments on the upper end of the scale help support our commitment to sliding scale rates, as well as our low teacher/participant ratio. Financial aid is available through our Community Fund.

Michael Favala Goldman is an award-winning poet, jazz clarinetist, and translator of Danish literature. Michael’s eight books of original poetry include Small Sovereign, which took first place at the 2022 Los Angeles Book Festival. Among his seventeen translated books is Dependency by Tove Ditlevsen, which made the New York Times Best Books of the Century as book three of The Copenhagen Trilogy. His work has appeared in scores of publications including The New Yorker, Rattle, and The Harvard Review. He has been running poetry critique groups since 2018. https://michaelfavalagoldman.com/

Kelly Silliman

November 12, 2019

Poetry Critique Meet-up - Online

Kelly Silliman

November 12, 2019

Poetry Critique Meet-up

Saturday, Jan 11, 1:00-3:30pm

Sunday, Jan 12, 1:00-3:30pm

Sunday, February 2, 1:00-3:30pm

Saturday, February 15, 1:00-3:30pm

COST: BY DONATION*, SUGGESTED SLIDING SCALE $25-$40. No one turned away for lack of funds, Limited to five participants. Register early!

Poetry Critique Meet-up is a twice-monthly chance for poets to give and receive immediate constructive feedback on their poems by everyone in attendance. Learn what is working in your poems, and what may need revision. Contribute your observations to other poets. Be fascinated by the breadth of the written word. Moderated by translator and poet Michael Favala Goldman. New dates are added throughout the year!

Please register in advance through Straw Dog Writers Guild! Please pay through the Center for the Arts via Paypal here, via Venmo @Northampton-CenterForTheArts, or by mailing a check made out to NCFA to PO Box 366, Northampton, MA 01061. Please note Poetry Meet-up in the memo line.

These workshops are held in memory of Eli Daniel Nemetz Todd, and made possible by donations to NCFA in Eli’s honor.

For questions about the meet-ups, please email: hammerandhorn@gmail.com.

Michael Favala Goldman is author of five poetry collections and translator of sixteen books. His work has appeared in scores of publications such as The New Yorker, The Harvard Review, and Rattle Magazine. https://michaelfavalagoldman.com/

Michael’s blog about the Poetry Critique Meet-up: http://strawdogwriters.org/blog/poetry-meet-up

* Donations on the upper end of the scale help support our continued commitment to accessibility, including offering sliding scale models and out Community Fund.