Crafting Poems: Creating and Finishing Poetry with James Dewar

Crafting Poems, a two-part workshop with James Dewar, provides the opportunity for poets to meet in groups on zoom to read and appreciate two excellent poems drawn from a cross section of Canadian collections. After an immersive discussion that invites participants to respond to each poem, participants will be invited to write their own new poems to (optional) prompts provided by James.

At the conclusion of the two-and-a-half hour workshop, participants will have enjoyed the close readings of 2 masterful poems, written 2 new poems of their own, and received AWA-style, strengths-based feedback to their own work from other participants.

For the follow-up workshop, each participant is invited to select ONE of their new poems to email to James within 7 days after the first event. He will forward these to all poets who participate in this feedback process. The group will meet again in a zoom room format the following week (2 weeks after the original workshop). Each poem will receive 15 minutes of thoughtful responses from the group using the AWA manuscript review method that focusses on strengths and addresses opportunities for clarity.

James will also provide his written feedback on each submitted piece to each poet at the conclusion of the second workshop.

Price: $75 CDN – includes BOTH workshops

Starting in January, 2026

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