Poetry Writing Workshop: Of Love and Heartbreak: Using Poetry as a Tool to Navigate the Many Roads of the Heart

Author and poet Heather Frankland will present the next workshop in The Write Stuff writing series, a 2-hour talk and generative workshop: Of Love and Heartbreak: Using Poetry as a Tool to Navigate the Many Roads of the Heart. It will be offered on Saturday, February 17th, from 10 am to noon, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City, 3845 N. Swan St, Silver City, NM.

Will you be my Valentine? Are you interested in reading and writing both love and heartbreak poems? Oftentimes, love and heartbreak poems are the first poems a poet will write, and more than often—they are among the hardest. How can one write a poem about feelings that seem to escape definition? How can one write a love poem that doesn’t sound abstract or just a mere copy of other love poems out there? In this talk and workshop, Heather Frankland will guide attendees through poetry examples, prompts, exercises, and creative play. This workshop will be both one of play and sincerity, and by the end—you will walk out with 2-3 poems of your own.

Heather D. Frankland holds an MFA and a MPH from New Mexico State University. She was a Peace Corps and Peace Corps Response Volunteer in Peru and Panama. Her poetry chapbook, “Midwest Musings,” was published this fall by Finishing Line Press, a chapbook that can be considered a love song to the Midwest. Her poetry and prose have been finalists and semifinalists in multiple contests. She has been published in Sweet Lit, Sin Fronteras Press, and others. In 2022, she was among 12 poets selected to attend Marge Piercy’s Poetry Intensive Workshop. Originally from Indiana, she currently lives in Silver City, NM where she teaches at Western New Mexico University.

The Write Stuff, a program presented by Southwest Word Fiesta and hosted by award-winning author and writing instructor Kris Neri, shares the techniques required for writers to elevate the professionalism of their works. This program presents a series of in-depth writing workshops throughout the year, offered by a some of the most accomplished local authors and instructors on a variety of writing challenges. Past presenters have included Elise Stuart, Catalina Claussen, Julia Fricke Robinson, and Kris Neri.

All workshops are free and open to the public. No reservations. Seating is plentiful. Small donations are solicited to pay for the space, but no donations are required.

For more information, contact Kris Neri krisneri2@gmail.com .