Recent and Upcoming Workshops and Events

Poetry, Prose & Performance
Sunday, February 28 at 4 pm
The Des Moines Playhouse

For the February Two Rivers Story Spinners Guild meeting Mary Swander, Iowa's Poet Laureate and Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Master Garderner and Storyteller, conducts a workshop on the use of rhythmic language in stories (and more). Swander draws upon her experience as poet, essayist, playwright and professor to help participants enhance their poetry, prose, and performance. Cost: $5, free for TRSS members.

To reserve a space or if you have further questions, contact Susan Jellinger at 515.306.9313 or avalonroad@yahoo.com The workshop will be at The Des Moines Playhouse, 42nd and I-235, from 4 - 6 pm on Sunday, Feb. 28th.
Two Rivers Story Spinners website: http://www.2riversstoryspinners.8m.net on Facebook, too! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Two-Rivers-Story-Spinners/228381492273?ref=ts

Zanibar's - 2nd Fridays

Dan Troxell continues to arrange and often host poets and readings on the 2nd Friday of each month at 8:00 p.m. at Zanzibar's, a coffeehouse at 28th and Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines. These are free and open to the public. Check with Dan at dan_troxell@yahoo.com about the programs, or just drop in and share the fun.

IPA Fall Workshop - Sat. October 31st, 2009

At Wesley United Methodist Church - 800 E. 12th Street, Des Moines

Pictured from left to right, Lorraine Ferrell, reader; Larry Link, reader; Jim Coppoc, critic; Heather Derr-Smith, critic.


Lucille Morgan-Wilson, Editor of Lyrical Iowa and of the IPA Newsletter.

If you are new to IPA or have not yet attended one of our semi-annual workshops, here's our usual format:

Any member planning to attend the workshop may submit a single poem, up to 20 lines, no name on poem sheet, please. Non-members may do so on a first-time visitor basis. One of two qualified critics receives your poem in advance, studies it, writes comments -- some of which may be in addition to those he/she gives verbally at the workshop. Your original poem is returned to you at the end of the day.



Workshop starts promptly at 9:00 a.m. (Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Coffee & juice will be ready.) Cost of the noon meal is included in your $9.00 fee. If you prefer NOT to eat on site, a workshop fee of $3.00 applies, whether or not you have sent in a poem. However, we encourage you to stay the whole day to get the most benefit from comments on upwards of fifty poems in a variety of forms and content. We usually finish between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.

A brief business meeting, as necessary, follows the noon recess: Secretary's, Treasurer's, Editor's reports, etc.

Remember, the purpose of a workshop is to give you help with work you're not sure about, rather than to get you rounds of applause for what you considered a "finished" poem. Comments are made about the poem, not about you, the poet.

IPA Spring Workshop - Sat. April 24th, 2010

At Wesley United Methodist Church - 800 E. 12th Street, Des Moines

ROBERT TREMMEL, will come to us as a critic for the first time, but is certainly no newcomer to poetry in this area. The author of two books of poetry, Driving the Milford Blacktop and Crossing Crocker Township, Bob has been published in many journals and magazines. He also published academic articles in the field of English education and is currently Professor of English and Coordinator of English Education at Iowa State University.

Bob grew up in Sheldon, Iowa, did undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Iowa and taught seven years in Topeka, KS, at Washburn University. In 1992 he became a founding member of the Des Moines Zen Center and lives in Ankeny.

LAVON WORLEY, who was with us for Spring Workshops in 2005 and 2007, will be welcomed back as our second critic. LaVon teaches in Burlington High School and Southeast Iowa Community College.

In deference to the intense spring schedules of our critics who are affiliated with schools and colleges, our deadline for submitting poems for critique will be firm!! I know I've spoiled you by accepting your offerings well beyond the stated deadline, [I do hate to say NO.] but please honor this one.

Send poems by April 1st remembering:

• no identification on the poem sheet
• 20-line limit
• include check for lunch/workshop reservation

Photographs courtesy of Shelly Reed Thieman, Oct. 31, 2009.