Recent and Upcoming Workshops and Events

Zanibar's - 2nd Fridays

Dan Troxell continues to arrange and often host poets and readings on the 2nd Friday of each month at 7:00 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 Spring Workshop - Sat. April 28, 2012

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

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 $10.00 fee. If you prefer NOT to eat on site, or if you must cancel--at least 24 hours ahead of time--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.

You are welcome to bring your own publications for display and/or sale. Each author will be responsible for collecting money and unsold items. Each critic will be invited to read from his/her own work for 5-10 minutes after the lunch hour, before workshop is resumed.

Suggestions: You will benefit most from the workshop if you 1) send a poem that you are struggling with, not a "finished" piece of work; 2) come with expectation, prepared to learn from comments about others' poems, too; 3) know that comments by either critics or workshoppers can be sifted and applied, or not, as YOU choose.

Submissions must be postmarked April 5th, 2012 remembering:

• no identification on the poem sheet
• 20-line limit
• include check (made out to Iowa Poetry Association) for lunch/workshop reservation

Send poem and check to Lucille Morgan Wilson, 2325 61st St., Des Moines, Iowa 50322.