Story Poems

Story poems are often those poems we remember the most from our childhoods. When people are asked to list their favorite poem, chances are they will name a story poem. They can be humorous, romantic, dramatic. Their plots can come from your imagination, from the Bible, from great historic events. They can make readers laugh or cry, but they always stir their emotions. Anyone who writes poetry should want to include story poems in their repertoire.
In this class, by looking at some of the most beloved story poems in our culture, you can learn what makes a story poem successful and week by week, work toward mastering this poetic form.

Your first assignment will be to read several all-time favorite story poems. In class we will discuss the poems and break down what they all have in common no matter what their topic. In the first week you will also have the chance to add your favorite story poem to the list of poems we read and analyze.
In the second week we will continue to look at the elements of a good story. How do plot, setting, characters, conflict and resolution translate into poetic form? We will also discuss sources where you can find a compelling story to tell. You will be asked to take this information and list possible stories you might want to turn into a poem.
In week three we will discuss your stories in progress. You will have a chance to use the class as a sounding board as you develop your characters and place them in an interesting plot. And, of course, each week you will receive individual feedback from the instructor through assignments.
By the end of week four you should have a completed story poem to share with classmates and the instructor. You can assess audience response to what you have written and see if you still need any fine tuning to bring out more emotion, make the story clearer, come to a satisfying resolution. At every step of the way you will have a chance to bounce ideas off the instructor and receive individual advice as well as see what sort of audience appeal your poem has with your classmates.



Instructor: Brooke Baldwin

About The Instructor: Brooke Baldwin received her education from Smith and her M.A. from Yale, she focused on essay writing. Her master's degree is in American Studies, which includes American literature. While a graduate student, she served as a teaching assistant in several writing-intensive sections of American Studies classes. For over twenty years she taught writing at the middle and high school level.

As a grad student, she had several articles published in academic journals. She has published articles and pamphlets about the anti-apartheid movement. She joined Fan Story as adewpearl in August, 2008 and became the site's second ranked poet that year. In 2009 she became poet of the year.