The International Women’s Writing Guild sponsors the no-cost, online Friday Free Writes series, co-hosted by Leslie Neustadt.
In this May 21st generative Friday Free Write with guest poet, storyteller, and community leader Cynthia Manick, students will take on characters, live in their shoes, and write from his or her perspective. When we inhabit others we learn about the self. Donning metaphorical masks, they’ll wonder - what are the stars doing when you can’t see them? If you were an animal, a historical figure, or member of the Supremes what would you say? Imagine Cinderella going to a different ball. Persona poems encourage writers to stretch their imaginations where they can either follow the character’s original course of action or change it into something new. And in these explorations, what does one discover about the self? Persona poems will also take on the direct address approach where poets will address a character directly. Let’s write to our favorite writer or superhero describing a problem and see how they respond.