Elaina Myers
Poetry is one of the most beautiful types of literature in the world, but can also hold the most challenging forms to write. It can be easy to find yourself stuck in drafts of poetry that lose their intended impact, but have no fear because Saba Keramati is here.
On Tuesday, April 5th Keramati is hosting a virtual poetry craft talk, “Kickstart Your Poetry: Experiments and Forms,” from 7 pm to 8 pm central time. This craft talk aims to help writers experiment with their existing drafts to bring a new life into them, whether that’s through form or voice.
““I am hoping that this craft talk inspires folks to let go of this idea that every draft needs to be perfect. I think folks get stuck in this mindset that if they write something and it doesn’t get published, then it is bad, but I want to show them that there is so much more they can do with every draft.””
“I am hoping that this craft talk inspires folks to let go of this idea that every draft needs to be perfect,” said Keramati. “I think folks get stuck in this mindset that if they write something and it doesn’t get published, then it is bad, but I want to show them that there is so much more they can do with every draft.”
To achieve this, Keramati plans to introduce poetry from poets that influence her, including Mag Gabbert and Noor Hindi, because she values the benefits writers gain from reading other work and finding tricks that they can then implement in their work. She also plans to present forms like the sestina and the ghazal to challenge you and show you new paths that your poetry can travel down. The revision process can be long and sometimes daunting for many poets, but Keramati stresses just how imperative it is to achieve the best version of a poem you possibly can.
Keramati is not only an accomplished writer and editor at Sundog Lit (you can read more about her work at www.sabakeramti.com), but she also taught literature and creative writing classes at UC Davis. Aside from the amazing work she does in the literary world, she is also very passionate about social justice. She has served as a panelist for the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum. “I really love poetry as an art form because I find it is one of the most freeing ways to express both anger and a hope for change,” said Keramati. “I think it is really important to look to activists we admire, especially for people of marginalized identities, because it is difficult to separate those experiences from your writing.”
If you find yourself struggling with writer’s block, sitting on a poetry draft that has sucked all the inspiration out of you, or are just interested in trying your hand at poetry, I highly encourage you to register for Keramati’s craft talk because I guarantee you will leave with exactly what you were searching for.