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What makes a good sonnet? How do we choose a subject from our fund of experience, and develop it in a compelling way? How can rhyme and meter be used to enhance, not restrict, our meaning? How do we show a reader, not just tell them, what we mean? In this workshop we’ll look at outstanding sonnets to see what makes them tick: pacing, meter, rhyme, metaphor, voice. Then we’ll put our knowledge into practice by drafting a sonnet from scratch. Whether you’re new to the sonnet form or an old pro, you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of poetic craft and a poem you can be proud of.
Class size 12
Level Beginner and above
Student Supply List Something to write with and something to write on.
David Southward grew up in southwest Florida and earned degrees in English from Northwestern and Yale Universities. Since 1998 he has taught in the Honors College at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A two-time winner of the Lorine Niedecker Prize, David’s collections include Bachelor’s Buttons (Kelsay Books 2020) and Apocrypha, a sonnet sequence based on the Gospels (Wipf & Stock 2018). In 2019 his poem “Mary’s Visit” received the Frost Farm Prize for Metrical Poetry. David resides in Milwaukee and Mineral Point with his husband, Geoff, and their two beagles.
Workshops
Class Confirmation
You will receive a registration confirmation via email. If you do not have an email address, you will receive a snail-mail confirmation.
Please read your class confirmation carefully as it may include a supply list and other important details, and note our current COVID-19 protocols on our Planning Your Workshop Experience page.
Materials Fees
Many classes have materials fees in addition to the tuition. These are identified in the class listing and are usually paid with the tuition payment, however in some cases materials fees are paid directly to the instructor at class time (check the class listing).
Cancellation Policy
While we recognize that life intrudes and plans change, in consideration of the time and energy instructors invest in preparing for classes, we must adhere to the following cancellation policies:
Student cancellations
> Cancellations made 31 days before the published registration deadline date for any given workshop are eligible for a full refund less 25% of the workshop fee OR a gift certificate in the full amount of the workshop fee. The gift certificate can be applied to workshops or lodging one year from the date of cancellation.
> Cancellations made 30 days or less than the published registration deadline date for any given workshop are not eligible for refunds. We encourage all students to purchase trip insurance.
> Cancellation requests must be made by calling our office at (608) 987-3292.
> If you have booked lodging with Shake Rag Alley in conjunction with your class, please refer to our lodging page for the lodging cancellation policy.
Cancellations by Shake Rag Alley
> If Shake Rag Alley must cancel a class you will be notified immediately via email or phone and will receive a full refund or transferable gift certificate.
> If a class does not meet a minimum number of students, it may be cancelled. A decision to cancel a class due to under enrollment will be made on the day following the published registration deadline.
> If you have booked lodging with Shake Rag Alley in conjunction with a class cancelled by Shake Rag Alley, you may receive a full refund on lodging should you wish to cancel the lodging. Please call the office at (608) 987-3292.
Waiting Lists
If a workshop you are interested in is sold out, please fill out this waiting list form. We will contact you if a spot becomes available. The class code requested on the form is the Workshop ID shown at left, beneath the Add to Cart button.
18 Shake Rag St.
Mineral Point, WI 53565
(608) 987-3292
