How would you like to work on and develop your poetry under the specialized coaching of the person who encouraged Doll God into existence? It’s now possible to work with Caroline Goodwin from wherever you live through a new project called OneRoom Poetry Group!
I took a prose and then a poetry course through Stanford University from Caroline a few years ago. It was during the poetry course that she said something that completely changed the way I saw my poetry. I’d been farting around fooling around with writing poetry for more years than I would like to face. She asked me to start pulling my book together. What book?! I thought to myself. But she had complete confidence in me, something I lacked when it came to my writing. With her help I did pull together my first book. Imagine my shock when it won a state book award. It would never have happened without Caroline.
You can find my review of her gorgeous poetry book Trapline here at Poetry on the Edge.
On to the link to this wonderful opportunity: OneRoom Poetry Group
There are only a few spots left, so don’t delay if you want to take advantage!
From the site:
Here’s what happens when you join:
- Your experienced coach will reach out to you and schedule time to talk, to learn what you struggle with, and help you craft a set of concrete and achievable goals and a tailored practice plan to meet those goals.
- You will get access to a small, intimate support group of people working towards similar goals.
- Your coach will stick with you for the long-haul, making suggestions, sharing feedback, holding you accountable from day-to-day and week-to-week, and celebrating with you when you achieve your goals.
Meet the group coach
Caroline Goodwin
“I taught my first creative writing course in a Vancouver, BC public high school in 1994. After attending Stanford as a Wallace Stegner Fellow in poetry from 1999 – 2002, I began to teach at California College of the Arts and Stanford Continuing Studies. My areas of expertise are poetry and memoir; I have published four poetry chapbooks and one full-length collection. I love teaching and consider it a privilege to engage with my students’ creativity and the development of their individual voices. I am currently serving my community as the first Poet Laureate of San Mateo County, CA.”
If you end up working with Caroline, I can’t wait to hear about it. She’s a fabulous poetry teacher.
Luanne Castle's Writer Site 
How nice you had someone inspiring you on. I admire those of you who write poetry. I don’t think I have the chops–or the brain–for it. But I’m always impressed by those who create poetic sentences that trickle through the brain so perfectly.
I have suffered from a scarcity of mentors, for the most part, most of my life. So it was really wonderful to have Caroline take an interest. I have a theory that mentors are what really help anyone achieve much more than they can do on their own (the communal aspect maybe?). As far as poetry goes, I think a lot of poetry is taught so training really helps, but there are certain things about poetry that are probably innate. For instance, if you are prone to puns or finding patterns or making up little songs out of the blue, you might be helped when you go to write a poem.
So true about mentors. They are vital, and we often don’t think about it until we venture into something without one.
That’s right. Exactly right.
Great share, Luanne.
Thanks, Anneli! Have a lovely week!
You too!
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve done my best writing when I’ve had a mentor 🙂
I know–me too. Mentors rock. I’ve seen it in other fields, too, watching the young people with good mentors move beyond their peers, etc.
What a great article. I’m glad that you had such a wonderful experience with Caroline Goodwin. I hope poets reading your blog will take advantage of this great opportunity.
I know that Doll God would not exist without Caroline. For that I will always be grateful. I think she will do the same for others!!!
I’d love to do this except for the dollar difference. It really would hold my feet to the fire. Something to think about.
Think about it!! I think you would really rock with her!!! Write me if you want to know more.
It must have been great to have such a wonderful coach, Luanne. Thanks for sharing 😀
The book wouldn’t exist without her, so I can’t say enough good about her!