[Claudia Gary]

This thread is encouraging! Congrats to all -- Rogerbob, Jayne, Bill, Ralph -- and to those whose news is further back in the thread.

My own news is that the "Sonnet Crash Course" (beggining/intermediate level) that I taught this morning at the Writers' Center in Bethesda, Md., went very well and was attended by nine delightful students at various stages of writing. They all said they enjoyed it, and several said they're signing up for its sequel next week.

Whenever I teach a workshop, it demonstrates to me once again how much power there is in the musical aspects of poetry, and in the interaction of form and content. Having attended the West Chester University and other craft conferences for more than 20 years, I find it refreshing to see what happens when someone delves into rhyme and meter for the first time.

(Editing in to add: these were all adults who have been out of school for some time, and most have been writing free verse.)

Next week: "Villanelle Crash Course."

Claudia