Poetry As Ferocity: Writing Your Truth With Radical Honesty Workshop
What to Expect...
What truths are your poems telling? I don’t mean the facts of figures and dates, though those have their own importance. I mean: if not for the reality of your poems, what truths would never be spoken at all?
In Poetry as Ferocity, we’ll chart a course for radical honesty in verse, seeking to answer the questions, “What subterranean secrets lie buried in your own creative life? How can you excise the marrow of the poem, and grow stronger roots for your poems to anchor themselves?”
We’ll focus on close readings of work by female Caribbean poets Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné, Safiya Sinclair, Sonia Farmer, Lorna Goodison and Loretta Collins Klobah, drawing on their powerful, subversive work to amplify a better understanding of how honesty and ferocity function in poems. Using innovative exercises, we’ll unlock the most potent and purposeful ways to tell the truth our poems require from us. We’ll also discuss some of the real-life implications for ‘creating dangerously’, to channel the words of Haitian writer, Edwidge Danticat. Poets have always, historically, been political agitators, rebels with causes, and fierce defenders of the right to wield uncomfortable truths. What are you wielding, poet? What truths do you bring to the table, ready and roaring to be told?
All participants will receive a reading list tailored to this course, as well as personalized feedback and critique on writing created during the workshop, either in session or as part of a take-home assignment. Individual instructor responses to participants’ original work is guaranteed*.
This masterclass will involve discussion of potentially triggering content, including sexual violence, assault and trauma. Content warnings will be issued at critical junctures during teaching.
*Work submitted more than one week after the masterclass has concluded will not be eligible for feedback
*Please note this course has a content trigger warning and participants must be 18 years and over.
Dates: Sun 12th January, 2020 & Sun 19th January, 2020Time: 10am – 2pm each SundayVenue: The Writers Centre, 14 Alcazar St, St. ClairCost: $500.00TT (payable in advance by cash/cheque – by Fri 13 December, 2019) This is a two-part workshop across Sunday 12th and 19th January. The sessions begin at 10:00am and registration begins at 9:30am.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bocas Lit Fest is held every year during the last week of April/ first week of May in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The Bocas Lit Fest takes place at the National Library and the adjoining Old Fire Station in downtown Port of Spain.
Entrance to the Festival Village is free (unless otherwise stated), and almost all of our events – including readings, panel discussions, film screenings, performances and children’s events – are free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come basis and everyone is welcome.
There are two notable exceptions:
1) The First Citizens National Poetry Slam semi-finals and finals are ticketed events. We recommend purchasing tickets early to avoid disappointment! Note: While in-person performance restrictions remain in place, the FCNPS will be broadcast on national TV in Trinidad and Tobago so everyone can enjoy.
2) You must register in advance to reserve your spot in our writing workshops. You can register online, by phone or by email. We do have free workshops, but most have a small fee.
Our Festival programme is developed around specific annual themes and generally features recently published Caribbean authors. We showcase the writers longlisted and shortlisted for the major literary awards administered by Bocas Lit Fest, as well as the independent panels of experts and writers who judge them. We also review nominations from publishers and our programme partners to determine the most exciting new voices to showcase each year.
We welcome submissions from authors wishing to participate in the Festival, but we have limited openings for writers who don’t fall into one of the above categories. We follow up on submissions/ queries from authors that fit with our programme plans and themes for upcoming Festivals.
If you’re interested in participating in the Bocas Lit Fest, send us an email at [email protected] with an author bio, book synopsis and any critical reviews/ endorsements for consideration. All writers are welcome to participate in our Stand & Deliver series.
We have several events during the Festival, and year round, that seek out and support promising new talent:
- Writing workshops for all levels (advance registration required)
- Stand and Deliver is our main platform for new writers who want to read their work for peers and a festival audience. This is an open-mic event for writers of all genres. While the Festival remains virtual, we’ll put out an online open call for submissions from writers, and the Stand & Deliver will be a pre-recorded virtual event within the Festival programme (and throughout the year if interest from writers is high!).
- Writers First is our series of free seminars for budding and self-published writers on key areas of the book business, led by publishing experts. You can access the recordings full of advice from industry professional in the content library.
- Our New Talent Showcase and New Writing events shine a spotlight on promising new writers, many of whom have gone on to be published after appearing on our stage.
- The Johnson and Amoy Achong Caribbean Writers Prize (formerly the Hollick Arvon) supports an emerging Caribbean writer in completing a work in progress.
The Bocas Lit Fest does not sell or distribute books, so books by authors appearing at the Festival (and many other titles) are sold by independent booksellers who set up booths in our Festival Village. Make sure to purchase early so you’re first in line for book signing!
Beyond books, the Festival Village has an array of exciting local products, crafts and services from specialist vendors — everything from artisan chocolate to handmade clothing, jewellery and crafts. If you’re interested in having your own booth at the Festival, contact us at [email protected] for a copy of our vendor registration form and to get more information on renting a booth space at the Bocas Lit Fest.
Since 2017 we’ve been livestreaming the events at the Old Fire Station, and those videos are available on our YouTube channel here. We have audio recordings of Festival events from before 2017, and those are available via Soundcloud here. If you are interested in using or sharing a recording from the festival, please contact us for permission at [email protected].
Yes! We recruit a large team of volunteers to help at the annual Bocas Lit Fest.