Applications due August 20, 2024 – Link to Google Form here. Cohort selections will be made by August 24, 2024
lyric threads lab
virtual writing cohort
The Labyrinth’s lyric threads lab is a 7 week generative writing and feedback cohort for poets and lyric essayists guided by KP Kaszubowski.
The lyric threads lab’s aim is to build intimate community for devoted writers to experiment and grow with each other.
the cloud cohort will be made up of 6 - 10 writers and will take place virtually over 7 Sundays (Sept. 8 - Oct. 20) with a Discord group chat for sharing resources and writings.
stay tuned for spring 2025’s lyric threads lab — the TBD cohort
Applications due August 20, 2024 – Link to Google Form here. Cohort selections will be made by August 24, 2024
Comparable to the creative writing workshop in an academic setting,
❤️🔥 We will discuss the craft of lyric in depth.
❤️🔥 We will expand ourselves in a community of equally interested and dedicated writers.
❤️🔥 We will gain a greater understanding of the subtleties and transformative qualities of the lyric mode.
But, unlike the academic writing workshop, we can thread this experience into our rich and full lives without sacrifice.
“We may feel the lyric as heartfelt outpourings but they do other work as well and part of that is because of what musical awareness does to our minds. They are ingenious. They are subtle. They are ways to outsmart the gods. And they are a way to outsmart ourselves. Writing a lyric, reading a lyric makes us more capacious and subtle. They trick us into knowing more than we know, feeling more than we knew we felt.”
your guide
KP Kaszubowski
I am a poet, filmmaker, and astrologer. I earned my Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Poetry) in 2023 from Eastern Washington University where writing across genres was encouraged. I also teach writing composition, research, and creative writing in the University setting. As well, I have a background in clinical hypnotherapy and am pursuing a kundalini yoga teacher certification from the same school that honored me with yin yoga and prenatal yoga teaching certification.
TriQuarterly published my first video poem "Predictive Text."
My debut poetry collection "somnieeee" was published by VA Press in 2019.
I've taught many workshops and courses on poetry, ekphrasis, climate grief, filmmaking, and genre agnostic experimental writing.
My joy is creating an environment for people to feel comfortable enough to get wild, get weird, and share what feels true to them.
I approach writing by blending both sensual and mystical modalities. Sometimes this is trance inducing breath work. Sometimes its simply allowing my gut to do my writing. I want to feel open and free while I'm crafting, and my body and my spirit do the heavy lifting.
KEY BENEFITS of lyric threads lab
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You will gain a greater understanding of the lyrical mode in writing.
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You will become practiced in responding to and reflecting upon your peers’ writing — an essential skill when learning how to evaluate and enjoy your own writing.
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You will become close to your cohort members’ writing, gaining rare and valuable insight into each person’s writing practice and style.
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You will deepen your writing practice with generative pathways that feel fluid, playful, and surprising.
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You will read poetry and lyrical essays with close attention to craft moves, language delights, and possibility for your own writing.
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You will experience an intimate writing workshop environment where feedback is given and received in benevolent, attentive, and explorative modes.
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You will connect with like minded writers who will celebrate and follow your writing during and after the 7-week lab has completed.
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You will have the choice to share your writing as a part of your cohort’s e-zine, to be published online in 2025.
ELEMENTS of lyric threads lab
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Weekly Zoom workshop that includes generative writing exercises and feedback sessions.
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Each participant will share a selection of their writing (suggested amount: 1 poem or lyrical essay, no page limit*) every other week for close feedback discussion and written notes sent beforehand.
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Generous feedback from your lab guide KP Kaszubowski and fellow cohort members.
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Weekly poetry or lyrical essay book reading assignment — each book will inform our generative writing exercises on the Weekly Zoom.
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Virtual, asynchronous community chat for writing prompts, resources, and extra feedback on writing. Writing resources include essential podcasts, videos, writings from admired poets and writers, as well as short essays (a la Mary Ruefle’s “Short Lectures”) on the lyric mode by KP Kaszubowski weekly. Cohort members are highly encouraged to share their resources, musings, and writings here as well.
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Though the focus of this laboratory is to craft writing and see with new eyes, publishing resources will be shared in our community chat for those ready to send their work out.
*It is possible that a writer would want to share a collection of poems for their feedback session, especially if they are linked in a meaningful way. In our first session, we will discuss how much time is allotted per writer during the feedback session and what our feedback “menu” looks like. This will give participants a clearer idea of what to submit for feedback.
What should I know or have practiced before joining lyric threads lab [the cloud cohort]?
It’s important to say that all writers come to their own practice from different paths, influences, and foundational experiences. And all paths are perfect. Who is to say someone who is well-read in Modernist poetry holds more “pre-requisites” for this cohort experience than, for example, someone who primarily writes lyrics for music?
But, it is also important to offer some orientation to which type of writers would feel at home in this cohort.
Firstly, this cohort is more for the “page poet” than the “stage poet.” While performance art and spoken word are celebrated here, this short term writing container is best suited for people looking for feedback on their written language. With our feedback sessions, it is encouraged for the writer to read their work aloud at the start to help the group orient to how the writer intended the words to be read aloud. But, after this moment, there will not be emphasis on the performance.
Familiarity with poetic terminology is encouraged but not required. Terms like line, stanza, caesura, line break, lyric, narrative mode, meter, form (sonnet, ghazal, sestina, tanka, haiku, etc.), speaker, perspective, etc. are all helpful for receiving and giving feedback. But you know what else is great about a small group of passionate writers getting together? If we don’t know what a term means… we can ask if someone does. And what if you are a palimpsestic writer and you find out from someone in this cohort – wouldn’t that feel like a gift you receive twice?
Aesthetic / Style. You lean toward a certain aesthetic or style of writing. You know which writers influence and inspire you. You read a poem by a writer who made you feel excited by their voice, form, or otherwise mode of expression – and you wanted to be a part of that. In this cohort, experimentation and play are encouraged. We want to read and write things that feel new to us, that make us feel alive. Maybe this looks like erasures. Maybe it looks like speaking about taboo topics. Maybe your aesthetic relies on long lines. It doesn’t matter what your aesthetic is, just that you feel comfortable with playing with your own.
Reading is writing. Reading can be listening, too. You are an active reader in whichever way you define that. It is encouraged in this cohort to be as enthusiastic about reading as you are writing. You want to be a part of the discussion. You want to be a part of poetry’s and lyric essay’s discourse. You want to express yourself and to feel the expressions of others. This could look like reading every book by your most recent discovery. Or, it could look like listening to The Slowdown religiously and really soaking in those spoken poems.
Lastly, you know how to “get into” your writing. You have prompts, practices, or rituals for your writing. But, you don’t have to feel like your pathways into writing are perfect. In this workshop, we will be creating “prompt menus” to help us access our writing in new ways. Not every prompt menu will feel great, but then you will find out what doesn’t work for you. The guide for this cohort KP Kaszubowski will also lead you through mystical and sensual writing prompts a couple times. These look like breath work and meditation, or adding chance to your writing process.
HOW TO APPLY + SELECTION PROCESS
Applications are due by August 20, 2024 at 11:59PM.
In your application, you will attach a document of 5 - 10 pages of writing. The writing you include should give a sense of your aesthetic, sensibility, and joy. What you submit in this document is not necessarily what you will share with your cohort members for the feedback sessions.
In your 5 - 10 page writing sample, please begin each page with a new poem or lyric essay. Your writing sample may be a long poem and/or an excerpt of a longer work. Be sure not to exceed 10 pages. Font style or size is your decision.
In your application, I ask for a short bio (written in 3rd person). Your bio may be lyrical in nature. It can paint a portrait of your internal experience. Or, your bio may focus on giving a sense of what you are proud of externally. All methods of writing your bio are wonderful. Keep in mind that your bio will be shared with the cohort members as a means of introduction before our first Zoom session.
Cohort participants are not selected by publishing record, academic affiliation, or any similar prerequisite. The selection process is meant to connect people who will enjoy, motivate, and illuminate each other.
Please submit your application through this Google Form. After you have compiled your 5 - 10 page writing sample, the application process should take you between 10 - 15 minutes.
COST of lyric threads lab [the cloud cohort]
The lyric threads lab [the cloud cohort] cost is $250.
Short term payment plans are available.
WHO THIS IS FOR:
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Writers who write poetry, lyric essays, or hybrid works that utilize the lyric mode.
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Writers with a collection of writings ready for feedback in an intimate space with other writers.
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Writers who enjoy the small group learning and experimentation environment.
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People who see devotion to one’s craft as an act of self-love.
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People interested in writing pathways that feel sensual, mystical, and experimental.
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Writers who are enthusiastic about reading and discussing poetry books with others.
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Writers ready to offer detailed feedback to other writers as an act of good literary citizenship and as a commitment to supporting others’ writing journeys.
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Writers who welcome transformative discussions that may break open and change how they approach writing altogether.
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Writers who write mostly in English. Writing with another language woven throughout is very welcome. It is suggested that translations in English are offered to the cohort per the writer’s judgment.
WHO THIS IS NOT FOR:
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Writers of long-form prose works. Hybrid, experimental lyric, and lyric essay writing is welcome!
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Writers looking for notes on their completed manuscript. Stay tuned for an announcement in a few months for a group workshop specifically tailored toward completed manuscripts.
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Writers who don’t feel ready for feedback in a group setting.
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Writers who anticipate not having the time or energy to read 1 short poetry book or write feedback weekly.
SCHEDULE, AGENDA, + BOOK LIST
All sessions will take place over Zoom on Sundays from 1 - 4pm Central Time.
September 8 – Introductions, The Lyric Mode, and Poem Discussions. The workshop menu will be introduced and cohort members will learn how and when to submit their writings for feedback.
September 15 – HOUR 1: Generative Writing Exercise after discussion of “A Piece of Good News” by Katie Peterson | HOUR 2 + 3: Group A will present their poems for feedback sessions. Each writer will select from the workshop menu which style of feedback they would like to receive.
September 22 – HOUR 1: Generative Writing Exercise after discussion of “Plainwater” by Anne Carson | HOUR 2 + 3: Group B will present their poems for feedback sessions. Each writer will select from the workshop menu which style of feedback they would like to receive.
September 29 – HOUR 1: Generative Writing Exercise after discussion of “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” by Ross Gay | HOUR 2 + 3: Group A will present their poems for feedback sessions. Each writer will select from the workshop menu which style of feedback they would like to receive.
October 6 – HOUR 1: Generative Writing Exercise after discussion of “OBIT” by Victoria Chang | HOUR 2 + 3: Group B will present their poems for feedback sessions. Each writer will select from the workshop menu which style of feedback they would like to receive.
October 13 – HOUR 1: Generative Writing Exercise after discussion of “Lost in Language & Sound” by Ntozake Shange | HOUR 2 + 3: Group A will present their poems for feedback sessions. Each writer will select from the workshop menu which style of feedback they would like to receive.
October 20 – HOUR 1: Generative Writing Exercise after discussion of “How Not to Be Afraid of Everything” by Jane Wong | HOUR 2 + 3: Group B will present their poems for feedback sessions. Each writer will select from the workshop menu which style of feedback they would like to receive.
apply by August 20th to be considered for the Sept. 8 - Oct. 20, 2024 cohort.
Application Form here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will generative writing sessions go?
In the first hour of our Zoom sessions, we will dialogue about that week's book. We will point out what felt delightful and significant, and aim to identify components of the writing that we would like to try ourselves. As we wrap up this discussion, we will create a prompt menu. In whatever time we have left in that first hour, we will write using the prompt menu (or not!). A few of the Zoom sessions will focus on ways to access writing through subconscious or experimental exercises. Cohort members are highly encouraged to post their first drafts in the Discord chat for enthusiastic feedback.
How will feedback sessions go?
Feedback sessions will follow the "workshop menu" concept proposed by Kathryn Nuernberger and Maya Jewell Zeller. This could look like the group interviewing the writer. Or, the writer interviewing the group. It could look like creating writing prompts from the work and sharing response poems. What is important is that the writer chooses how they receive feedback and what kind of feedback. We trust the writer knows best what will support their writing in any given moment. The full workshop menu and methods will be discussed on our first Zoom call.
Reading a poetry book each week feels intense for me. What if I don’t have the space to read the whole book before our discussion?
It definitely feels intense to read poetry with attention regularly week after week! But, devoting to this practice during the 7 weeks will bring so much insight and value to your writing life. If you do have a difficulty reading the full book each week, the suggestion is to read the first handful of pages in order to enjoy the book discussion at the beginning of our Zoom calls.
What kind of notes do I need to prepare before feedback sessions?
This will be discussed on our first Zoom call. Writing a "letter of response" for each writer who is presenting their work is a common way of preparing for feedback sessions. What is expected is that you have read your peers' work thoroughly, felt their work with full attention, and feel ready to discuss the writers' work on the live call. Some feedback sessions will include writing a poem in response to the writers' work as a type of feedback -- if that is the writer's choice.
How often will I be presenting my work for feedback?
The cohort will be split into two groups. You will share your work for feedback every other week.
What kind of poetry books will we be reading?
The books selected for the cloud cohort include incredible examples of lyrical writing. Each book will offer much to discuss when it comes to musicality of language, rich imagery, urgent personal impressions, and inventiveness. A few of the books include shorter lyric essay examples as well.
It is recommended that you order each book from the book list as soon as possible -- either from a store (Woodland Pattern is a fav!) or through your library.
Is there a payment plan for the workshop fee?
Yes, once you have been selected to be a part of the cloud cohort of lyric threads lab, you will have the option to select a short term payment plan.
What if I have to miss one or more of the Sundays?
Because this cohort is so small, it is important to attend all live Zoom calls on Sunday afternoons. Of course, none of us can predict personal emergencies and we trust you will do your best to attend each call over the course of the 7 weeks.
Will the Zoom sessions be recorded?
No, in order to foster an intimate environment where people share their thoughts and writing openly, the Zoom sessions will not be recorded.
