Form Writing Workshops
Learning About Poetic Forms Together
At our monthly meetup explores poetic forms, devices, and constructs to deepen our collective craft. From Blank Verse to Tankas, we study diverse traditions to expand our technical toolkit. These sessions culminate in our Annual Anthology, a curated archive showcasing our members’ exploration of forms.
Visit our Events Page to learn about our next Form Writing Workshop.
Competition and Collaboration
A poetic form is a set of “rules” or a structural blueprint that governs a poem’s rhythm, rhyme scheme, and line length. These constraints, such as the fourteen lines of a sonnet or the syllable counts of a haiku, do not limit creativity. Instead, they provide a scaffold that can push a writer toward unexpected metaphors and linguistic discoveries. By working within a tradition, a poet enters into a historical conversation with every writer who has used that form before them. Ultimately, mastering form allows a poet to understand the “architecture” of language, giving them the power to either honor traditional structures or intentionally break them for emotional impact.
Previous Form Anthologies
“Tamed Wolverines” (2025)
Editors: Aaron Jacobs and Jacob C. Sadler
Want to learn more?
To further your independent study, we recommend these nationally recognized organizations and archives (and you join us at a form writing workshop!):
- Academy of American Poets (Poets.org): A highly accessible collection of definitions and examples that is perfect for poets looking for a clear, concise introduction to new devices.
- The Poetry Foundation: Home to Poetry Magazine, their online “poetry 101” includes a glossary offering deep academic and historical context for both traditional and contemporary poetic forms and movements.
- Harvard University’s Key to Poetic Forms: This page describes various accentual-syllabic forms.