40 days

March 25 - May 3 (40 days!)

Wednesday, March 25: 4-6pm
Wednesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: 4-5pm
Sunday, May 3, 4-5:30pm

$190-330 sliding scale

A meditative experience and a commitment to create, daily, within the container of 40 days.

  • create a long poem, a series of poems, or a chapbook*

  • write daily, meet collectively for readings, prompts, and meditation

  • culminating online reading

  • plus, the option to gather in person later in May to make your chapbook — see below for details

  • Session 1: In our first two-hour session, we’ll ground together with reading* and meditation, set intentions for our own 40 days of writing, begin writing together, and co-construct structures for daily writing. 

    Sessions 2-6: During the 5 one-hour sessions, we’ll spend time reading poems, meditating, and sharing and discussing our work and progress.

    Session 7: We’ll reflect on our work, set intentions and goals for next steps, and celebrate with a culminating online reading! 

    Poets of all experience levels, who want to commit to a summer writing project regardless of (and hopeful about) the outcome, are welcome!

    *Poets we’ll read will likely include Will Alexander, Diane di Prima, Stacy Szymaszek, Simone White, William Butler Yeats, and/or Ariel Yelen.

  • suggested:

    $190=pressured resources $260=balanced resources $330=abundant resources

    If 40 DAYS sounds like what you need and you want to join but can’t pay in full, or at all, please include a brief message when you register. I offer payment plans by request, accommodated prices and occasional comps to those facing financial hardship, especially returning participants, and those experiencing lived racism, transphobia, and other forms of systemic discrimination.

    *It’s up to you to determine where you fit on the sliding scale, given the uniqueness of your context. Some general guidelines:

    Pressured can mean that employment is uncertain and/or paying monthly bills is challenging.

    Balanced can mean that employment is fairly secure, monthly bills get reliably paid, and occasional small luxuries are possible.

    Abundant can mean that employment and/or finances are secure, savings and/or assets exist, and/or property is owned.

    These are not strict guidelines, and you best know your circumstances. Please pay what you can.

    Please also note that paying at the top of the sliding scale makes it easier for me to offer more accommodated and comped slots to those who need.

  • Book artist Esther K Smith will offer a workshop extension for participants in the NYC area who’d like to learn how to take their projects and create print chapbooks!

    HOW TO MAKE A CHAPBOOK
    a 3 hour class with How to Make Books author Esther K Smith
    $100-150 sliding scale

    Gather in Esther’s home studio in NYC, where she’ll show you how to make 5 different book forms, from instant books to simple accordion books to  two kinds of basic stitching.

    You will bring your printed poems, plus printed titles for cover labels (specific instructions to follow). You can also bring special cover papers, collage materials, rubber stamps and stamp pads, etc.

    The date will be collectively determined, but would likely be one of the following: May 16, 17, 30, or 31.

    Indicate your interest in the comments when you register!

register for 40 days

hear what others love about 40 days

  • “The workshop reinvigorated me! -- reframed my idea of daily writing AND (my ability to stick to) long form poetry. especially after a stretch of feeling really disconnected from my practice. thank you!”

  • “I LOVED the embodiment/grounding practices weaved in!”

  • “It really increased my self confidence and belief in myself as a writer. I usually put writing on the back-back-back burner (i.e. I don't do it at all) in favor of everything else that I have to do. This workshop was great because it asked me to simply make writing a priority every day for a certain number of days. I loved the guidelines. That made it feel extremely doable.”

  • “It reminded me how much I love writing, being in community with fellow writers.”

  • “The project took turns that I didn't expect. I discovered things about the narrative that I wouldn't have ever discovered if I didn't have the dedicated time to work on the poem. It transformed from an almost silly, satirical concept into something sincerely felt and metaphysically dense. There were poetic forms and insights that emerged for me that were genuinely delightful. I'm so grateful to have had the space and time to find those moments.”

  • “Emily is a very thoughtful, generous, funny, welcoming and wise guide.”

  • “The workshop reinvigorated me! -- reframed my idea of daily writing AND (my ability to stick to) long form poetry. especially after a stretch of feeling really disconnected from my practice!”

  • “It was inspiring to be with new people who believe in the power of creation. It made me remember that making and doing and being ourselves are up there among the most meaningful parts of being alive on Earth.”

  • "The trust in process that it opened to me has been profound."

  • "Taking the 40 days workshop helped me to see the connections between the poems I was writing, start to pull out major themes and key areas for exploration, and really begin to envision my writing as a project rather than disparate pieces of poetry. It was an honor to meet and hear from so many incredible poets and to be inspired by the works that they are creating. This workshop was my first time being in community with other writers, and it was powerful to have access to the accountability and diverse perspectives that being in community brings. I've done more than I thought possible throughout this course, and I'm grateful for the progress I've made in my poetry."