• WON’T YOU CELEBRATE WITH ME: THE POETICS OF JOY

    Unruly, mysterious, affirming, absurd: joy flickers like sun through the branches of the poem. Join us for six weeks of creativity, community, & learning to let our joys light the way into our work. Class begins November 1st →

 
 
 

Listen I Love You Joy Is Coming

A happy accident, the bright ticking machine of the heart, possibility as gentle as spring rain. In this course, we’ll explore the often-fleeting, always-potent presence of joy in poetry. Together we’ll ask: must a poem be overtly “happy” to carry joy? In a literary culture that often prizes suffering as the hallmark of depth, what personal & political weight does joy assume? Is joy frivolous when studied as craft? Does turning our attention to it diminish or magnify its value?

We’ll examine what it means to write poems that unapologetically inhabit joy in a world where open emotion can feel awkward or vulnerable. Along the way, we’ll consider the emotional currents shaping a poet’s body of work, reflect on joy as an act of dissent throughout history & art, & brainstorm ways to cultivate joy as a habit—both in daily life & in poetic practice. Finally, we’ll think through the delicate coexistence of joy & suffering, & how poetry makes space for both.

Classes run on Saturdays from November 1st to December 6th, from 4–6 PM EST on Zoom. Poets of all ages & experience levels are welcome.

Sign up for

  • Accountability & writing prompts (Individual & collaborative exercises to spark your creativity, generate fresh work, & keep up poetic momentum)

  • Tight-knit poetic community (Spend six weeks connecting with fellow poets across the world, & continue the conversation through lifetime access to a members-only Discord server for alumni)

  • Personalised small group mentorship (With classes capped at 15 students, you’ll receive gentle accountability & thoughtful guidance tailored to your pace, goals, & poetic obsessions)

  • Supportive, in-depth critique (Receive feedback on your poems, from both me & your peers, designed to help you grow without losing your voice)

  • Flexible access to session recordings (Revisit favourite prompts or critiques anytime with recordings available for six months, or follow the course at your own pace if you can’t join live)

  • A complimentary 1:1 coaching session ($70 value) (Book a private session with me to dive into your poetic journey, ask big questions, & receive tailored feedback on 1–3 poems)

 
 
 

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

For more than a decade, poetry’s been my steadfast lover. My collections have been celebrated by international prizes from Button Poetry to Gaudy Boy Press, my pieces have found homes in journals like The Drift & Waxwing, & I’ve even been covered in Vogue & The Straits Times. I’ve taught poetry everywhere from universities to community collectives, always returning to the same truth: craft deepens when it is met with compassion. won’t you celebrate with me grows from that place of care & curiosity, a space where your words can take root & flourish.

Past & current Students have

Won the Button Poetry Short Form Contest / Placed work in journals like Lunch Ticket, Voicemail Poems, Sinister Wisdom, The Lavender Review, & more / Been accepted to MFA programmes at the University of Michigan & the University of Virginia / Published their own chapbooks & full-length collections

Limited early bird tickets on sale now

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Limited early bird tickets on sale now |

  • Nat G., student

    “I highly recommend! Topaz is a loving and supportive guide. Each class felt like a balm, a salve of inspiration. The writing prompts got my juices flowing and even my therapist noticed the power of this joyful weekly experience! I learned a lot about myself, too. I belong here, doing this.”

  • Heather T., student

    “Amazing and soothing workshop sessions! Topaz's insightful guidance offered a helpful workshop community where sharing is encouraged. Everyone was so talented and sweet! Topaz's workshop structure was simple to understand and inspiring. I felt so welcome to be there and share. A poetic delight in my otherwise chaotic weeks.”

  • Rachel, student

    “Topaz was an amazing, thoughtful, insightful and kind teacher. They made the space feel safe to share and gave extremely helpful feedback without making anyone feel small or less than. I learned a lot from the poetry analysis and structure of the course. Highly recommend!”

  • Hajer R., student

    “This workshop was everything I had hoped for: Great instructor, great peers, and great poetry! Topaz made us feel at home, welcomed our ideas with insight, housed our poems with care. For anyone seeking a sense of belonging and community in the poetry world, this is the place for you!”

  • Erica, student

    “Topaz is an absolutely amazing poet and coach. I’ve learned so much from her and generated some of my best work while working with her.”