July Westhale

SEAVIEW, WASH. — The Sou’wester Lodge will host a workshop, “The Micro-Essay and the Prose Poem,” 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10.

Martha Grover and July Westhale will lead students through reading and discussion of several selections of prose poetry and micro essays. We will create writing prompts based on the readings and discussion, and students will generate new material based on the prompts. Students are encouraged to share as part of the class, and we will provide comments.

The goal is to produce a rough draft or jumping-off point for a new piece.

In addition, everyone is invited to readings and music with Grover and others 8 to 10 p.m. in the Lodge. The event is free and open to the public.

Grover is an author, poet, artist and writing coach living in Portland. She is the author of “One More for the People” and “The End of My Career.” The latter was a finalist for the Oregon Book Awards in creative nonfiction in 2017. Her work has also appeared in numerous journals. She has been publishing her zine, Somnambulist, since 2003.

Westhale is a poet and essayist living in Oakland, California. She is the author of “Trailer Trash” (winner of the 2016 Kore Press Book Award), “The Cavalcade” (Finishing Line Press), and “Occasionally Accurate Science” (Nomadic Press). Her poems are published in numerous journals, magazines and anthologies.

The cost of the workshop is $30. Bring a pen and paper or laptop, plus a sack lunch and/or snack (hot tea and coffee will be provided). This workshop is for adults; 10 students max.

RSVP via souwesterfrontdesk@gmail.com or 360-642-2542. The Sou’wester is located at 3728 J Place, Seaview, Washington.

This class is part of the lodge’s fall/winter 2017-18 workshop series. Visit souwesterlodge.com/calendar to see the schedule of more than 28 artist-led workshops.