about

It all started when…

I was knee deep in a 3 year acting program for theatre. I was logging in 50 hours a week of class and rehearsal, while struggling through developing a new relationship with my body and my emotions. I wanted to escape, and began longing for the page. At first I was confused. I thought I was done with poetry. I thought I left writing behind. But I realized the time I spent building my acting technique made me a better writer. The mixture of monologues and script analysis began to influence my approach to poetry. Acting taught me the formation of character, the distinction in voice, and the influence nature and imagery has on lyrical movement and sound. I wanted to share with others what I learned. I wanted to get writers out of their heads and into their body, to mix the pedagogy of the two forms I loved so much in hopes of making one unique artistic pairing that frees us all. I wanted everyone to discover their Active Voice.

Active Voice can be best understood as any dramatic text where the speaker is actively trying to receive something from the listener . As a writer we must ask what does the speaker want? Is it love? Is it money? Is it freedom? How do these desires alter their language? Who are they speaking to, and how does this distinction alter their tone? A character in pursuit of an objective has been the back bone of scene analysis for actors for the last century now. I pose the question to writers, how can this same analysis for their poem’s speakers or their novel’s narrators help ground us in the creative process, and help his consider things like syntax, point view, imagery and sound in ways that serve the speakers unique voice?

In a 6-part series, using my method world famous SPLITS , I help writers move beyond the classic approach of descriptive and reflective narration, and instead into vivid stories and scenes held together by distinct first-person voices. With influences from Spoken Word, Shakespeare, and American Poetic Realism in theater, I show how the single person speaking in real time uninterrupted and unadulterated is the most underutilized element in creative writing.  I hope you join me.

Monday: September 11, 18, 25, 2 Oct, 2, 9 7-8:30pm ET (10 student maximum)

Wednesday: September 13, 20 , 27, Oct.4, 11 7-8:30pm ET (10 student maximum )

$175 for link to workshop s and materials and prompts.

$225 for workshop, materials prompts, email correspondence with feed back on poems, access to weekly office hours for performance feed back.

For payment:

Venmo @PoetStevenWillis

Cashapp: $StevenWillis

please email stevenantoinewillis@gmail.com with your payment confirmation and choice of day.