We often think our stories need breadth to matter—years catalogued, chapters accumulated. But what if one incident, rendered with enough attention and honesty, could hold everything? In this one-day workshop, we’ll use imagery and prose poetry to expand a brief anecdote from your life into something larger than itself: a portrait that pulses with all you’ve been and all you carry. Come ready to linger in the particular until the universal opens up. Leave with a short memoir that refuses to be small. Taught by Zay Amsbury, Chair of the Creative Writing Department at the California State Summer School for the Arts, this workshop draws on Zay’s 20-plus years of experience helping writers discover their authentic voices and push creative boundaries. School Policies Students who withdraw 48 hours prior to the first class are eligible for a refund or credit toward another class, less a $25 registration fee. Please click here for more details.

Term: Winter 2026

Suggested Ages: 18+

Dates: 1/10/2026

Explore how to approach poetry revision as a creative and generative process. We often think of revising a poem as simply trimming a few lines or adding a stanza, but radical revision transforms editing into an act of creation. Instead of spending 2.5 hours polishing a single poem, participants will produce five new pieces that expand upon one original work by experimenting with shifts in content, perspective, form, and sound. This workshop is ideal for both beginners and experienced poets alike. School Policies Students who withdraw 48 hours prior to the first class are eligible for a refund or credit toward another class, less a $25 registration fee. Please click here for more details.

Term: Winter 2026

Suggested Ages: 18+

Dates: 1/14/2026