Creative Colloquy presents The Writer's Workshop Series: How Form Influences Function with Lydia Valentine Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m. "Poetry is the way we help give name to the nameless so it can be thought.” - Audre Lorde The prospect of crafting thoughtful, meaningful reflection on life can be daunting on a good day and is even more so in uncertain and tumultuous times like we are in today. Using poetic forms can often provide a structure that makes the writing easier. In this workshop, writers will be exposed to and write in a variety of poetic forms, covering as many as time allows and moving from traditional forms (such as the pantoum) to modern forms (such as the golden shovel). No prior writing experience is necessary for this workshop! Tickets are $5 & registration is required. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-form-influences-function-tickets-146023274545. Zoom Information will be sent just prior to workshop festivities. ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR Lydia K. Valentine is unapologetically Black. She is a passionate activist for equity and social justice, a proud mom of two amazing people, and an autistic, queer, card-carrying Blerd. She grew up in Aliquippa, Pa, a small, steel mill town north of Pittsburgh, and though she now calls the Pacific Northwest her home, she is a Quip for life. Through her own writing and the projects to which she contributes as a dramaturg, director, or editor under Lyderary Ink, Lydia always seeks to amplify the voices of those who are often stifled, ignored, and marginalized in what has been the accepted narrative of the United States. Lyderary Ink maintains ongoing partnerships with empathos company, The Mahogany Project, Pork Filled Productions, Speak the Magazine, Toy Boat Theatre, and the We Out Here Festival. At the end of the 2020 school year, Lydia shifted from teaching full time at the Seattle Girls' School to focusing on creative pursuits and consulting. She is working on putting together a virtual reading of her play, Aliquippa, and developing playwrighting and poetry workshops. Creative Colloquy is a volunteer run organization, fiscally sponsored by Shunpike. All ticket prices help CC to remain sustainable and compensates our fabulous instructors for sharing their time and expertise. Financial Assistance Scholarships are available to all those who wish to participate in The Writer's Workshop Series. We aim to support our local literary community and foster relationships built upon the mutual admiration of the written word and provide opportunities for those who may not otherwise be able to attend. If interested please email jackie.d.fender@gmail.com to apply. Find out more about our Writers Workshop programming at https://creativecolloquy.com/the-writers-workshop-series/.