WRITING WORKSHOPS
Workshops with Distinguished Poets
The Poetry Center offers poetry writing workshops in conjunction with the Distinguished Poets Reading Series. Over the years, distinguished poets have included poet laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Inaugural poets and others of national and international reputation, such as Allen Ginsberg, William Stafford, Amiri Baraka, Lucille Clifton, Stanley Kunitz, Billy Collins, Marge Piercy, Mark Doty, Marie Howe, Kim Addonizio, Billy Collins, Dorianne Laux, Robert Sward, Patricia Smith, Martín Espada, Toi Derricotte and Richard Blanco.
There is limited enrollment, and workshops generally fill up, so register early. For full information, open the registration form link below. Check on registration availability by emailing Cynthia Pagan at the Poetry Center.
The college is limiting the number of attendees for all the events, so registration is required and limited for workshops. Coffee, tea, and a light breakfast will be provided for workshop participants.
Poets will give a poetry reading following their workshop. All readings are always free and open to the public. A link for virtual readings will be provided on the Readings page before the event.
Readings are recorded and archived for viewing later on the Poetry Center’s YouTube channel.
There will be some in-person and some virtual (Zoom) workshops offered. Registration and a fee of $20 are required for all workshops.
Workshops via Zoom will run from 1 PM – 2:30 PM (EST) and be followed by the poet’s reading from 2:30 PM – 3 PM (ET), unless otherwise noted below.
In-person workshops will be held at the Poetry Center in Paterson from 10 AM to 12 PM and will be followed by their reading at the Center at 1 PM. These in-person readings include an open reading opportunity after the featured poets.
See our DIRECTIONS page for information on the location and parking.
Workshops 2025-2026
For bios of the poets, see our READINGS page.
November 15, 2025 Paterson Literary Review #53 Publication Celebration NO WORKSHOPS
December 6, 2025 Martín Espada or Dante Di Stefano
January 10, 2026 Jan Beatty virtual via Zoom
February 7, 2026 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award for 2025 Reading NO WORKSHOPS
February 21, 2026 Nicole Santalucia virtual via Zoom
March 7, 2026 Barbara Crooker or Adele Kenny
March 21, 2026 Edvige Giunta virtual via Zoom
April 11, 2026 Paterson Poetry Prize Winner Reading, Joan Kwon Glass or Nancy Miller Gomez
April 25, 2026 Book Launch and Reading for the Laura Boss Narrative Poetry Award NO WORKSHOPS
May 2, 2026 Richard Blanco
May 30, 2026 Jim Reese virtual via Zoom
June 6, 2026 Leah Umansky virtual via Zoom
June 13, 2026 José Antonio Rodríguez via Zoom
Download the workshop registration form for all of the above dates
Telling Your Story: A Three-Week Memoir Workshop
The Poetry Center will be offering a new Summer series workshop on memoir, an extension of narrative poetry. Led by Dr. Christine Redman‑Waldeyer, the Poetry Center’s new Poetry Director & editor of PLR, author, and holder of a D.Litt. in Creative Writing. This six‑session virtual workshop will help you shape lived experience into a compelling memoir through writing prompts, guided discussion, and supportive feedback. Explore voice, structure, memory, and emotional truth while developing strategies to continue your work beyond the course.
Dr. Christine Redman-Waldeyer holds a Doctor of Letters from Drew University, where her creative dissertation, The Poet’s Easter: A Healing of Mind, Body, and Spirit, examined both poetic craft and the healing potential of the reader–writer relationship. She also earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Community College Leadership from Rowan University, a program grounded in higher-education administration and organizational leadership. She is the author of five poetry collections, a writing textbook, and the editor of a published anthology, and her work has appeared in numerous literary journals.
Registration: $110
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm (EST)
June 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17 (Mondays & Wednesdays)