The stories we share in poems are often incomplete, fractured pieces that follow an emotional logic. How do we decide where to start and where to end? What parts of the story do we tell and what do we omit? We will discuss how imagery “triggers” memory, and how those pieces combine to create narrative poems. In this workshop, we will read sample poems, discuss narrative techniques, and have time to generate our own first drafts.

Charlie Peck grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and received his MFA from Purdue University. His poetry has appeared previously in The Adroit Journal, Cincinnati Review, Indiana Review, The Journal, Ninth Letter, and Best New Poets 2019, among others. His first collection, World’s Largest Ball of Paint (2024), received the 2022 St. Lawrence Book Award from Black Lawrence Press.