So you want to take an online poetry class? This is great news – it makes you unique and interesting. Maybe even a little artsy and definitely cool (well, in some circles. Okay, at least one). 

I think it says something about how deep you are. But that’s just me.

You’ve got an internet connection, a laptop, and a burning desire to learn. What more could you need?

Hold your proverbial horses. Just for a minute.

There are some things you should know before you go bushwhacking into the jungle of online poetry classes. I’ve divided this article into two categories: things you should know about poetry courses, and things you should know about what you’re looking for. Put the two together, and you’ll be armed with everything you need to find the best course for you. Let’s start with the classes themselves…

5 Things to Know About Online Poetry Classes

1. They can be just as great as in person classes
2. They take a significant time commitment 
3. Writing poetry is extremely personal
4. The quality of poetry is subjective
5. It’s vital to trust your instructor

#1. Online Poetry Courses Can Be Just as Great as In Person Workshops

The pandemic surprised all of us. In the world of education, moving online did one of two things: it made the class way better, or it made the class way worse.

Some teachers simply could not adapt to the new format. But for teachers who did adapt, they found it was possible to reach more people, create more diverse classes, and use tools that otherwise wouldn’t have been available. Not to mention the added advantage of learning from the comfort of your own home.

When designed well, online poetry writing classes can do all of the same things in-person classes do: we can build connections and community with other participants and enrich our network of fellow writers. We can explore poetry in a compelling, immersive environment. And we can do all that at a lower cost than an in-person retreat, because you don’t have to pay for travel, housing, and prepared food.

I’ve personally observed the power of online courses. I met several of my greatest writing friends in online courses, and we are still in touch to this day – sharing feedback on each other’s work and updating each other about our lives. 

#2. A Poetry Class Requires a Time Commitment

On the flip side, “learning poetry from the comfort of your home” may seem so enticing that we forget it requires a significant time commitment. Lectures and assignments take time, and there’s no way of getting around that. Especially when you’re asked to read others’ work and give personal feedback, you’re in for a significant commitment.

It’s important to understand the level of commitment each course is asking. They have vastly different expectations as far as time commitment goes. Make sure to get clear on what that is upfront to avoid any unhappy surprises.

#3. Writing Poetry Is Extremely Personal

In order to write poems that are truly moving, you must be authentic. You must speak the truth, even when it hurts to do so. 

Natalie Goldberg’s advice in her book, “Wild Mind,” is this:

 “Go for the jugular. If something scary comes up, go for it. That’s where the energy is. Otherwise, you’ll spend all your time writing around whatever makes you nervous. It will probably be abstract, bland writing because you’re avoiding the truth. Hemingway said, ‘Write hard and clear about what hurts.’ Don’t avoid it. It has all the energy. Don’t worry, no one ever died of it. You might cry or laugh, but not die.”

If you want to write poems that speak to people on a deep level, doing so requires a level of vulnerability. If that’s your aim in attending a poetry writing workshop, be prepared to risk that level of vulnerability. 

#4. The Quality of Poetry is Subjective

There is no objective standard by which art is measured. Getting personal feedback on your work can be extremely useful, especially from instructors who have honed their language skills and ability to analyze a poem over decades. However, just because someone does or doesn’t like your poem doesn’t tell you anything about the poem’s objective value. That’s because it has no objective value. Your poem just is. 

Feedback is tricky because on hand, every writer needs feedback in order to improve their work. However, there are always cases when you need to be true to yourself and do something your way rather than accept a suggestion.

One trick is to take the person’s identification of a problem, but not their proposed solution. For example, someone could say, “I think the word ‘blustering’ would work better here.” You may disagree with their suggestion to choose that word, but you may want to consider if your current choice is indeed the right one. If more than one person points to the same line, that is an indication that your audience is likely not hearing it the way you intended.

Of course, some lines simply make people uncomfortable – especially when dealing with issues of injustice, such as racism, sexism, and colonialism. Discomfort in itself is not a reason to change a poem. In fact, a good peer-reviewer or instructor will encourage you to make them uncomfortable (if that’s what you intend), and help you hone your delivery.

There are times when it’s best to simply ignore what instructors have to say about your poems and find someone else to learn from. This is especially true when it comes to arbitrary rules. My mother (one of the greatest poets I know) once attended a writer’s workshop where the instructor refused to read any poem that contained the pronoun “I.” He evidently had not read the world’s great poets. 

Pay attention to feedback, but trust your instincts.

#5. It’s Vital to Trust Your Instructor

You must trust your instructor’s competency. That doesn’t mean they have to be a former US Poet Laureate. But they should have ample experience both teaching and writing poetry. If you’re taking a poetry writing course, the teacher should have published some of their own poems.

Another important, and often overlooked, point: you should like your teacher’s poetry. Before you enroll in an online course, find some of the instructor’s poetry. If you don’t like it, how are you going to trust their instruction, or their opinion about your poetry? 

If the instructor has demonstrated some experience in the field and if you like their poetry, then chances are, you’ll enjoy their course.

One exception to this is interdisciplinary courses, such as poetry and acting or poetry and music – the teachers may be experts in other disciplines, but still have enough competency in poetry that they’re able to impart important lessons from their area of expertise to poets. This is an invaluable opportunity to see things through a different lens.

Another exception to the “like your instructor’s poetry” rule is if you’re taking a class that’s focused on reading and understanding poetry. In this case, all they need is a level of expertise in the subject matter. 

5 Things to Know About What You’re Looking For

I’ve both created online poetry courses and taken them. Experience tells me this: the most successful students know what they’re looking for.

There are SO MANY types of online poetry courses. Way more than you probably expect. Poetry reading, poetry writing, even classes that blend poetry and music or acting. Not to mention a myriad of different class formats and teaching styles. So I’m here to help you get clear on what you’re looking for so that you can find the right course for you.

Before you take an online poetry class, you should ask these five essential questions:

1. What do you want to learn?
2. What class format do you want?
3. What are your goals?
4. What teaching style do you prefer?
5. Why does this course exist?

#1. What Do You Want to Learn?

“Poetry” isn’t specific enough. I know, I thought it was too, but it turns out that a lot falls under that category. Here are some questions to ask yourself to get clear on what you want to learn.

• Do you want to learn how to read poetry or write poetry?
• Do you want to learn foundational concepts like form, meter, rhyme, etc.? 
• Do you want a course heavily focused on practice?
• Do you want to study modern and contemporary poets or poetry from all ages?
• Do you want to study a particular type of poetry? For example, mystical poetry, beat poetry, spoken word poetry, etc.

#2. What Class Format Do You Want?

Formats for online poetry classes are far more varied than those for in-person workshops. Some classes are held over zoom, with lots of interaction between instructors and participants. Others are solely text-based, and even sent via email. 

Still others are populated with pre-recorded videos with no live interaction. There are even some courses that take the form of coaching, where you work one-on-one with an instructor. Here are some questions to ask to get clear on the class format that would work best for you. 

• Do you prefer video or text-based instruction?
• Do you prefer live, interactive classes (such as those held over Zoom) or self-paced courses?
• Do you prefer participatory classes where you are asked to give and receive feedback, or do you want to just consume the information? 
• Do you prefer getting personal feedback from an instructor on assignments or simply learning without feedback?
• Are you on a budget, and would a free online course benefit you the most (there are some great ones from top universities)? Or do you have the latitude to choose whichever course you’re most interested in?

#3. What Are Your Goals?

Getting clear on your goals for taking a poetry course is essential in order to not be disappointed with the outcome. Here are some questions to ask to get clear on your goals:

• Do you want to improve your writing ability?
• Do you want to gain familiarity with foundational aspects of poetry such as form, technique, imagery, rhyme, etc.?
• Do you want to learn about the lives and works of poets?
• Do you want to improve your ability to read and understand other people’s poetry?
• Do you want to finish the course with a specific end-product, such as a collection of poems or even a manuscript?
• Do you want to learn the practical side of publishing, such as submitting to publishers and contests?
• Do you want to learn how to write a specific style of poetry?
• Do you want to connect with other poets and gain community?
• Do you want to have particular experiences?
• Do you want to work through particular challenges, such as writer’s block?

Different poetry classes offer vastly different results. Make sure to get clear on what you want and then ask yourself whether the course you’re considering matches your goals.

#4. What Teaching Style Do You Prefer?

There are so many different teaching styles, and it can sometimes be difficult to judge just by looking at a course sales page. Even so, it’s important to be clear on the type of instructor you want to be learning from.

• Do you prefer an academic, lecture-style format?
• Do you prefer an engaging, unconventional, style of teaching?
• Do you prefer long lectures or short and snappy lessons?
• Do you prefer an engaged, interactive teaching style where you are invited to participate, or one in which you can simply take in the information?

#5. Why Does This Course Exist?

The last question to consider is less about getting clear on what you want, and more about ensuring that the course you choose is high-quality and meets your needs.

The internet is a shady place. I’m sure you know that better than anyone. And not all courses are created equal. 

Some were afterthoughts on the part of a university (“Hey, we could upload a series of lectures and call it a course!”). 

Others are created out of sheer passion and longing to share the art and craft of poetry with others. 

Still others are just created for the purpose of making money (these are usually commissioned by an existing company and created by a freelancer).

It’s wise to ask why a course was created in the first place. This isn’t the sole determining factor of quality, however. For instance, Masterclass is a big business designed to make money. But the teachers they select are incredible, and their purpose for teaching is rooted in a passion for sharing the craft. 

Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve answered all these questions, are you clear about what you’re looking for? Great! Then head on over to our list of the 15 Best Online Poetry Courses. These are the cream of the crop, and we have at least one course to match each of your answers to the questions above. 

And if you find a great course that’s not on the list, feel free to tell us about it!