The Poetry Tutorial

The Poetry Tutorial includes six weeks with lectures (syllabus modules) plus assignments, with personal reviews of course work and six individual one-hour chats with the tutor, Dr. Chaffin. By course's end a thorough evaluation of one's best work with recommendations for publication venues, if applicable, is given. Although six weeks is optimum for the experience, adjustments can be made for students' schedules.

Cost is $300, payable through PayPal.

Each student's needs are addressed individually while the syllabus forms a knowledge base. We ask that the syllabus be for personal use only, not to be reprinted without permission.

Course Outline

1. Introduction: Suggested readings and list of terms to master.


2. Imitating the Greats


3. Form


4. Sound and Sense


5. Substance

A) Mind
B) Heart
C) Inspiration


6. Notes On Cliché and Line Breaks


7. Final Evaluation with Recommendations

The course, including chats, can be scheduled at any convenient time agreed upon between tutor and student, using the preferred chat program of the student. For disabled students extensive e-mails can be substituted for chats. Former students include Julie Dammerell, Jerry Jenkins, Shann Palmer, Dave Ruslander, Lindsay Schuler, Teresa White, Sarah Sloat, and Jeannine Hall Gailey, among others. References on request.

Many have been published for the first time after completing the course. Yet the emphasis is not on publication per se but discovering one's voice and learning the discipline of self-editing.

Note: Not all students are accepted. After the initial query a sample of five poems is required to determine if the poet is ready for the course

Queries may be addressed to C. E. Chaffin with the subject title "Tutorial."