Young Adult Creative Writing Group: Poetry

Retired high school English teacher Liz Arneth will be leading the Spring Session of the ongoing Young Adult Creative Writing Group sponsored by Booth Library’s Young Adult Department.

The next session will focus on writing poetry and will be held at the library, 25 Main Street in Newtown, on Mondays from 6 to 8 pm. The group will meet every other week — April 11 and 25, May 9 and 23, and June 6.

Mrs Arneth taught writing for many years as an English teacher at Ridgefield High School, and since her retirement she has continued to facilitate all sorts of writing groups that range from second graders up to senior citizens. Her renewed interest in poetry was sparked by leading a group of women who had attended a series at the library entitled “Creative Wellspring” that had been designed by Ginger Humeston.

The poetry section was so popular that the same women have continued to meet for the last four years at the library on Thursday mornings to continue writing poetry.

Mrs Arneth has also worked in Jan Bernard’s second grade class several times, teaching reading techniques as well as encouraging the children to create poems after studying famous paintings.

In addition, she and Mary Maki facilitate a memoir writing group that meets monthly. Working with Booth Library’s Young Adult Librarian Margaret Brown on last year’s popular Poetry Slam was also a wonderful experience for Liz. On April 9 she will lead a poetry workshop sponsored by the Congregational Church that will focus on “The Garden of the Spirit.”

“I am always amazed whenever I begin a workshop because I am continually surprised at how honest and creative people can be in an environment that promotes trust and sharing,” said Mrs Arneth.

A variety of sources and exercises will be used to encourage participants to express themselves and ultimately write enough poems to be put together in a permanent form for them to remember the workshops and also act as a “wellspring” for them to continue to write on their own.

Space is limited to 15 young adults, who may sign up at the main floor circulation desk or call the library at 426-4533.