Anatomy of a Thematic Manuscript with Des Moines Poetry Workshop

About the event

With various approaches, storylines, and interpretations, crafting a poetry manuscript around a theme isn't always as easy as it seems -- but it can be just as fun as writing the poems themselves. This hands-on workshop identifies steps you can take from start to finish in building a manuscript, how to choose your approach at each step, and the "anatomy" of everything that goes inside a self-published book.

This intensive is great for poets interested in self-publishing, though it can be helpful to any poet interested in piecing together a manuscript (whether submitting it out or self publishing!).

Attendees should bring 10 pages of their poetry and a favorite poetry collection. Poems will not be shared with the class but rather used on your own during the practice portion.

Date: March 11, 2026, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. CT

Location: Online (Google Meet) -- Meeting link will be…