Episode 39: Robert SiegelHaiku for Prose Writers: Exploring the Power of the Image

Published: July 8, 2013, 8:14 p.m.

b'One of the key elements in successful fiction is imagery\\u2014the word-pictures that directly transmit what the writer sees. But while writing students get a lot of help with things like plot and structure, imagery often goes unmentioned, in part because it is so hard to talk about how to make better images. Therein lies the value of haiku for prose writers. The short, imagistic form of poetry imported from Japan offers a clear (and very fun) way to practice making images. Over the course of the hour, Robert will lead a workshop in reading and writing haiku. This workshop aims to deepen your understanding of the role of imagery in your own writing, and to enrich your visual imaginations.'