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A prose poem is:

➡ a memo

➡a Molotov cocktail

➡a block of text that misbehaves

➡a bucket for your grief

➡a postcard from your love

In this course, we explore craft, interrogate the canon, and give ourselves permission to play in paradox.

Brick Box Paradox: The Complete Introduction to Prose Poetry is an immersive 4-week course on the history, intentions, and craft of the prose poem.

Through engaging live lectures, thought-provoking discussions, and guided writing sessions, you will gain a practical understanding of the evolution of prose poetry, develop a comprehensive library of notable works and authors, and unlock the key elements that make prose poems a captivating art form.

We welcome seasoned poets, fiction writers, creative non-fiction enthusiasts, and anyone interested in study the form into our online classroom.  

Class Dates and Times

Thursdays from 5:00pm PT - 7:30pm PT
Coming next Fall!

There are four goals of Brick Box Paradox:

  1. Students exit with a practical understanding of the function of the form.

  2. Students begin to conceptualize a library of prose poetry books, prose poets, and notable accomplishments in the form.

  3. Students understand the basic structure of the form, but leave class with ideas of how they might innovate as they continue to explore prose poems in their own writing lives.

  4. Grant ourselves permission to write.

All lectures are recorded

You will receive access to the online classroom where all recordings and class materials will be posted.

Everyone is welcome!

Enrollment options will be posted here in August of 2024.

Danielle Mitchell (she/her) is an intersectional feminist, poet, and teaching artist.

She is the Founding Director of The Poetry Lab and author Makes the Daughter-in-Law Cry, a prose poem chapbook(!) and winner of the Clockwise Prize (Tebot Bach, 2017).

Danielle’s poems have appeared in Hayden’s Ferry Review, Vinyl, Four Way Review, Transom, New Orleans Review, Nailed Magazine and others. She has received scholarships to travel to Patmos Island, Greece to study poetry, as well as grants from Poets & Writers and the Ashaki M. Jackson No Barriers Grant from the Women Who Submit. She is the inaugural winner of the Editor's Prize from Mary Magazine and the Editor's Choice Award from The Mas Tequila Review.

She has performed on stages all over Southern California including the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Danielle holds a B.A. in Women's and Gender Studies and Creative Writing from the University of Redlands and is an alumna of the Community of Writers. She is working on a manuscript of poems about misogyny and the Internet. 💕

Find her on social media as @imaginarydani and learn more about her at imaginarydani.com

Read some prose poems:
Assembling the Brother
Encyclopedia Eradica
Postcard from the Forever 21 Dressing Room

See what community members think of this course:

  • “I loved everything about this class. The materials, readings, and prompts were challenging and inspiring. Danielle is a wonderful and caring teacher and she shared her knowledge in such a compelling way. Thank you!”

    - lEO S.

  • “Brick Box Paradox was an awesome way to start reading and writing prose poetry. Danielle is so incredibly passionate and joyful, and it shines through in everything she does! She went above and beyond with the materials for class, with the prompts, and was very generous overall. Sad it was only 4 weeks.”

    - Melissa M.

  • “If you are at all curious about prose or poetry or prose poetry then you should definitely consider this course. Great overview of the form and great poems shared that cover a good range of poets. Danielle is accessible and infectious as an instructor!”

    - Recent Student

  • “Brick Box Paradox left me feeling more fearless about my writing and confident in calling myself a prose poet!”

    - JESSICA C.

Can’t wait to start reading prose poems?

Here’s my guide to my 4 favorite prose poetry craft books and anthologies to get you started!