The Poetry Lab began as a simple idea between friends.
Co-founders Markus D. Manley and Danielle Mitchell believed writers needed a place to grow outside the traditional pathways of academia. They imagined a space where poets could gather, experiment, and learn from one another in an atmosphere that valued curiosity, collaboration, and craft.
That idea took root in Downtown Long Beach, California.
Originally housed inside Markus’s co-working space, Work Evolution Laboratories, The Poetry Lab began as a small bi-monthly generative workshop. Writers gathered around tables to experiment with new prompts, learn elements of craft, and share strategies for submitting their work for publication. It was intentionally different from the typical literary environment. Instead of the formality of the classroom or the spotlight of the open mic, participants found a relaxed space where writers could practice their craft together.
As the community grew, so did the scope of the workshops. Visiting teaching artists were invited to lead sessions on topics like ekphrasis, image and metaphor, silence, and new and invented forms. Soon, members of the community themselves began stepping into teaching roles. From the beginning, The Poetry Lab followed a collaborative model that celebrated the diversity of voices in the room and the unique gifts each writer brought to the table.
For Markus, the work was always about nurturing the creative spirit. Throughout Long Beach he was known as someone who devoted his energy to helping artists, entrepreneurs, and community members thrive. His generosity and belief in the power of collaboration helped shape the spirit of The Poetry Lab from the very beginning.
When the world shifted online in 2020, The Poetry Lab evolved with it. What began as a small local workshop expanded into a virtual learning space where writers from across the country—and beyond—could gather. Today, The Poetry Lab hosts regular workshops, classes, and collaborative programs online, continuing its original mission: to mentor and encourage writers as they craft their own creative learning journeys.
Today, writers can engage with The Poetry Lab in many ways.
You might join a BrainTrust Workshop led by one of our collaborating teaching artists, many of whom were trained through The Poetry Lab’s mentorship. You can also take a 4-to-6 week course with a visiting teaching artist. Our programming continues to evolve throughout the year, so we invite you to explore what is available, check back regularly, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about upcoming workshops and opportunities.
Over time, The Poetry Lab has grown into a space where writers do more than study craft. They build community. Inspired by our sessions, members have gone on to launch publishing companies, start open mics, form critique groups, and create literary magazines of their own. These ripples outward reflect our core purpose: creating spaces where writers can read, write, collaborate, and develop sustainable creative practices.
As the organization has grown, The Poetry Lab has also invested in training a new generation of intersectional teaching artists. Through mentorship and collaborative programming, we work with writers who are not only developing their own craft but also learning how to guide others through thoughtful, inclusive, and community-centered teaching.
Our programs have been supported by organizations including the Poetry Foundation, Poets & Writers, the Long Beach Arts Council, The Arts Area, and major grant support from the Hawthornden Foundation. Their support helps The Poetry Lab continue offering accessible spaces for writers to learn, experiment, and grow.
Over the years, The Poetry Lab has welcomed a wide range of teaching artists and collaborators, including torrin a. greathouse, Erin Elizabeth Smith, Mike Sonksen, F. Douglas Brown, Cathy Linh Che, Geffrey Davis, Natalie J. Graham, Nate Pritts, Chad Sweeney, Stephen S. Mills, Mahogany L. Browne, Chiwan Choi, James Meetze, Ashaki M. Jackson, Lynne Thompson, Brendan Constantine, Lauren Eggert Crowe, Matthew Hittinger, Nicelle Davis, Alyesha Wise, Jubi Arriola-Headley, and many others.
OUR COMMUNITY IS 100% VIRTUAL
See you on Zoom!
We know that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many great workshop organizations switched to online classes over Zoom. While we also made this switch for safety reasons, what we found by connecting over the Zoom Astral Plane is a thriving worldwide network of poets and writers and we just don’t want to go back.
Our goals are to optimize and energize the virtual learning experience. Creating ways to interact and connect that feel organic and exciting for all of the writers in our community.
Our classes are fun, interactive, and educational. At the core of it all, we are proud poetry geeks! 🤓
The Poetry Lab is grateful for the support of the Hawthornden Foundation, whose commitment to writers and literary culture has helped expand our programming and strengthen our community of poets. Through their support, we have been able to deepen our investment in teaching artists, create new opportunities for writers, and continue building accessible spaces for creative learning and collaboration. Hawthornden’s dedication to nurturing writers aligns closely with our mission to support poets as they develop their craft and connect with one another.
We got the grant! We are honored to have been awarded a 2023 Poetry Programs, Partnerships, and Innovation grant from the Poetry Foundation. The award helps us rally in support of working-class writers around the world! We love our community of self-guided learners and can’t wait to keep writing with you all.
The Poetry Lab is fiscally sponsored by The Arts Area, which provides the administrative and financial oversight that allows us to receive grants and charitable donations in support of our programming. This partnership helps sustain our work creating accessible learning spaces where writers can read, write, and collaborate.
