Reflections on Erin Murphy’s Demi-Sonnet Workshop
A Workshop Hosted by ONE ART: a journal of poetry
We had a terrific workshop with Erin Murphy on the demi-sonnet (which if you did not know was, in fact, created by Erin!)
Erin truly has this one down to a science! Not a minute wasted in workshop.
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Notes from Workshop
For the uninitiated, Erin taught us about some of the concepts she’s infused into the demi-sonnet.
So what makes a demi-sonnet a demi-sonnet?
Well, for starters, they’re 7 lines.
It’s formal without being, you know, strictly formal.
They are encouraged to end with a full or a slant rhyme. (An Emily Dickinson approved form.)
Erin describes them as “aphoristic” (which I love) and something of an “elongated fortune cookie” (not in the cheeseball or esoteric sense… and there are no numbers on the back for gambling purposes).
There’s no set syllable count.
Erin suggests that demi-sonnets gesture towards a longer or larger story or idea. It’s a short poem but it should pack a punch that makes it feel more substantial than its line length.
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Yes, the challenge of writing short.
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The Demi-Sonnet Origin Story
Erin shared that this all began with a DIY writing residency in which she wrote 120 demi-sonnets (!!) in 6-weeks.
She then (wisely) put the poems in a drawer for 6-months before revisiting them to determine their value.
These 120 poems were narrowed down to 80 poems that became her collection Word Problems. This is Erin’s first collection of demi-sonnets.
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So, what else did we learn in workshop?
The power of demi-sonnets involves their aural quality.
Rhythm matters.
You can hear these poems in a way that isn’t necessarily as obvious on the page.
To stick the landing, enjambment or caesura can be useful, if not essential qualities.
The turn in a demi-sonnet tends to feel a bit more abrupt compared to a traditional sonnet. This is part of power. The twist surprises more in the vein of haiku.
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How can I try to write a demi-sonnet?
Take a draft of a poem you already have and try to razor it down to 7 lines.
Try to locate the best line in the draft and just that as the first line.
Make an effort to have the title pull some serious weight.
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Erin Murphy’s books
Erin’s newest poetry collection Fluent in Blue – just released in April 2024!
Check out Erin’s books
Erin’s collections of demi-sonnets include:
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The Summerset Review
Erin is Poetry Editor for The Summerset Review
Here’s a poem of mine that appeared in the journal.
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ONE ART
A number of Erin’s poems have appeared in ONE ART, including some of her demi-sonnets.
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About Erin Murphy
Learn more about Erin Murphy on her website
I am sorry I had to miss tis one--back to back appointments. Dounds wonderful!