Sundress Academy for the Arts Presents The Poet Journalist: Intro to Docupoetics

The Sundress Academy for the Arts is excited to present “The Poet Journalist: Intro to Docupoetics” a workshop led by Mandy Shunnarah on Wednesday, November 11th from 6:00-7:30 PM EST. This event will be held over Zoom. Register today!

Poets are keen observers of the world and are always trying to make sense of what it means to be alive here, now, in this moment. Docupoetics, or documentary poetry, is one way to do that. By letting the latest headlines inspire poems and using journalistic skills––such as interviews, embedded citations, and historical, academic, and archival research––poets bring an urgent voice and a critical eye to the issues of the day. In this workshop, you’ll learn about the history of docupoetics, what poets are drawn to the subgenre and why, and you’ll be guided through a generative writing exercise to pen your own documentary poem.

While there is no fee to participate in this workshop, Mandy has requested that those who are able and appreciative make donations to Sundress! Or folks who to donate to Gaza, could give to The Sameer Project.

Mandy Shunnarah (they/them) is an Appalachian-Palestinian writer in Columbus, Ohio. Their essays, poetry, and short stories have been published in Electric Literature, The Rumpus, Black Warrior Review, and others. Their first book, Midwest Shreds: Skating Through America’s Heartland, was released in 2024, and their second book, We Had Mansions: Poems, was published by Diode Editions in 2025. Read more at mandyshunnarah.com.

We are excited to announce the launch of a new fundraising campaign centered on a simple idea: writers helping writers. Donors who make a gift of $100 or more to Sundress Publications can receive a poetry manuscript consultation as a thank-you for supporting our work. Learn more on our website.

Thank you to the Tennessee Arts Commission for their grant that supports this workshop.