Ekphrasis, Writer's Craft, Art History: Online Courses, Workshops and Webinars
The Ekphrastic Review hosts a variety of writing sessions and workshops, with editor Lorette C. Luzajic.
Our workshops are supportive, challenging, interactive, and fun. They are about community, creativity, connection, and conversation. Writers can participate as much or as little as they feel comfortable.
You will receive a Zoom link a day or two before the event.
If you miss or cancel your workshop date, we will accommodate you in a future session. We are not able to offer refunds.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS, FOLLOWED BY TESTIMONIALS.
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Testimonials These workshops, with inspiring art prompts and educational descriptions by the brilliant artist and writer Lorette C. Luzajic, can be used like a secret remedy for letting the creative genie out of her bottle. Meg Pokrass Any workshop with the indomitable Lorette Luzajic is an adventure into imagination and creativity that transcends preconceived boundaries. I will register again and again and again! Barbara K. Truly, you are one of the best teachers I've ever had. Karen F. Luzajic is the real deal. Her workshops convey her profound mastery of ekphrasis, art history, and multiple writing forms. She excels in communicating complex ideas with ease, all the while generously opening creative doors for each participant to walk through. She does all this with wisdom, respect and kindness." Theresa Wyatt I recently completed a 4-week ekphrastic prose poetry class taught by Lorette Luzajic. Lorette is a phenomenal instructor when it comes to anything ekphrastic but I was also pleasantly surprised and delighted to find what a wonderful instructor she is in prose poetry. Although an experienced poet, this was my first class using that specific genre. Lorette gave us wonderful examples of prose poems as well as thorough and gentle instruction in the art as well as craft of writing prose poems. This is my third or fourth class with Lorette and I've never encountered another instructor who is so generous with their clearly detailed work product. Her slides contain a wealth of information and references, yet she givingly shares them with her students without fail. She is my go-to instructor for excellent, interesting, and thorough teaching. Robin Gabbert Writing Ekphrastic Prose Poetry: This course was so inspirational and helped me expand my writing capabilities. Lorette C. Luzajic is an amazing teacher, art historian, and artist. I wrote at least 10 prose pieces based on the artwork she presented in class. I will definitely take another class with Lorette in the future. Laura P. I loved taking Lorette’s Ekphrastic Prose Poetry class over four weeks. It provided a wonderful foundation for both writing ekphrastic poetry and also writing prose poetry. It reignited my love of both art and writing poetry. I’m ready to revise my poems from 7-10 years ago and work on a chapbook or full length ekphrastic collection! Thanks so much for your fantastic classes which is packed with a ton of art, poetry, instructional material, critiques, and interactive sessions. I’m excited and looking forward to taking more of your workshops and classes. Thanks a ton! Deborah Strozier Lorette is one of the most vibrant, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable workshop leaders I’ve encountered, and I’ve worked with about a dozen of the top poets, including Naomi Shihab Nye, Ted Kooser, and Jane Hirshfield. It’s amazing how she keeps the topic fresh: always varied, always full of more prompts and resources to check, and most important of all, always welcoming to everyone who shows up. Alarie T. Lorette conducted a wonderful class, with a great deal of encouragement and information provided. The visual prompts included were so evocative, and the discussions lively and insightful. I'll be looking to join another of her class offering in the future! Mary G. This course went well beyond my expectations. Lorette’s tranquil demeanor belies the many new ideas and contexts for old ideas she offers. All her examples empower listeners to think of themselves as potential creators. For both beginners and veterans, she provides a fresh, worldly look at the task of writing prose or poetry inspired by art. Lorette has extensive knowledge and empathy, two sterling qualities for teaching . I expect to be a frequent “Zoomer” of Lorette based on my experience. Yes, I am hooked! Mary K Lindberg I signed up for my first workshop with Lorette in 2022 through Women in the Visual and Literary Arts. By the end of that session, I was truly Hooked on Ekphrasis. Since then, I’ve joined many of her classes, each time deepening my knowledge of art, writing, and self-discovery. Lorette brings a wealth of insight into both art and artists, creating a welcoming space that encourages everyone to engage in ways that feel most authentic. Her workshops offer multiple approaches to exploring and practicing writing about art—whether in poetry, prose, or something entirely unique. Every experience in her classes has enriched my life and strengthened my creative work. Kathi C. Lorette's enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge about art combine to make her one of the most exciting and empowering workshop leaders I have ever had the joy of writing with. And the Hyperbole police would not arrest me for saying that! I was exposed to art I would never have looked twice at, and have learned how to linger and engage with the work and the artist. Her preparation, presentations and written feedback were thoughtful, generous and encouraging. an absolute delight! Susie Whelehan I had never done an ekphrastic workshop—in fact, had never heard of it before I met Lorette at a flash fiction conference. I joined a workshop out of curiosity and became an instant convert. The art chosen for the workshop was inspiring and the prompts Lorette gave us generated a lot of discussion and writing. There are so many things to love about these workshops from the joy of walking away with several great stories, or at least story ideas, to the excitement of learning about new artists. But the best part is the community—even as a newbie who had never been to one of these workshops before, I felt wholly welcomed by both Lorette and the other participants. Finn Burnett If you love learning about art and artists and if you love writing, Lorette's workshops are the perfect place to twine those loves together! Comfortable, educational and inspiring, these two enjoyable hours fly by. And like me, you may linger breathing in the riches of The Ekphrastic Review for your heart and soul. Fran Turner This is one of the most enriching experiences that I have participated in for many years, as an artist and writer. Lorette's selection of art I have never seen before, her wealth of history on the paintings and prompts presented in an open, warm and encouraging setting provides the perfect formula for creating. These workshops have stimulated my poems and accompanying paintings. I always leave elated and so very glad I attended. Sonya Gonzalez I have been a follower of The Ekphrastic Review for a couple of years, even sending a poem occasionally. When the workshops came along, I signed up enthusiastically. I was “enthusiastically, ecstatic, ekphrastically” about the work of such detail and variety…I can hardly wait between them to attend the next ones. I have learned so much about artists and their work as well as writing some personally delightful poems. Keep them coming, Lorette. Jackie Langetieg Lorette’s ekphrastic sessions are well curated, combining a high level of organization with technical smoothness, professionalism, a knowledge of art which she extends to her participants, as well as an encouraging and intimate tone. Her idea of creating an ekphrastic community has succeeded completely, not only with the Review, but also with the writing workshops, And I feel so fortunate to have participated in many of them this fall. Laurel Benjamin The Ekphrastic Review ekphrastic writing workshops have helped me begin writing, again. The art and prompts are interesting and inspiring, and the writers are fun and supportive. I've taken four workshops and plan on taking more! Marjorie Robertson I have attended several of Lorette’s workshops and came away from these fast-moving sessions with poems or prose that I continued to revise and enhance. Lorette provides information about the artist that is not only educational but often provides additional inspiration when responding to a prompt. Lois Villemaire I have attended several workshops offered by The Ekphrastic Review. Each time, the experience has provided a positive and nurturing environment in which I can freely practice the art of ekphrastic writing with other talented writers from various locations and backgrounds. Lorette chooses a wide range of styles of art, and she is an excellent teacher, and offers great feedback. I always look forward to learning from her about the artists’ backgrounds as much as I do the writing process. These workshops really get my creative juices flowing! Lisa Molina Lorette is a remarkable teacher -- clear and encouraging and so passionate about what she is teaching. Helen B. Lorette is a powerful writer and generous teacher and I’m so grateful I found her prose poetry course. She introduced me to the form with thoughtful writing prompts, provided extensive background and analysis, and welcomed everyone with a spirit of kindness and inclusion that never wavered. I’m inspired. Sonia Weaver I knew very little of prose poetry until I took this workshop. Four weeks was not enough… I wish we had more weeks to continue learning and experimenting with our prose poetry! The information shared taught us so much. I had no idea about this genre's freedom and diversity of expression in language and form. I write narrative poetry and found joy in experimentation as I revised some of these to prose poetry - the narrative became clearer, and I experienced the freedom from line and rhyme, yet felt how rhythm and rhyme became stronger, with the piece evoking more from me as a writer. I am so glad I took your workshop! Evelyn J.C. Lorette's class in prose poetry exceeded my high expectations and I look forward to taking another class with her. She is an excellent and organized teacher who set a comfortable atmosphere for sharing, as well as providing very useful handouts and generous feedback on our poems. Maureen S. Lorette is an outstanding instructor of prose poetry. She takes a personal interest in each student by being inclusive during class and also meeting 1:1 with each. Lorette gives informative instruction as well as examples, exercises, and helpful feedback. I would love to take another course from Lorette in the future. Leslie C. The Prose Poetry class with Lorette was a joy! Such a terrific blend of writing time, history, skills exercises, and tips on publishing. I highly recommend it! Andrea R. Having taken several of Lorette’s workshops, and both her courses offered through WOW, I feel qualified to speak of her masterful teaching techniques. She brings every ounce of her own artisanship and passion for art right up to the podium and then exudes not just knowledge but a refreshing sense of wonder, amazement and enthusiasm for the content of her subject matter…She becomes a co-equal adventurer with those of us who follow her guidance. Thank you WOW for bringing Lorette into this community. Again, she is one among a short list of my very favorite (for their excellence) teachers. Karen FitzGerald It gives me great pleasure to say that Lorette has made this course on Prose Poetry exciting and informative! During the four weeks we met which flew by, she generously offered her online support, gave us tons of course resources, and encouraged while interacting with us, interesting discussions relating to prose poetry. Furthermore, She gave us writing prompt activities and gave us ample time to share our writings from them. I would definitely recommend this class, and take another one with Lorette C. Luzajic! Sharon O. B. Lorette has a deep knowledge of prose poetry. The resources she provides, and the enthusiasm with which she shares her knowledge, made this one of the best online writing courses I have taken. She is organized, providing a wealth of information and examples of the concepts under discussion. And she is open-hearted: She authentically welcomes writers in her class to be part of the prose-poem-writing community and offers positive and helpful responses to the writing shared with her. As a teacher myself I appreciate her attention to creating such a welcoming and stimulating environment, and to delivering interesting, well-paced content. This four-week course flew by. It was just the right amount of time and depth for the time I had available. I've already recommended it to some writer friends, and I plan to take another course from her when my schedule allows. Joanne G. Whether you're a novice or an expert, Lorette's "Hooked on Ekphrasis" is for you. It's jam-packed with resources, wisdom, and creativity. The art is well-curated, and the writing prompts are spot on. Nan W I agree with all my co-participants in this workshop, "Hooked on Ekphrasis", it was wonderful and wonder filled. Bursting with information, examples, exercises and resources, it has given me a mammoth dose of inspiration and enthusiasm. Thank you so much Lorette. I’m looking forward to more. Kaz O. Lorette C. Luzajic is an excellent teacher who welcomes participants in her courses, whether they are beginners or experienced ekphrastic poets. Her knowledge and enthusiasm are contagious. She is always generous in sharing her experience, her background in art and artists and writers. I highly recommend her courses and her website…Warning: highly addictive. Lynne Kemen Whether you’ve ever written an ekphrastic poem or not, a two-hour workshop with Lorette C. Luzajic will inspire you. I especially like how in a few minutes she opens up an artwork—no matter the century of creation or the style—by describing its place in history and sharing intimate and insightful anecdotes about the artist. Each time, I find myself writing from a totally different perspective than I imagined when the artwork first appeared on the screen. Sandi Stromberg Lorette is generous with her time, knowledge, and encouragement. Not only did I leave the class with a whole whack of poems that I am happy with and that I will revise, she also helped me work through some blocks I was having. Linda S. Lorette packs in a wealth of information about the practice of ekphrastic writing. This class is a good balance between background information, writing exercises and sharing work with the class participants. Lorette builds camaraderie and community into her classes. She brings so much fun, joy and insight to her teaching. A valuable experience! Karen Ostrov Lorette’s fantastic collage and mixed media class inspired me to play with materials and techniques in more ways than I would have thought possible in a month. I learned a tremendous amount from Lorette’s lessons, doing my own projects, and seeing and discussing the work of other participants. Sharon R. Collage and Mixed Media Course" was a delight to participate in: four weeks of 2-hour classes on Zoom with suggested assignments, and detailed instructions and examples of collages to view during class, and that are also sent to you as a PDF to continue your exploration of collage and mixed media. I already knew Lorette was a fabulous artist, as I own 7 of her artworks, but she's an inspirational teacher as well. Karen George Lorette's Collage and Mixed Media course was so inspiring! Through exploring history, composition, color, and materials, I learned to translate personal creativity into visual storytelling—something I had never attempted on a canvas before. She helped me know what to stock my art room with to get started. Lorette brings a mix of depth, openness, and support that meets every artist where they are. I left the course not only with new skills, but with a spark to keep creating. Kathi C. Lorette’s course provides a multitude of opportunities to practice the craft of writing in a supportive, non-judgmental setting. In four weeks, my confidence grew and my creativity blossomed. Allison C. Lorette is a gifted teacher. I feel gratitude that I have found my way to her online classes which draw to them such interesting fellow writers. We receive the same art to view and the same prompt but our responses are as individual as snowflakes. Karen O. In 2024, while dealing with a serious medical condition, I've taken a wild ride with Lorette C. Luzajic and ekphrasis. Writing in response to art is helping me heal at the soul level, and for that, I am forever grateful. Barbara K. You are a wonderful teacher, infusing each class with your seemingly endless knowledge of art and art history. Jackie L. WOW is right! Lorette's ekphrastic flash fiction class provided everything I wanted: context, craft lessons, inspiring prompts, constructive feedback, community, warmth, humor, and fabulous eyeglasses. Wow, Lorette, THANKS! Tracy R. I signed up for Ekphrastic Flash Fiction not having written a word of flash fiction before. Through Lorette's always, packed full of information and innovative teaching style, I emerged with several pieces I am proud to submit anywhere. The encouragement of class participation through questions and writing exercises, different styles of flash fiction, all the way to submitting and publishing, this course offers everything. She has a way of bringing in each student to view art and how to express it through writing, that reflects a voice all their own. Also, she provides individual feedback on a piece you have written per week, which I found invaluable. This class was a joy, a journey and a triumph for me. Sara Castaneda This course definitely fulfilled the "Wow" factor already in the first class. Elissa G. By the end of the first class I was exhausted AND exhilarated and oh so happy to have been there. I'm hooked. Susie W. |
Lorette C. Luzajic founded The Ekphrastic Review in 2015 and has been the editor ever since. The journal is a rare publication devoted entirely to literature inspired by art. Lorette's mostly ekphrastic flash fiction and poetry has been widely published in hundreds of literary journals in print and online, including Cleaver Magazine, Ghost Parachute, JMWW, Cabinet of Heed, Unbroken Journal, New Flash Fiction Review, Rattle, Indelible, The Citron Review, Trampset, Maple Tree Literary, The Miramichi Reader, and more. She was awarded two grants from the Ontario Arts Council to create collections of ekphrastic flash fiction, one which turned into The Neon Rosary: tiny prose poems and The Rope Artist: ekphrastic small fictions; the second project is Disgust, a series of ekphrastic flash stories on the theme of living with illness and pain, recently published by Cyberwit Books. Her flash won first place in a contest at MacQueen's Quinterly. She has been nominated several times each for Best Microfiction, Best Small Fictions, Best of the Net, and the Pushcart Prize, and seven times for Best American Food Writing (for essays on food in art history.) Her stories were selected for Best Small Fictions 2023 and 2024, and Best Microfiction 2026. Some of her work has been translated into Spanish. Arabic, and Urdu. Lorette has a dusty degree in journalism, but continued with her creative writing as well as visual art. Her award-winning mixed media collage paintings are internationally collected, in 40 countries so far, including Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. She is most passionate about art history, and has studied independently and in classroom for as long as she can remember. The stories of triumph and tribulation recorded in paint have changed the world, and they change our writing, too.