University of Iowa

Vince Gotera

Vince Gotera is a Professor of English at the University of Northern Iowa where he served as Editor of the North American Review (2000-2016). He is now the Editor of Star*Line, the print journal of the international Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. His collections of poems include Dragonfly, Ghost Wars, Fighting Kite, and the upcoming Pacific Crossing and The Coolest Month. Recent poems appeared in the science-fiction poetry anthology Multiverse (UK), Proud to Be: Writings by American Warriors (Volume 6), and Hay(na)ku 15: A Commemorative 15th Year Anniversary Anthology, as well as the journals Abyss & Apex, Altered Reality Magazine, The American Journal of Poetry, Crab Orchard Review, Crooked Teeth Literary Magazine, The Ekphrastic Review, Eye to the Telescope, Grievous Angel, Parody Poetry Journal, Philippines Graphic (Philippines), Rosebud, Silver Blade, and Voices de la Luna. He won the 2017 Veterans’ Writing Prize from Stone Canoe journal and his art was featured on the covers of Killjoy Literary Magazine, Mobius: The Journal of Social Change, and Dreams and Nightmares. He blogs at The Man with the Blue Guitar (vincegotera.blogspot.com). 

 

Instructor Events

Wilderness Map: Beginning Poetry Workshop

Weeklong June 09 to June 14 2019
Instructor(s): 
Vince Gotera

In his poem “A Course in Creative Writing,” William Stafford wrote that students of poetry “want a wilderness with a map.” In this beginning poetry workshop, we will begin to explore the wilderness of poetry writing with three basic elements: image, sound, and form. This class will provide a map for poets who are starting out, as well as those who have written a bit and would like to expand their skills.

Jazz June: Sound and Writing Poems

Weekend June 15 to June 16 2019
Instructor(s): 
Vince Gotera

Many beginning poets become quickly proficient with alliteration—the repetition of beginning sounds in nearby words—”lurk late” or “strike straight” or “jazz June” (examples from the poem “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks). The problem is, they begin to overuse alliteration and rely on it too much.