Poetry, Prose, and Prayer: A Week with Michael Dennis Browne

Michael Dennis Browne

Poetry, Prose, and Prayer is a creative writing workshop designed for poets and prose writers who are exploring religious themes in their work. The workshop makes it possible for writers with a variety of vocational pursuits and literary interests to work both individually and communally. Participants will have extended periods of time to write, as well as ample opportunities for interchange, mentoring, critical evaluation, and mutual support. Writers admitted to this program will have demonstrated a high degree of competency. Participants will have a long, unbroken stretch of time to write every day. In the mid-afternoons the group will gather to talk about individual projects.

The Collegeville Institute will cover travel expenses to and from the workshop, all workshop fees, and room and board. Those who join the workshop will be expected to reside at the Collegeville Institute throughout the entire week. Participants may share apartment space, though each person will be assigned a private bedroom. The program is limited to 12 participants.

Michael Dennis Browne, poet, librettist and professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota, will lead the workshop. He has published numerous books of poetry; has received numerous honors and awards for his teaching and writing; and has written many texts for music with composer Stephen Paulus, including the libretti for the church opera The Three Hermits, and the post-Holocaust oratorio To Be Certain of the Dawn. Michael is the 2014 recipient of the Graven Award from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. The award is given annually to someone “whose life is nurtured and guided by a strong sense of Christian calling and who is making a significant contribution to community, church and society.”

For more information about Michael Dennis Browne, watch this video interview, or visit http://michaeldennisbrowne.com. Michael is also teaching a weekend writing workshop, The Art of the Short Poem, from June 13-14, 2015 at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival in Iowa City.

Michael was wonderfully encouraging and supportive, and had a tone of honesty with kindness, which participants also followed. He has a gentle touch – and is a wealth of information. His style of teaching was “responsive” to the work being presented/workshopped. He is a master-teacher, and has a real gift for structuring and leading to discussion.

–participant in “Believing in Writing: A Week with Michael Dennis Browne” Summer 2013

Application Process:

The application deadline for this workshop has passed.

Complete applications include four pieces:

1. Application form
2. Current resume or c.v.
3. One-page description of your current writing project
4. Writing sample of your recent work (1,000 words or less)