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Updated 6/24/2016

Valerie Lawson

  • M

    ME

Institution/Business Type: Artist / Creative (Individual)

For over 15 years, Valerie has taught classes and workshops in writing and performance, often with her partner Michael Brown. Solo or together, they are both dedicated teachers who are adept at their craft.

Workshops include: The Business of Writing, Clothesline Poems, Ekphrastic Poetry, Writing (and ReWriting) History (Poetry), Exploring Nature Poetry, Put the FUN in Reading with Kids, Singing the Bones (Poetry & Performance), Using Duotrope Submission Tracking Software, and The Craft of Writing Poetry.
Valerie has taught workshops at Duxbury Before and After Dark Program, Brockton High School, Boston Public Library, The National Poetry Slam, Massachusetts Poetry Festival, and teaches regularly at the Cobscook Community Learning Center and Sunrise Senior College in Maine.

Valerie Lawson's work has been published in Main Street Rag, BigCityLit, About Place Journal, and others with work forthcoming on American Arts Quarterly's website. Lawson's first book, Dog Watch, from Ragged Sky Press, was released in 2007. Twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize, Lawson won awards for Best Narrative Poem and Spoken Word at the Cambridge Poetry Awards and was a finalist for the 2015 Rita Dove Award and the 2013 Outermost Poetry Prize. Lawson was invited as a Legacy Poet to the first Women of the World Poetry Slam in 2007.
With her partner, Michael Brown, Lawson co-edits Off the Coast literary journal and teaches poetry at Cobscook Community Learning Center, where she is the Community Program Manager, and Senior College at the University of Maine in Machias, where she is currently studying Book Arts. Lawson served on the board of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance from 2013-2015.

Valerie Lawson is listed at Find Maine Writers (http://find.mainewriters.org/writers/valerie_lawson/), Poets & Writers Directory of Writers online (https://www.pw.org/content/valerie_lawson), and on the Boston Poetry Slam website (http://bostonpoetryslam.com/find-a-poet/poets/valerie-lawson).

Find Me

Valerie Lawson
Job Title: Poet, Publisher, Teacher
Phone: 207-454-8026
Address:
PO Box 14
1175 US Route 1
Robbinston, ME 04671

Social Media:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Corporation

Year Founded:

2003

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Corporation

Year Founded:

2003

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Humanities - Literature

Additional Disciplines:

  • Visual/Crafts - Photography

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Residency - Community
  • Writing Services
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall
Events Per Year: 6

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • General Public
  • School Groups
  • Teens

Geographic Reach:

  • Multi-State Region

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

Massachusetts Poetry Festival

Date: 05/2015

Presented The Business of Writing workshopParticipated in the Small Press Fair with Off the Coast Journal

Boston Poetry Festival

Date: 04/2015

State: MADate: 4/2015Activity: Concert/performance/reading/emceeEmail: TapestryofVoices@yahoo.comPhone: 617-723-3716

Advanced Summer Leadership Program

Date: 07/2006

State: MADate: 7/2006Activity: Concert/performance/readingEmail: jgilbert@cccollaborative.orgPhone: 508-534-5099

Brockton Public Library Reading Series

Date: 05/2006

State: MADate: 4/2006Activity: Concert/performance/readingEmail: SoaringSky@aol.comPhone: 508-584-1287

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Awards

Awards:

  • "Female Spoken Word," "Best Narrative Poem," and as a member of "Best Poetry Troupe," (Doctor Brown's Traveling Poetry Show) Cambridge Poetry Awards, 2004Winner, Amazon Super Slam 2003Finalist: "Best Short Poem," and "Best Poetry Publication,"

Awards

Awards:

  • "Female Spoken Word," "Best Narrative Poem," and as a member of "Best Poetry Troupe," (Doctor Brown's Traveling Poetry Show) Cambridge Poetry Awards, 2004Winner, Amazon Super Slam 2003Finalist: "Best Short Poem," and "Best Poetry Publication,"

Artist Info

Teaching Artist

Ages Served:

  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - English Language / Literacy

Fee range:

$100

Teaching Artist

Ages Served:

  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - English Language / Literacy

Fee range:

$100

Touring Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • Microphone and stand with minimal sound system.

Fee Range:

$100 - $750

State of Residence:

Maine