Reviews

Going into the workshop I just hoped to come out with a poem or two published. By the end of the first session, I felt confident I’d written a few decent poems. By the end of the second, I was disappointed in myself for only writing decent poems. By the end of the third, I felt like maybe I’d written something really good. By the end of the workshop, I didn’t really care if any of my poems were published (mostly), or whether anyone else even liked them, because Zac pushed me to write poems that I felt proud of—that felt like me writing at my newfound best. Aaron and Zac’s ability to select workshop participants and create an environment that welcomes being weird and compassionate with my desire to write my heart out was a truly life-changing experience.

— Jordan T.

The Passengers Journal workshop was a lottery-ticket-winning experience for me. Having only started my poetry practice last year, I haven’t had the formal training that individuals who went to school for writing have had. I was able to receive feedback and guidance in a positive, inclusive, respectful setting, allowing me to see the revision process in a way I couldn’t have possibly experienced outside of this workshop. I am so grateful to have been able to participate.

— Anne Marie W.

The Passengers Workshop was an invaluable experience for me. As an emerging poet lacking formal training, the four workshops provided me with a grounding and foundation to develop my work, a platform to share my writing, and an open exchange of thoughts and ideas. Zac did a fantastic job of supporting us throughout the sessions, facilitating and making space for dialogue and critique. His generosity and willingness to work one-on-one was a tremendous bonus, and my writing grew and transformed in response to his thoughtful and perceptive critiques and his suggested readings. In a year of unprecedented uncertainty, pain, and loss, the Passengers Workshop has been a beacon and an anchor. I feel tremendously grateful to have benefitted from it, to have grown as a writer, and to have connected with so many wonderful poets. 

— Rebecca F.

Aaron Wallace’s workshop was insightful, challenging, and engaging. He is a generous teacher, easily sharing his expertise, time, and passion for writing to help bolster my own. Through detailed editing and organic collaboration, I learned more about poetry and possibilities within the medium than I have in any other setting. The experience overall left me grateful for the education and hungry to continue my growth.

— Belle M.

In short, my workshop experience with Passengers Journal was wonderful. Not only was I part of a community of poets (a safe haven these days), but I found a creative space where my work as a writer was pushed to new levels. The editors set a tone that was encouraging but also critical for the sake of the work itself. I leave the workshop with new pieces I am proud of and new connections in the poetry world. I highly recommend any workshop with Passengers Journal!

— Megan R.