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Meet the Teaching Artist: How to Write Surrealistic Poems with Millicent Borges Accardi
by Writing Workshops Staff
3 months ago
Millicent Borges Accardi is a Portuguese American writer with four celebrated poetry collections, including Only More So and Quarantine Highway, with fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and a Fulbright, but it’s her passion for pushing the boundaries of poetic form that truly sets her apart.
In our meet the teaching artist interview, Millicent talks about Surrealism—a movement often associated with the avant-garde Dadaists, yet still vibrant and alive in contemporary poetry.
As she prepares to teach Beyond Da Da: How to Write Surrealistic Poems, Accardi shares her vision for a seminar designed to unlock the creative potential within each participant. Through playful word games and thought-provoking exercises drawn from the Surrealism Book of Games, this workshop promises to be a transformative experience for poets at every stage of their journey.
Whether you're a seasoned poet or just beginning to dip your toes into the world of verse, Accardi’s approach offers something unexpected, delightful, and profoundly enriching. Don’t miss this chance to experience the magic of Surrealism in a way that will leave you astonished by your own creative abilities.
Hi Millicent, please introduce yourself to our audience.
Hi I am really happy to be here to explore with you the magic of surrealism in poetry.
What made you want to teach this specific class? Is it something you are focusing on in your own writing practice? Have you noticed a need to focus on this element of craft?
At CantoMundo we had a workshop that sparked my interest in the use of surrealism, so I delved deeper and explored The Book of Games. No other technique has such an instant effect on transforming poetry and the idea of how to generate poems than surrealism.
Give us a breakdown of how the course is going to go. What can the students expect? What is your favorite part about this class you've dreamed up?
We will read a few poems, do word play activities, stealing words, making lists and then build upon the game activities that we have done to create new and exciting poetry.
What was your first literary crush?
Oh-- so many to choose from. Neruda and Pessoa
What are you currently reading?
James Joyce's Ulysses
How do you choose what you're working on? When do you know it is the next thing you want to write all the way to THE END?
I just follow the path to see where it takes me. What I THINK I want to write about is usually not what I end up writing about.
Where do you find inspiration?
People, observations, and reading. It's the casual overheard conversation though, the dream you cannot forget after you wake up, the weird flower you find in the backyard that gets you humming along and wanting to write.
What is the best piece of writing wisdom you've received that you can pass along to our readers? How did it impact your work? Why has this advice stuck with you?
It's from Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, "Don't play what's there; play what's not there." This quote has stuck with me, and sometimes it means that I make old ideas new again or I make new ideas old again but then there are those times when I understand that the quote truly means what is important is not just the words you keep in the poem but the words you leave out (and the reasons why). As a musician Miles was often criticised for the many "mistakes" he made but if you don't give yourself permission to make mistake you end up being boxed into perfection and afraid to take chances.
What is your favorite book to recommend on the craft of writing? Why this book?
Wingbeats II: Exercises and Practice in Poetry by Scott Wiggerman (I have an essay in there about line breaks) and it is filled with tried and true writing exercises and challenges
Bonus question: What’s your teaching vibe?
Laid back, more of a facilitator and coach than lecturer
Learn more about working with
You can sign up for Millicent Borges Accardi upcoming seminar, Beyond Da Da: How to Write Surrealistic Poems Zoom, and join us for what promises to be an in-depth and engaging class!
Instructor Millicent Borges Accardi, a Portuguese American writer, has four poetry collections including Only More So (Salmon) and the recent Quarantine Highway. Among her awards are fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, CantoMundo, Fulbright, Foundation for Contemporary Arts NYC, and Barbara Deming Foundation, “Money for Women.” She lives in Topanga, CA and is a mentor in the Adroit summer program and AWP's Mentor to Mentor. She also curates Kale Soul for the Soul, a reading series. She holds degrees in English and literature from CSULB and USC.
