From Spark to Submission
Session 1: Sunday, November 8
Session 2: Sunday, November 15
6:00–8:00 PM MST
$150 — Partial Scholarships Available
Online through Google Meet
Course registration closes November 2
You’re a writer—a poet, storyteller, or someone writing across genres—with work to share with the world. But you’re unsure how to polish these pieces and find publications that are a good fit. With so many possibilities out there from literary magazines to anthologies and self-publishing—you don’t know where to begin.
In From Spark to Submission, poet and literary arts advocate Trish Hopkinson will offer her experience and insights to help course participants navigate both sides of the writing journey: drafting new work and learning how to share it with readers.
Through guided writing prompts and readings, course participants will explore the experiences, memories, and questions that shape their creative voice and inspirations. Participants will then learn how to identify potential publications for their writing, approach submissions strategically, and develop a personalized plan for getting their work published.
Course participants will:
Generate new writing through prompts and literary inspiration.
Learn how to find publications that may be a good home for your work.
Better understand the submissions process and the publishing landscape.
Develop a personalized plan for submitting your writing.
The course is open to poets, prose writers, and writers at all levels of experience.
Ready to take the next step?
In this generative workshop led by poet and literary arts advocate Trish Hopkinson, writers will explore the moments, memories, and questions that shape their creative voice. Through guided prompts and poetry readings, participants will draft new work rooted in what it means to be alive in this world, echoing ORP’s mission to uplift voices that speak with clarity and presence.
We’ll move from creation to circulation, demystifying the practical steps of preparing and submitting literary work. Together, we’ll discuss how to identify publications for your writing, how to navigate submission strategies, and how to approach publication as an extension of your artistic practice.
Open to poets, prose writers, and anyone interested in sharing their work more widely, this session offers both inspiration and actionable guidance—meeting writers wherever they are in their creative journey.
Registration closes November 2. Limited spaces are available.
Partial scholarships are available for writers who need financial assistance. Please email schools@oysterriverpages.com before registering or submitting payment to inquire about a scholarship. Scholarships are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
About Trish Hopkinson
Trish Hopkinson is a poet and literary arts advocate. You can find her online at SelfishPoet.com and in western Colorado. Hopkinson is co-founder and director of Rock Canyon Poets since 2014, a regional poetry group with over 50 members, annual members retreat, monthly reading series, and two anthologies published from 2014 – 2025: Orogeny, a collection of Rock Canyon Poets work; and Inspired, a collection from the community poetry writing workshop she taught with support from Utah Humanities. She co-founded Provo Poetry in 2015 to feature Utah poets in Poemball vending machines with three permanent locations in Provo and Salt Lake City. Provo Poetry and Rock Canyon Poets have been featured on KSL, KRCL, 15 Bytes, Slug Magazine, The Daily Herald, and City Weekly among others. Her poetry has been published in several magazines and journals, including Sugar House Review, Glass Poetry Press, and The Penn Review. Hopkinson’s most recent full-length book A Godless Ascends was published by Lithic Press in March 2024. Her fourth chapbook Almost Famous was published by Yavanika Press in 2019 and her third chapbook Footnote was published by Lithic Press in 2017. Hopkinson happily answers to labels such as atheist, feminist, and empty nester; and enjoys traveling, live music, wine tasting, and craft beer.
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100 Best Websites for Writers via The Write Life, 2019 – 2021
Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers, 2017 – 2021
“Poet Trish Hopkinson posts submission calls regularly on her blog, focusing specifically on markets that don’t require a submission fee and/or pay writers for their work. The blog also features editor interviews and guest posts by journal editors.”–Submittable Blog
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” . . . wholly uncategorizable, Trish Hopkinson’s website is a veritable wealth of writing and publishing resources all year long, including loads of no-fee journals to submit to. Her interviews with journal editors help make my submissions targeted and in line with what the journal is looking for. She also offers prompts and inspiration. This is my go-to for when I’m stalled out and need a push.”–Amanda Moore, Contributing Poetry Editor at Women’s Voices for Change
“Trish Hopkinson may describe herself as a ‘selfish poet,’ but her site is an indispensable community hub for poetry lovers, with news and event listings, writing resources, and much more (including her own poems, of course).”-WordPress Discover feature
“I wanted to thank you again for running the feature on Paper Dragon back in July. We received over 650 submissions from across the globe!”–Bill Vargo, Paper Dragon
“Thank you, Trish Hopkinson, for providing a strong online platform for poets to commune and share perspectives. You bring the village “–Marj Hahne, Writer/Editor/Teacher
“My choice for this week’s Writer of the Week: Trish Hopkinson! She is a bit of a walking revolution; I found Trish through various online women’s writers’ groups. Ms. Hopkinson’s enthusiasm and talent for poetry, is boundless.”–Lisa Nanette Allender
“From event listings to calls for submissions, @trishhopkinson’s site is a poets paradise”–WordPress Discover tweet
“Another layer, perhaps, of the ‘Selfish Poet’ is the honest admission that literary success is measured not only through the development of craft but also the publication, dissemination, and appreciation of one’s work. Hopkinson’s site is a generous guide to pursuing all of these goals.”–Emily Jaeger, Features Editor of Woven Tale Press
“Although her tagline is ‘A Selfish Poet,’ she may be the most unselfish blogger I have come across. In fact, if the motto of my state’s writer’s association is ‘writers helping writers,’ Hopkinson’s motto could easily be ‘poets helping poets.'” —Bryan Pitchford, poet
Meet Your Instructor
We also invite you to watch her recent interview with The Poetry Vessel where she discusses how to submit poetry to literary magazines.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This course is open to poets, prose writers, and anyone interested in developing and sharing their creative work.
Both emerging and experienced writers are welcome to join the course.
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No previous publication experience is required. The workshop is designed to meet writers wherever they are in their creative journey.
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No.
While Trish is a poet, the course is open to—and welcomes—prose writers and writers working across all genres.
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Yes.
You’ll be invited to write through guided generative prompts, laying the foundation for new writing.
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The second part of the course will focus on the practical side of sharing your work, including how to search for and identify potential publications, develop submission strategies, and approach publication as part of your artistic practice.
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You don’t need to have a completed piece of writing. The course includes time for generating new material.
Just come with an open mind and a willingness to write.
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The course is live.
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The course will take place online through Google Meet.
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Yes. A limited number of partial scholarships are available for writers who need financial assistance. To be considered, please email schools@oysterriverpages.com before registering for the course.
Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Please email your question to schools@oysterriverpages.com and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
In this generative workshop led by poet and literary arts advocate Trish Hopkinson, writers will explore the moments, memories, and questions that shape their creative voice. Through guided prompts and poetry readings, participants will draft new work rooted in what it means to be alive in this world, echoing ORP’s mission to uplift voices that speak with clarity and presence.
We’ll move from creation to circulation, demystifying the practical steps of preparing and submitting literary work. Together, we’ll discuss how to identify publications for your writing, how to navigate submission strategies, and how to approach publication as an extension of your artistic practice.
Open to poets, prose writers, and anyone interested in sharing their work more widely, this session offers both inspiration and actionable guidance—meeting writers wherever they are in their creative journey.
Not ready to register yet? Sign up to receive a reminder email before registration closes.