Applications are now open for
the 2027 Poetry Gauntlet!
the 2027 Poetry Gauntlet!
Created by Christopher McCurry, The Poetry Gauntlet is an intense one-year workshop for poets. Led by poet Sean L. Corbin, up to 12 participants will work collaboratively during the 2027 calendar year to draft 100 new poems. Each month, the group will read and discuss a poetry book. Everyone who completes The Gauntlet will receive a Gauntlet challenge coin and be invited to share their work at a reading.
The Gauntlet is open to writers (16 years old and up) of all experience levels. The next Gauntlet year runs from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2027
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Gauntlet participants receive:
• 12 generative workshops; you will meet with Sean Corbin and a community of working writers for 3.5 hours one Saturday a month for one year
• 12 books of poetry and essays on the craft of poetry
• Personal support and accountability as you write 100 poems over the course of the year
• Detailed feedback from Sean L. Corbin on a selection (approx. 10 poems) of your works in progress
• Access to two free Carnegie Center classes per season (6 total free courses; some restrictions apply)
• The opportunity to meet and learn from local established poets who visit during some Saturday workshops
• The opportunity to pitch your manuscript in progress to Accents Publishing and Workhorse
• An invitation to read your work publicly at the end of your Gauntlet year and at annual Gauntlet Reunions
• A challenge coin that you’ll receive upon successful completion of your Gauntlet year.
Tuition: $1,750
Important dates: Applications are due on November 30, and participants will be notified by December 12. A nonrefundable deposit of $600 will be due by January 10. $575 will be due on March 31. The remaining $575 will be due on June 30. Saturday workshop dates will be announced this fall.
Application: CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Questions about the program? Contact Poetry Gauntlet Coordinator Sean L. Corbin at poetrygauntlet@carnegiecenterlex.org or Carnegie Center Program Director Z Valentine at zjackson@carnegiecenterlex.org.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships for 2027 are currently pending, and we cannot guarantee a scholarship at this time. There is a space to indicate your interest in a scholarship on the application.
Meet the Poetry Gauntlet Coordinator
Sean L Corbin is the author of THE LEPER DREAMS OF SNOW (Finishing Line, 2018), and is a graduate of Morehead State University, as well as the University of Kentucky’s Creative Writing MFA program. He is a long-time writing instructor at the Carnegie Center, and his work has been published widely. He also works in medical simulation. For the Poetry Gauntlet’s future, Sean hopes to continue its rich tradition of loving, rigorous poetry instruction, artistic expression, and community-building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the idea come from?
Founded by Christopher McCurry of Workhorse in 2016, The Gauntlet was designed to help poets build a habit of reading and writing that is sustainable. It was also designed to build a community of poets who are supportive of each other during The Gauntlet year and beyond. The program was created and taught by Christopher McCurry before coming to the Carnegie Center in 2020. Now, Sean L. Corbin leads the program.
What does the $1,750 tuition include?
- 12 generative workshops; you will meet with Sean L. Corbin and a community of working writers for 3.5 hours one Saturday a month for one year
- 12 books of poetry and essays on the craft of poetry
- Personal support and accountability as you write 100 poems over the course of the year
- Detailed feedback from Sean L. Corbin on a selection (approx. 10 poems) of your works in progress
- Access to two free Carnegie Center classes per season (6 total free courses; some restrictions apply)
- The opportunity to meet and learn from local established poets who visit during some Saturday workshops
- The opportunity to pitch your manuscript in progress to Accents Publishing and Workhorse
- An invitation to read your work publicly at the end of your Gauntlet year and at annual Gauntlet Reunions
- A challenge coin that you’ll receive upon successful completion of your Gauntlet year
Why do you ask for a short bio of my career?
We like to organize The Gauntlet to maximize diversity of writing experience and background; a well-rounded and productive year together starts there. We like to get to know our poets and what experiences they may bring to the group, whether that is through their writing careers or otherwise.
Why do you ask for a book that helped shape me as a writer?
Gauntlet members have a hand in choosing the 12 books of poetry or craft that they read during the program. Each poet has a chance to share a book they’ve loved and found valuable to their writing in order to build this list of reading materials. Also, it helps us get to know you!
Why 100 poems?
High expectations are the foundation for success. If you don’t risk failure, success won’t taste as sweet. We want you to walk away from this with a feeling of accomplishment.
What’s the challenge coin?
The challenge coin is exactly that—a coin given as a token of the challenge you’ve completed at the end of the Gauntlet. Carry it in your wallet, wear it as a necklace, display it on your shelf. In the same way that people are celebrated for publishing, we want to celebrate people who are actively writing and reading.
What if I’m nervous?
Don’t be! Poetry Gauntlet is about supporting your work as a poet, no matter how your poetry journey looks so far. We like writing, and we want to encourage you to do it more. That’s all.
