Blackout Poetry & Haiku: A Creative Workshop

I am so pleased to invite interested participants to an inspiring poetry workshop led by internationally published poet and physician Dr. Vaishnavi Pusapati. Scheduled for 7th February 2026 from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, the event will explore the art and craft of Blackout Poetry and Haiku, inviting participants to creatively reimagine text and discover poetic expression in unexpected places. Blackout is a form of erasure and found poetry where existing text material such as newspaper clippings and journal pages are used as raw material and the phrases that stand out to a poet, are highlighted to form a new, often unrelated to the text in meaning, poem. It is a technique used to overcome writer's block as well. Haiku is a short form of Japanese poetry focused on attention and detail. In this workshop we will also explore haiku techniques such as the cut word and season word and how to edit your haiku better, through examples and worksheet exercises.

Dr. Vaishnavi Pusapati is a distinguished physician-writer whose poetry and micro-fiction have appeared in numerous prestigious literary journals and anthologies around the world. Her work has been featured in publications such as Cold Moon Journal, Autumn Moon Journal, Heron’s Nest Journal, Poetry Pea Journal, Haikuniverse, Under the Bashō, and many others, earning recognition for its lyrical precision and contemplative depth. She is also the winner of the Beyond Words micro-fiction contest and her haiku have been anthologized in the Living Haiku Anthology and the Haiku Registry. Her haiku book, Afterlife:haikus is forthcoming from Hawakal Publishers. Her creative practice spans haiku, free verse, monostich, and other forms that illuminate the subtle moments of lived experience. Through her work, she invites readers and writers alike to engage deeply with language, memory, and the transformational possibilities of brevity.

The Blackout Poetry & Haiku Workshop will provide attendees with hands-on exercises, guided techniques, and creative prompts designed to nurture individual expression and literary play. Art supplies and refreshments will be provided. Whether you are a seasoned writer or a curious beginner, the session promises to unlock new ways of seeing, connecting and writing.

Age Group: 30 - 60 years