Want to hone your poetry writing skills? The Rainshadow Poetry Competition is offering free poetry writing workshops at the Sequim (630 N. Sequim Ave.) and Port Angeles (2210 S. Peabody St.)libraries the first week of January.

These free workshops are for adults and youth poets from Clallam and Jefferson counties. Participants are encouraged to write and submit a poem for the Rainshadow Poetry Competition, sponsored by Olympic Theatre Arts.

• Jan. 6

Poet Kate Reavey, professor at Peninsula College, and poet Alice Derry, a former professor at Peninsula College, are hosting a two-hour Generative Poetry Workshop from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the Port Angeles Library.

This is a workshop for adults only and is limited to 15 participants.

• Jan. 8

Sequim Poet Carlyn Syvanen will host a poetry workshop titled “How to Eat a Poem” on Friday, Jan. 8. She says, “Don’t be polite. Bite in.” This workshop is from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Sequim Library.

• Jan. 9

Donna Downes, resident of Port Angeles and retired teacher from Anchorage, Alaska, will host a poetry workshop for students in grades 5-8. The workshop is 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Port Angeles Library. Downes will encourage young poets to “play with words” and to “bring your imagination.”

• Jan. 10

Author and poet Gene Bradbury hosts “Poetry Soccer: Play with Words” for students in grades 5-8, from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10, at the Sequim Library. He guides young poets to turn poetry into a game that students love to play.

About workshops, competition

These workshops fill up fast so register early. Bring paper and pencil (no laptops, please). Download fliers for the workshops at www.rainshadowpoetry.com or www.facebook.com/rainshadowpoetry.

The Rainshadow Poetry Competition deadline is 5 p.m., Jan. 22. Submission guidelines are available at www.rainshadowpoetry.com. Poets may write to any theme of their choice.

The event culminates in a public reading at 2 p.m. May 1, at Olympic Theatre Arts. Poems chosen for the anthology will be read by the winning poets. For registration and information, contact Ruth Marcus at Rmarcus@olypen.com.

See Facebook.com/rainshadowpoetry.