Our Poets - Successful Graduates from Ars Poetica’s Creative Agency Group Mentorship Programs Go On To Do Amazing Things: Olivia Dodd, Zoe Branch, Hannah Monsour and more
There are a lot of development pathways and programs for young poets and artists. You may have even found this article by googling “How to make a living writing poetry” or by looking up one of our successful graduates: Olivia Dodd, Zoe Branch, or others.
We at Ars Poetica have been recruiting and training talented writers, poets, and performance artists since 2011. First it was just casually roping in our friends and peers for a gig here and there, then it became a regular side hustle for an expanding network of professional artists. By 2018, poets and artists around the world were seeing our press coverage and social media and we had a surplus of passionate, talented creatives who wanted a shot at joining the Ars Poetica roster. But we didn’t have enough infrastructure then, or enough client demand in the event industry, to standardize our recruitment
After the pandemic, when the arts, events and entertainment industries in which we work were turned totally upside down, many typewriter and performance poets on our roster began reaching out asking for guidance and help in finding new ways to market themselves, find new professional clientele, build their brands, share best practices, and get 1:1 mentorship to grow their creative capacities. Thus, the Ars Poetica Account Management & Creative Agents program was born.
Over these years, we have provided business development guidance, sales training, marketing and content creation training and opportunities, monetary support to purchase typewriters and equipment, gig opportunities, and crucial professional development to dozens of typewriter poets and artists of many unique specialties.
Every poet is different. It is a niche that is truly unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. But through AP founder Lisa Ann (LAMARKS) Markuson’s personal mentorship and the support of a peer group of similarly ambitious and talented artists, incredible achievements are possible in a relatively short amount of time. Much shorter than in a traditional MFA or degree program, and while earning money every step of the way. It’s a beautiful experience for us to offer these skills and training to artists so they can achieve their unique visions.
One of our now most acclaimed graduates of Ars Poetica’s Creative Agency program is Olivia Dodd. The following is an article about her from people.com in 2024:
Typewriter Poet at Park Helps Man Pull Off Surprise Proposal: 'Fingers Were Shaking with Excitement' (Exclusive)
"Everyone gasped when he dropped down on one knee. Everyone was cheering, the energy turned electric," the poet tells PEOPLE
By
Published on December 3, 2024 03:00PM EST
Man plots with typewriter poet at park to propose to girlfriend.
Credit : Olivia Dodd of Ars Poetica
A man named Nic asked poet Olivia Dodd to help him propose to his girlfriend, Laura, on Oct. 27.
They worked together in secret to craft a heartfelt poem for Nic to read aloud at Regent's Park in London. The poem ended with the line, "Will you marry me?"
Laura said "Yes!" Since then, the newly engaged couple have invited the poet to their wedding, and she's hoping to bring her typewriter with her.
A man plotted with a poet to pull off the perfect surprise proposal.
When poet Olivia Dodd woke up on Oct. 27, she never expected that she'd be the key to a stranger's proposal later that day. But that's exactly what happened after a man named Nic sent her a DM just past 8 a.m. that read: "My girlfriend absolutely loves your content, and we’re planning to pass by when you’re in Regent’s Park. It would be a great moment for me to propose, if you’re up for being a part of it?"
Like she does most days, the Ars Poetica poetess and actress was already planning on going to Regent's Park in London to write poetry for strangers. However, this would be the first time she'd be writing a custom poem for a proposal.
"During the next hour we created a plan: She would ask me for a poem first, on the topic she chose, like I usually do," Dodd explains to PEOPLE. "Nothing suspicious."
She continues: "Then he would ask for a poem about their relationship. I would write the poem and pose the question in the final line of the poem. And since it wouldn't be right for me to read it out loud, I'd offer for him to read the poem to her. But he didn't give me any details about their relationship or what to write. He trusted me to work my magic in the moment."
A few hours later at 2 p.m. the plan went into action. Nic and his unsuspecting girlfriend, Laura, walked up to Dodd, who was seated at her typewriter. She and Nic "exchanged a knowing glance," to confirm that she knew it was them two who would be getting engaged.
Everything went according to plan — Nic explained a little about his relationship with Laura to Dodd, who then crafted a heartfelt poem for him to read aloud.
"My fingers were shaking with excitement as I wrote the poem, because the anticipation was crazy," Dodd says. "I'm used to writing under pressure and having people watch while I write — but writing a poem for a proposal? A beautiful challenge to try and remain calm."
As Nic began reading the touching poem about love and resilience, he got down on one knee and pulled out a diamond ring.
"No way," Laura said in a TikTok video capturing the park proposal. She was "completely shocked" and covered her jaw-dropped mouth with her hand before asking, "Are you joking?"
"I am still amazed by his courage to trust me to find the perfect words," Dodd says. "And that he read the poem on the spot, so beautifully, having no idea what I'd written."
Commenters on TikTok pointed out a sweet, unexpected detail — another couple in the background of the video held hands and smiled as they watched the entire proposal from afar.
"There was a line of other people waiting for their poems, and everyone gasped when he dropped down on one knee," Dodd recalls. "Everyone was cheering, the energy turned electric. Even onlookers walking by were swept up in the moment."
After Laura tearfully exclaimed "yes!" she embraced her fiancé as onlookers applauded. The two then thanked Dodd, gave her a hug and suggested she be a part of their wedding.
"They have already formally invited me, which is incredibly sweet," Dodd says. "And hopefully my typewriter will be coming along too so I can write custom poems for their guests during the reception."
Dodd has crafted custom poems at countless weddings, but doing so for Nic and Laura would be especially meaningful.
"All the emotions are already sky-rocketed, so it's a really special experience," Dodd says. "I adore hearing the specific ways someone describes their partner and their relationship to me. How they choose to paint the personality of their loved one. Every unique detail or quirk they share is like gold-dust when writing a poem! I always ask people to tell me anything and everything."
What are your dreams for what you can achieving by liberating the beauty in yourself and others?
At Ars Poetica, we believe it all starts with your heart. Is your heart in the right place? And can you reciprocally unlock the love and vulnerability within yourself and allow that to be reflected in those around you?
If so, you may be ready to become more than just a typewriter poet, but a Creative Agent of your own poetic destiny.
We wish Olivia Dodd, Zoe Branch, Hannah Monsour, and all graduates of our mentorship and creative capacity bruilding programs the absolute best on their journeys. Because of their ambition and dedication to the art form (or as we like to call it: heartform) our founder Lisa Ann (LAMARKS) Markuson and our agency have already achieved our mission of changing and increasing the value of poets and poetry in the world, and now we have the momentum and infrastructure to scale and diversify that vision into new niches, new heartforms, and a global enterprise bigger than anything we dreamed possible.