The Poetry Kit |
Courses |
Most local
authority Adult Education services run creative writing groups; some run groups
dedicated to poetry. Check with your local centre for details. Below is a selection
of residential, correspondence, and part-time courses that are
worth looking at, depending on your enthusiasm and the depth of
your pocket.
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POETRY 1 - Ten session course requiring taking about forty hours to complete. Consisting of 20 hours made up of 20 1 hour sessions (2 per week) and 20 hours of guided study and writing time (you could take more if you wish but this is the recommended minimum. This foundation course in writing poetry takes the participant through some of the basic processes of writing poetry in an entertaining and interesting way. FURTHER DETAILS POETRY 2 - Ten session course requiring taking about forty hours to complete. Consisting of 20 hours made up of 20 1 hour sessions (2 per week) and 20 hours of guided study and writing time. This course in writing poetry takes the participant on from the point of Poetry 1 and is intended for those with some experience at writing and who wish to develop their skills further. FURTHER DETAILS Other courses also available - FURTHER DETAILS |
| CRITIQUES - Full critiques of poetry or other writing available. FURTHER DETAILS |
| Poetry Kit residential Course in Liverpool - There is no better time to visit Merseyside than during the two tremendous years of celebration in 2007 - 700th Anniversary of the founding of the City and 2008 the year Liverpool is European Capital of Culture. Jim Bennett has regular 1 week residential workshops in Poetry writing and development. for information courses@poetrykit.org |
| PROOF READING - QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED PROOF READER AVAILABLE - An experienced publishers reader who assists with advice to Poetry Kit is available to advise on grammar, spelling and layout problems for manuscripts and scripts. For information contact liam@liambennett.com |
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| Poetry Kit residential Course in Liverpool - There is no better time to visit Merseyside than during the two tremendous years of celebration in 2007 - 700th Anniversary of the founding of the City and 2008 the year Liverpool is European Capital of Culture. Jim Bennett has regular 1 week residential workshops in Poetry writing and development. for information courses@poetrykit.org |
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ACT
Writers Centre, (Canberra, Australia) Turning
Points and Energy Nodes: a poetry workshop Join poet Jan Owen for a workshop on the power points of the poem. Jan will discuss initial perception, titles, first lines, the turn or challenge, last lines, and line breaks. Comments and tips on editing techniques will be given as required and there will be opportunities for group discussion, examples and questions. Five or six exercises on the above topics will be provided and completed during the class. More complex tasks will be suggested for participants to take on later if they wish. There should be time for some feedback on all exercises and more detailed comment and discussion on the two main ones. Please bring to the workshop an early draft of a poem about 20 to 30 lines long, preferably one that seems a little bland or flat, lacking energy, and certainly not one you are tolerably pleased with! Cost: $120, or $75 concessions. When: Sunday 10 September, 10am-4pm. Venue: ACT Writers Centre, Gorman House, Ainslie Avenue, Braddon ACT (Canberra). Bookings essential through the ACT Writers Centre on 6262 9191 or online at www.actwriters.org.au |
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| The Arvon Foundation runs year-round one-week
residential courses on all aspects of creative writing at
three centres. Generally there are two tutors for each
course, and all are experienced writers. Head Office: The Arvon Foundation, 2nd Floor, 42A Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0RE. Phone 020 7931 7611. Fax 020 7963 0961 Totleigh Barton Sheepwash Beaworthy Devon EX21 5NS Tel 01409 231 338 Fax 01409 231144 e-mail t-barton@arvonfoundation.org Lumb Bank Heptonstall Hebden Bridge West Yorkshire HX7 6DF Tel 01422 843714 Fax 01422 843714 e-mail l-bank@arvonfoundation.org Moniack Mhor Teavarron, Kiltarlity, Beauly, Inverness-shire IV4 7HT Tel 01463 741675 Fax 01463 741733 e-mial m-mhor@arvonfoundation.org In association with the Scottish Arts Council. The Hurst, Clunton, Craven Arms, Shropshire SY7 0JA Tel 01588 640658 Fax 01588 640509 e-mail hurst@arvonfoundation.org ********************************************************** |
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| The Ashburton Centre runs a wide range of holiday courses, including creative writing in Italy and Spain. For details contact A Taste of Travel Limited, The Ashburton Centre, 79 East Street, Ashburton, South Devon TQ13 7AL Phone: 01364 652784 Fax: 01364 653825 E-mail: stella@ashburtoncentre.co.uk Website: http://www.a-taste-of.com | |
| Burton
Manor is an Adult Education College and runs a wide range
of courses.
Full
details of these and other courses are on the website www.burtonmanor.com , Writing and Literature courses
are listed under http://www.burtonmanor.com/bmc-lit.htm |
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Creative Arts Courses in
North Cornwall The Indian King Arts Centre, Fore Street, Camelford, Cornwall PL32 9PG Map Fax\telephone: +44 1840 212111. E-mail:info@indianking.co.uk |
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| Courses in Crete - poetry
and writing courses in Loutro, Crete. For further information contact World Spirit at: tel/fax 00 44 (0) 161 928 5768, mobile 07973 394921, e-mail worldspirit99@aol.com web site www.worldspirit.org.uk |
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| Dingle Writing Courses Ballintlea, Ventry, Co. Kerry,
Ireland. |
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| Emerson College Forest Row, Sussex RH18 5JX Phone: +44 (0)1342 822 238 Fax: +44 (0) 1342 826 055 E-mail: poetry@emerson.org.uk Summer, weekend and full-time courses |
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| Far West runs a limited number of
creative courses and retreats in a Grade II listed Georgian house in Penzance, Cornwall. Full details from Far West, 23 Chapel Street, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4AP Tel: 01736 363146 e-mail: angela@farwest.co.uk website: www.farwest.co.uk (515) |
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| FIRE IN THE HEAD, tutored by poet and
author Roselle Angwin, is an exciting year round
programme of poetry, fiction and reflective writing days,
weekends and retreats in stunning locations such as Iona,
Scotland, Devon and Spain. www.roselle-angwin.co.uk roselle.angwin@internet-today.co.u k PO Box 17, Yelverton,
Devon, PL20 6YF 01822 841081 |
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Landscapes into Words, 5 day poetry workshop led by Katherine Gallagher, in Nafplion, Greece, April 21-26, 2008. Details from: Margaret Eddershaw, tel. +30 27520 21855 e-mail: sturgess@naf.forthnet.gr |
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| il chiostro workshops in Italy - art, fiction, poetry. Details from Il Chiostro Inc., 241 West 97th Street, Suite 13N, New York NY10025 Phone: (800) 990-3506 e-mail: ilchiostro@hotmail.com | |
| Imagination-Based Poetry' Retreat on the Greek Island of Skiathos, Go to www.zoeartemis.com for detailed info about retreat and registration. | |
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Inspiring Wells 5-day Poetry Workshop led by Mimi Khalvati September 15 – 20, 2008 in inspiring Nafplion, Greece Contact: Margaret Eddershaw Tel. +30 27520 21855 sturgess@naf.forthnet.gr |
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Runs
poetry workshops each summer. For more details contact Sarah on 020 7404 0984, e-mail larivolte@aol.com, visit www.larivolte.com or write to Sarah Johnson, Poetry Workshops, 83 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT |
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Poetry (and Prose) at the
Abbey is a series of 4 residential weekends run
by 'Writers Inc.', brought to you by the Blue
Nose Poets, at an
attractive 13th century Abbey in Sutton Courtenay in
Oxfordshire. Variously using guest writers and the Blue
Nose poets' own expertise the weekends involve writing
exercises, tutorials and readings as well as some space
and peace to write. The weekends start from only £99
residential and £89 non-residential. Contact Blue Nose Poetry, P.O. Box 29695, London E2 0FD Tel: 020 8981 2548 or email Brettvt@btinternet.com. |
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| The Poetry School offers some residential courses as
well as group
and one-to-one tuition at various London and other
venues. For a catalogue of their full programme, contact
the school. Jacqueline Gabbitas, Administrator, 1a Jewel Rd, Walthamstow, London, E17 4QU, telephone on 020 8223 0401, email programme@poetryschool.com, website at: www.poetryschool.com |
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| Salmon Creative Writing Workshops
Salmon Publishing run regular weekend creative writing
workshops at the Salmon premises: Knockeven, Cliffs of
Moher, Co. Clare. These include all aspects of writing
and publishing. The facilitator is Salmon's director,
Jessie Lendennie, who has conducted workshops all over
Ireland and the U.S., for many years. Fee for the weekend
is £100, including B&B accommodation in the lively
village of Doolin. Numbers are limited to 7 per weekend. Sessions will run two weekends per month. For more information, or to book, email salpub@iol.ie or telephone 065 81941. Salmon Publishing Website: http://www.salmonpoetry.com/ |
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| Shakespear and Poetry Holiday - in
South West France, led by voice and speech teacher Julia
Wilson-Dickson. Costs from £550, all inclusive. For details see http://www.studiofrance.co.uk/ or 'phone 00 33 5 63 56 88 15 |
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| Creative Writing Classes at Tigh
Fili Tigh Fili, Cork, Ireland. Courses are run throughout the year for those who wish to improve their creative writing skills. Writing participants take evening classes in both poetry and fiction. The class's work is then published in an anthology at the end of the course. Check website for details. |
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| Ty Newydd Writing Courses. Taliesin Trust, Ty Newydd, Llanystumdwy, Cricieth, Gwynedd, LL52 0LW. Phone 01766 522811 Fax 01766 523095 e-mail tynewydd@dial.pipex.com Most courses run from Monday to Friday (Saturday departure) and cost £335 including meals and shared accommodation (£360 with a single room). There are weekend courses (Friday to Sunday) costing £140 (£150 with single room), and extended courses costing £375 (£400 with single room). |
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| The Word Travels - www.thewordtravels.com David Caddy and Westrow Cooper writing events. | |
| Write away in Tuscany -
creative writing courses near Siena. Contact: Wordworks, 4 Farn Cottages, Shoscombe, Nr Bath BA2 8LT phone 01761 432546 |
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| WRITE-ON-HOLIDAY How would you like to share a writing holiday in the sun with poet JACKIE KAY or novelist/poet, JULIA DARLING, and learn from the expertise of these award-winning writers on a one-to-one basis? We are also running courses by major writers, Willy Russell (Educating Rita/Shirley Valentine/Blood Brothers), Kay Mellor (Fat Friends/Band of Gold/Playing the Field) and Stella Duffy (State of Happiness, long-listed for 2004 Orange Prize) If you would like to find out more, check out our site on: www.writeonholiday.co.uk Or e-mail us on: info@writeonholiday.co.uk" |
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| COMMUNITY OF WRITERS AT SQUAW
VALLEY Squaw Valley, California Lucille Clifton, Brenda Hillman, Robert Hass, Galway Kinnell Sharon Olds, Kevin Young The Poetry Program is founded on the belief that when poets gather in a community to write new poems, each poet may well break through old habits and write something stronger and truer than before. To help this happen we work together to create an atmosphere in which everyone might feel free to try anything. Tuition for the Poetry Program is $750, which includes six evening meals and daily photocopying of poems. A limited amount of financial aid is available. www.squawvalleywriters.org info@squawvalleywriters.org |
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POETRY 1 - Ten session course requiring taking about forty hours to complete. Consisting of 20 hours made up of 20 1 hour sessions (2 per week) and 20 hours of guided study and writing time (you could take more if you wish but this is the recommended minimum. This foundation course in writing poetry takes the participant through some of the basic processes of writing poetry in an entertaining and interesting way. FURTHER DETAILS POETRY 2 - Ten session course requiring taking about forty hours to complete. Consisting of 20 hours made up of 20 1 hour sessions (2 per week) and 20 hours of guided study and writing time. This course in writing poetry takes the participant on from the point of Poetry 1 and is intended for those with some experience at writing and who wish to develop their skills further. FURTHER DETAILS Other courses also available - FURTHER DETAILS |
| Poetry Boot Camp, I teach an on-line poetry intensive
for six days in a row, once a month. Participants are English-speaking,
but cme from all over the world (US, Canada, UK, Cyprus, Guam, Italy, Portugal and the South Pole). This is the beginning of my fifth year of running the workshop, and I have a return rate of about 65%. The website is at: http://www.poetrybootcamp.com (207) |
| Blue
Nose Correspondence Workshops. Year long
correspondence workshops, starting February and August.
Poems are submitted every eight weeks and are returned by
the tutors in time for the next submission, with
commentary, an assessment of strengths and weaknesses,
and suggestions for ways forward. Fees from £165. Details from Blue Nose Poetry, P.O. Box 29695, London E2 0FD - Tel: Phone: 020 8981 2548 |
| Dan Masterson offers e-mail critique of your work (advanced poets only). Email a poem and he'll get back to you with comments. The first poem is free of charge. Further consultation by fee. Email address and details on site: http://www.poetrymaster.com (210105) |
| Open College of the Arts is affiliated to the Open
University. If you want to take its correspondence course
in writing poetry, you will have to take the beginners'
creative writing course first. As with Arvon, tutors are
experienced writers. UK Contacts: Registration Department, OCA, Freepost SF10678, Barnsley S75 1BR Freephone: 0800 731 2116 Fax: 01226 730 838 Minicom: 01226 205 255 E-mail: open.arts@ukonline.co.uk Overseas: Registration Department, OCA, Unit 1B, Redbrook Business Park, Wilthorpe Road, Barnsley, United Kingdom, S75 1JN Phone: +44 (0)1226 730 495 Fax: +44 (0)1226 730 838 Minicom: +44 (0)1226 205 255 E-mail: open.arts@ukonline.co.uk |
| Distance Learning Open University courses - Write to The Open University, PO Box 625, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BR UK |
| Ryan Tranquilla - 3-day email poetry workshops focusing on revision, taught by Ryan Tranquilla, former director of California Programs for Poets & Writers, Inc. Drafts and comments are conveniently exchanged among participants solely via email. By the third day, you will have completed a full cycle of writing a new poem and revising it at least twice, learning more about yourself and your work along the way. Each workshop limited to groups of six. Technical requirements: Access to email. Cost: $90 (6505) |
| Updraft: An Online Poetry Workshop to Ignite
Your Imagination This long-distance learning adventure is for all ages and levels of experience. All you need is the desire to make better poems and a willingness to study the craft of poetry. In this workshop, you have the opportunity to: * Meet poets from around the world * Make new friends * Write a new poem every week * Take a class that fits into your schedule * Have fun We meet online Saturday mornings for guided writing exercises. Students engage in brainstorm techniques and writing assignments that focus on various aspects of poetry. Upon finishing the first draft, we post our writing to a private discussion board and then critique follows. Throughout the week, we revise and post our second drafts. Students receive peer feedback as well as individual mentoring from the instructor. For information about the class, please visit: http://www.sonic.net/poetry/albany/workshop/intro.html or email Scott Reid at: scotts@sonic.net (907) |
| Wordshop - Andrew M Forster offers creative writing courses via e-mail. The flexibility of e-mail means courses are designed for students needs. E-mail andyforster.wordshop@virgin.net for an information file. |
| ADULT EDUCATION
centres in London that run poetry courses and
workshops include: City Lit, 16 Stukely Street, Drury Lane WC2B 5LJ Map phone 0171 831 9631 fax 0171 405 3347 e-mail info@citylit.ac.uk City University, Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB Map phone 0171-477-8268 fax 0171 477 8256 Goldsmith College, New Cross SE14 6NW Map phone 0171 919 7200 fax 0171 919 7509 Morley College, 61 Westminster Bridge Road SE1 7HT Map phone 0171 928 8501 fax 0171 928 4074 Richmond Adult College, Clifden rd, Twickenham (courses at Parkshot Centre, Richmond). phone 0181 891 5907/940 0170 fax 0181 892 6354 |
| Birkbeck Contemporary Poetry Workshop - an open and constructive workshop led by Ulli Freer, focussing on contemporary poetics, its processes & practices - both academic and non-academic. |
| University of Bristol,
Department of English MA in Modern and Contemporary Poetry. For information contact Rebecca Ireland, Postgraduate Admissions, Department of English, University of Bristol, 3/5 Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1TB Phone: 0117 928 8863 Fax: 0117 928 8860 email: engl-pg-enquiry@bris.ac.uk |
| Chesterton Community College, Gilbert Road, Cambridge CB4 3NY Tel: 01223 358689 Fax: 01223 300786 |
| The Citadel Waterloo Street, St. Helens WA10 1PX venue and occasional courses call 01744 735436 for details |
| The Seamus Heaney Centre
for Poetry
School of English, Queen's University of Belfast, BT7 1NN tel 028 90 335103/4 fax 028 90 314615 email B.Caraher@qub.ac.uk |
| Courses at the Irish Writers' Centre - 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
Details from: (3531) 8713102; e-mail: info@writerscentre.ie A full programme of creative writing is being planned. |
| Lancaster - The Department of Continuing Education at Lancaster University offers a wide range of Creative Writing courses to suit all abilities, from beginners to those who wish to publish their work. Courses take place at Lancaster University and throughout Lancashire and Cumbria, at weekends and in the evenings. This autumn we are also running 9 flexible courses, which are mainly completed on-line, in Creative Writing Level 1 and 2, Writing Poetry Level 1, Writing Prose Poems, Working Towards Publication, and Writing your Novel Level 1 & 2. Course fees start from £38 for 10-hour face-to-face courses and from £76 for flexible courses, with concessions available. For further details, contact the Department of Continuing Education, Lancaster University, Ash House, Lancaster LA1 4YT, telephone 01524 592623/4 or check the website www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/conted |
| Lauderdale House
Highgate Hill, Waterlow Park, London N6 5HG Tel: 020 8348
8716 Fax: 020 8442 9099 Email: admin@lauderdale.org.uk Adult Writing Workshops/Classes led by Alison Burns. 7.00-9.00pm Tuesdays. £96.00 (£66.00 concessions) |
| MA in Creative Arts - Writing and Reading Poetry Two-year part-time course at Liverpool Hope. For further information contact Deryn Rees-Jones on 0151 291 3563 or freephone 0800 0282 308 |
| MA in Poetic
Practice . Teaching will take place in 11 Gower
Street, London WC1 on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings -
5.30pm-7.30pm. The course lasts one year full-time, two years part-time. There are two core courses: Poetic Practice and New Technologies of Writing. Poetic Practice works through writing on and off the page; narratives of self and body; degrees of liveness; and site-specific writing and performance. Work by Susan Hiller, Joan Retallack, Lynn Hejinian, cris cheek, Fiona Templeton etc etc. Contemporary Technologies of Writing looks at materialities of writing; interactive webpages; animations; sound and video; webprojects ... In addition, students will work on a writing project and produce a dissertation reflecting on their project. Application forms from : The Graduate School, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 OEX |
| MA Writing
(Poetry) Middlesex University, White Hart Lane, London N17 8HR 0800 9807300 e-mail: tmadmissions@mdx.ac.uk |
| Sarah Lawrence College MFA in Writing Graduate Studies, Sarah Lawrence College, 1 Mead Way, Bronxville, NY 10708-5999 Tel: (914) 395 2371 x2165 email: grad@slc.edu |
| Tongues and Grooves monthly poetry classes and
workshops in Southsea. Poetry Classes facilitated by visiting tutors
and poets - £5.00 per session. Workshops free. For more details contact
Maggie Sawkins on 023 9273 4180.
www.tongues-and-grooves.org.uk. |
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MA IN CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY OR PROSE FICTION, UNIVERSITY OF HULL
'The
University of Hull has a long and distinguished tradition of building
bridges between its English Department and writers (from the local
area andelsewhere). Its distinguished
Creative Writing MA programme is a right and proper development of
this connection, and deserves to meet with every success.'
-- Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate and Patron of the Philip Larkin Centre for Creative Writing and the MA in Creative Writing.
This MA is designed
to enable the student to produce a professional-quality portfolio of
work in his or her specialist genre: poetry, the short story, or the
novel. Practical skills are taught by members of staff who are
themselves professional writers. These include Cliff Forshaw,
David Kennedy, Simon Kerr and David Wheatley. Christopher Reid has
been appointed to the Chair in Creative Writing from July 2007.
Workshops, seminars and a Book Group are complemented by the Philip
Larkin Centre's programme of readings by visiting poets and novelists
(recent visitors have included Andrew Motion, Ciaran Carson, John
Hartley Williams and Alan Hollinghurst) and student-led events. The
programme also features talks by publishers and agents concerned with
the marketing of creative work. Applicants will be selected on the
strength of a sample of submitted work. While a first degree is a
desirable qualification for entry, it is not essential. The Philip
Larkin Scholarship, worth £750 will be offered to an applicant whose
work in any genre is considered to show exceptional promise.
http://www.hull.ac.uk/english/postgraduate/programme/MA_in_Creative_Writing/index.html http://www.hull.ac.uk/english/events/larkin_centre/index.html Contact:
Dr Cliff Forshaw
Department of English,
The University of Hull,
HU6 7RX
United Kingdom
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ACT
Writers Centre, (Canberra, Australia)
Numerous
Courses - ACT Writers Centre, Gorman House,
Ainslie Avenue, Braddon ACT (Canberra). Bookings
essential through the ACT Writers Centre on 6262 9191 or
online at
www.actwriters.org.au |