For those familiar with the basics of poetic form, this intermediate course explores craft and content through reading exercises, writing exercises and constructive feedback. Ideal if you have already attended 'Ways into poetry'.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This intermediate course is the perfect follow-up to an introductory course such as 'Ways into poetry'. You'll have the opportunity to explore poetic technique in greater detail, to expand the range of your own poetic voice, and to give and use constructive criticism in a supportive workshop environment.
What will we cover?
- You will explore issues of craftsmanship and poetic content through close reading of published work. - Writing exercises will encourage you to experiment with a variety of poetic forms and styles. - Constructive criticism will pinpoint your individual strengths and weaknesses, and guide you as you edit and improve your own poetry.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Increase your understanding of poetic form . - Write your own poems in fixed form and free verse. - Improve the overall quality of your poetic output.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an intermediate course and is recommended for students who have completed a 'Ways into poetry' course. You should have some familiarity with contemporary poetry and the basics of poetic technique.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
There will be a mixture of tutor-led talk, discussion, writing exercises and feedback on your writing, and an optional homework each week.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring paper and a pen. You'll be expected to provide copies of your poems for class feedback.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
When you feel ready to progress to a more advanced level, you may be interested in our 'Advanced poetry workshop'.
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Christina Dunhill is an acclaimed poet and short story writer who is also the editor of two collections of short stories, one of poems and book of essays on women and the police for Virago. Following an earlier career in publishing she taught on the MA in Creative Writing and Personal Development at the University of Sussex. Her most recent publication is Blackbirds (2012).
Sarah HeskethSee moreSee less
Sarah Hesketh is a writer and editor. She is the author of the poetry collections Napoleon’s Travelling Bookshelf (Penned in the Margins, 2009) and The Hard Word Box (Penned in the Margins, 2014), and the editor of The Emma Press Anthology of Age (2015). Her latest book is 2016, a poetic exploration of a difficult year. (CB Editions, 2025). Her work has a focus on socially engaged writing practices and she has been an Artist in Residence with Age Concern and The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. She is the workshop leader for carerspoetry.org
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/developing-your-poetry157125Developing your poetryhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/d/e/developing_your_poetry2-square.jpg259259GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Poetry/Poetry/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Poetry/Courses/Online courses228515902018135811360217311228513581136021653For those familiar with the basics of poetic form, this intermediate course explores craft and content through reading exercises, writing exercises and constructive feedback. Ideal if you have already attended 'Ways into poetry'. <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">This intermediate course is the perfect follow-up to an introductory course such as 'Ways into poetry'. You'll have the opportunity to explore poetic technique in greater detail, to expand the range of your own poetic voice, and to give and use constructive criticism in a supportive workshop environment.<br />
<br />
Please note that this course is located in a room with step access. If you have difficulties with mobility or use a wheelchair please contact us at writing@citylit.ac.uk to discuss. <br />
<br />
This is a live online course. You will need:<br />
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.<br />
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.<br />
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.<br />
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.</div>104.72539741Developing your poetry259259https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/d/e/developing_your_poetry2-square_45.jpgInStockEveningThuKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-04-23T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceApr 2026WritingHW114259259Developing your poetry259130259Sarah Heskethdeveloping-your-poetry/hw114-2526For those familiar with the basics of poetic form, this intermediate course explores craft and content through reading exercises, writing exercises and constructive feedback. Ideal if you have already attended 'Ways into poetry'.0000-Available|2026-04-23 00:00:00This intermediate course is the perfect follow-up to an introductory course such as 'Ways into poetry'. You'll have the opportunity to explore poetic technique in greater detail, to expand the range of your own poetic voice, and to give and use constructive criticism in a supportive workshop environment.For those familiar with the basics of poetic form, this intermediate course explores craft and content through reading exercises, writing exercises and constructive feedback. Ideal if you have already attended 'Ways into poetry'.- You will explore issues of craftsmanship and poetic content through close reading of published work.<br/>- Writing exercises will encourage you to experiment with a variety of poetic forms and styles.<br/>- Constructive criticism will pinpoint your individual strengths and weaknesses, and guide you as you edit and improve your own poetry.- Increase your understanding of poetic form .<br/>- Write your own poems in fixed form and free verse.<br/>- Improve the overall quality of your poetic output.This is an intermediate course and is recommended for students who have completed a 'Ways into poetry' course. You should have some familiarity with contemporary poetry and the basics of poetic technique.There will be a mixture of tutor-led talk, discussion, writing exercises and feedback on your writing, and an optional homework each week. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring paper and a pen. You'll be expected to provide copies of your poems for class feedback.When you feel ready to progress to a more advanced level, you may be interested in our 'Advanced poetry workshop'.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.PoetryPoetryvirtual2539744Developing your poetry259259https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/d/e/developing_your_poetry2-square_44.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-04-21T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceApr 2026WritingHW550259259Developing your poetry259130259Christina Dunhilldeveloping-your-poetry/hw550-2526For those familiar with the basics of poetic form, this intermediate course explores craft and content through reading exercises, writing exercises and constructive feedback. Ideal if you have already attended 'Ways into poetry'.0000-Available|2026-04-21 00:00:00This intermediate course is the perfect follow-up to an introductory course such as 'Ways into poetry'. You'll have the opportunity to explore poetic technique in greater detail, to expand the range of your own poetic voice, and to give and use constructive criticism in a supportive workshop environment.For those familiar with the basics of poetic form, this intermediate course explores craft and content through reading exercises, writing exercises and constructive feedback. Ideal if you have already attended 'Ways into poetry'.- You will explore issues of craftsmanship and poetic content through close reading of published work.<br/>- Writing exercises will encourage you to experiment with a variety of poetic forms and styles.<br/>- Constructive criticism will pinpoint your individual strengths and weaknesses, and guide you as you edit and improve your own poetry.- Increase your understanding of poetic form .<br/>- Write your own poems in fixed form and free verse.<br/>- Improve the overall quality of your poetic output.This is an intermediate course and is recommended for students who have completed a 'Ways into poetry' course. You should have some familiarity with contemporary poetry and the basics of poetic technique.There will be a mixture of tutor-led talk, discussion, writing exercises and feedback on your writing, and an optional homework each week. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring paper and a pen. You'll be expected to provide copies of your poems for class feedback.When you feel ready to progress to a more advanced level, you may be interested in our 'Advanced poetry workshop'.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.PoetryPoetryvirtual259259130HW114,HW550NONEThu,Tue21/04/26 - 30/06/2617:30 - 19:3017:3019:3011 sessions (over 11 weeks)1111 weeks or longerWeekdayOnlineKeeley Street,OnlineSarah Hesketh,Christina DunhillSome experienceAvailable courses2026-04-23T00:00:00+00:00,2026-04-21T00:00:00+00:00EveningApr 2026Writing259259Developing your poetrydeveloping-your-poetry/hw114-2526,developing-your-poetry/hw550-2526For those familiar with the basics of poetic form, this intermediate course explores craft and content through reading exercises, writing exercises and constructive feedback. Ideal if you have already attended 'Ways into poetry'.0000-Available|2026-04-21 00:00:00This intermediate course is the perfect follow-up to an introductory course such as 'Ways into poetry'. You'll have the opportunity to explore poetic technique in greater detail, to expand the range of your own poetic voice, and to give and use constructive criticism in a supportive workshop environment.For those familiar with the basics of poetic form, this intermediate course explores craft and content through reading exercises, writing exercises and constructive feedback. Ideal if you have already attended 'Ways into poetry'.- You will explore issues of craftsmanship and poetic content through close reading of published work.<br/>- Writing exercises will encourage you to experiment with a variety of poetic forms and styles.<br/>- Constructive criticism will pinpoint your individual strengths and weaknesses, and guide you as you edit and improve your own poetry.- Increase your understanding of poetic form .<br/>- Write your own poems in fixed form and free verse.<br/>- Improve the overall quality of your poetic output.This is an intermediate course and is recommended for students who have completed a 'Ways into poetry' course. You should have some familiarity with contemporary poetry and the basics of poetic technique.There will be a mixture of tutor-led talk, discussion, writing exercises and feedback on your writing, and an optional homework each week. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring paper and a pen. You'll be expected to provide copies of your poems for class feedback.When you feel ready to progress to a more advanced level, you may be interested in our 'Advanced poetry workshop'.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.PoetryPoetryconfigurable
