This short, fun taster course is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.
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 is a fun introductory course designed to support learners in exploring the form, language and structure of poetry.
What will we cover?
- Popular poetic forms: acrostic, concrete and free verse.
- Structuring your poem through rhyme and rhythm.
- Finding poetic stimuli.
- Alternative poetic traditions.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Develop your knowledge of poetic form and tradition.
- Develop your understanding of poetic structure.
- Write first draft poetry from the provided information and exercises.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course. Students will need to be able to write in fluent English.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
A mix of tutor instruction, pair work and interactive writing exercises and discussion of published texts.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day, regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.
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?
No extra costs - bring pen and paper.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Visit Writing > Poetry on our website to browse our full range of beginners', intermediate and advanced poetry writing classes.
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.
Billie Manning is a widely published poet who has been teaching poetry courses for City Lit for more than 5 years. She is a qualified teacher and currently works as the Learning and Participation Coordinator for the Poetry Society. In her spare time, she enjoys reading poetry, writing poetry, talking about poetry, and occasionally, while falling asleep, thinking of really great lines of poetry, which in the morning turn out to be entirely ludicrous, and not in the good way.
Alice FrecknallSee moreSee less
Alice Frecknall is a poet, short fiction writer, and fine artist. Her debut poetry collection, Somewhere Something is Burning, is published by Out-Spoken Press (2021). Her writing has been widely anthologised, including in The London Magazine, The Stinging Fly, berlin lit, And Other Poems, bath magg, fourteen poems, and Butcher’s Dog, and was most recently shortlisted for the Out-Spoken Prize for Poetry 2023 and The London Magazine Poetry Prize 2023. Alice has an MA in Creative Writing, is a Roundhouse Poetry Collective alumna, and member of the UniSlam Post-Emerging Cohort.
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/writing-poetry-getting-started310652Writing poetry: getting startedhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_poetry_getting_started-square.jpg7979GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Poetry/Poetry/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Writing/Creative writing taster courses/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Poetry2285159013396135811360212285135811360211771205This short, fun taster course is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.251188595Writing poetry: getting started7979https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_poetry_getting_started-square_1.jpgInStockDaytimeSatKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersFeb 2026WritingHW5547979Writing poetry: getting started794079Billie Manningwriting-poetry-getting-started/hw554-2526This short, fun taster course is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.0000-Available|2026-02-07 00:00:00This is a fun introductory course designed to support learners in exploring the form, language and structure of poetry.This short, fun taster course is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.- Popular poetic forms: acrostic, concrete and free verse.<br />
- Structuring your poem through rhyme and rhythm.<br />
- Finding poetic stimuli.<br />
- Alternative poetic traditions.- Develop your knowledge of poetic form and tradition.<br />
- Develop your understanding of poetic structure.<br />
- Write first draft poetry from the provided information and exercises.This is an introductory course. Students will need to be able to write in fluent English.A mix of tutor instruction, pair work and interactive writing exercises and discussion of published texts. <br />
<br />
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.<br />
<br />
For classes longer than one day, regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.<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>.No extra costs - bring pen and paper.Visit Writing > Poetry on our website to browse our full range of beginners', intermediate and advanced poetry writing classes.<br />
<br />
All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank">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" target="_blank">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" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href=" https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.PoetryPoetryvirtual2622165Writing poetry: getting started7979https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_poetry_getting_started-square_6.jpgInStockDaytimeSatKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-06-13T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersJun 2026WritingHW3327979Writing poetry: getting started794079Alice Frecknallwriting-poetry-getting-started/hw332-2526This short, fun workshop is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.0000-Available|2026-06-13 00:00:00This fun workshop is an introductory course designed to support learners in exploring the form, language and structure of poetry.This short, fun workshop is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.- Popular poetic forms: acrostic, concrete and free verse.<br/>- Structuring your poem through rhyme and rhythm.<br/>- Finding poetic stimuli.<br/>- Alternative poetic traditions.- Develop your knowledge of poetic form and tradition.<br/>- Develop your understanding of poetic structure.<br/>- Write first draft poetry from the provided information and exercises.This is an introductory course. Students will need to be able to write in fluent English.A mix of tutor instruction, pair work and interactive writing exercises and discussion of published texts. <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>.No extra costs - bring pen and paper.Visit Writing > Poetry on our website to browse our full range of beginners', intermediate and advanced poetry writing classes.<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>.PoetryPoetryvirtual797940HW554,HW332NONESat07/02/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:301 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekendKSKeeley StreetBillie Manning,Alice FrecknallBeginnersAvailable courses2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00,2026-06-13T00:00:00+00:00Feb 2026,Jun 2026Writing7979Writing poetry: getting startedwriting-poetry-getting-started/hw554-2526,writing-poetry-getting-started/hw332-2526This short, fun taster course is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.,This short, fun workshop is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.0000-Available|2026-02-07 00:00:00This is a fun introductory course designed to support learners in exploring the form, language and structure of poetry.,This fun workshop is an introductory course designed to support learners in exploring the form, language and structure of poetry.This short, fun taster course is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.,This short, fun workshop is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.- Popular poetic forms: acrostic, concrete and free verse.<br />
- Structuring your poem through rhyme and rhythm.<br />
- Finding poetic stimuli.<br />
- Alternative poetic traditions.,- Popular poetic forms: acrostic, concrete and free verse.<br/>- Structuring your poem through rhyme and rhythm.<br/>- Finding poetic stimuli.<br/>- Alternative poetic traditions.- Develop your knowledge of poetic form and tradition.<br />
- Develop your understanding of poetic structure.<br />
- Write first draft poetry from the provided information and exercises.,- Develop your knowledge of poetic form and tradition.<br/>- Develop your understanding of poetic structure.<br/>- Write first draft poetry from the provided information and exercises.This is an introductory course. Students will need to be able to write in fluent English.A mix of tutor instruction, pair work and interactive writing exercises and discussion of published texts. <br />
<br />
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.<br />
<br />
For classes longer than one day, regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.<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>.,A mix of tutor instruction, pair work and interactive writing exercises and discussion of published texts. <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>.No extra costs - bring pen and paper.Visit Writing > Poetry on our website to browse our full range of beginners', intermediate and advanced poetry writing classes.<br />
<br />
All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank">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" target="_blank">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" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href=" https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.,Visit Writing &gt; Poetry on our website to browse our full range of beginners', intermediate and advanced poetry writing classes.<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
