Poetry Courses for Beginners
Express yourself through the power of words with City Lit’s beginner-friendly poetry writing courses. Whether you want to explore free verse, rhyme, or traditional forms, our expert tutors will help you develop your voice and refine your craft.
Learn how to play with language, create vivid imagery, and shape your ideas into compelling poems. Through practical exercises and supportive feedback, you’ll experiment with different poetic techniques and gain confidence in your writing.
Designed for beginners, these courses are perfect if you’re new to poetry or looking to develop a regular writing practice in a welcoming and inspiring environment. Join a community of poets and start crafting powerful, original work today.
Explore our beginner poetry writing courses and find your creative rhythm.
- Ways into poetry: intensive
Course start date: Mon 14 Jul 2025 (and 5 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alice FrecknallAre you just starting to write poetry? This shorter version of our introductory Ways into poetry course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Writing poetry: getting started Course start date: Sat 7 Feb 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Billie ManningThis 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.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Ways into poetry: a gentle paceCourse start date: Thu 12 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeAre you brand new to writing poetry? Do you want to build your confidence in a supportive environment alongside other beginners in the craft? This gentle short course guides students taking their first steps on the path to becoming a poet.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Writing black out poetryCourse start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah WestcottSometimes a poem is shaped by stripping words away. This fun day workshop explores the emerging form of black out poetry. Learn how to find hidden poems in texts such as newspaper articles, advertisements and letters. - Performance poetry Course start date: Sat 21 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Megan BeechWrite poetry and perform it, finding your own style and delivery under the guidance of a spoken word artist. Explore the differences between performance and other forms of poetry.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Writing eco-poetry Course start date: Sat 28 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah WestcottHow might poets write about the natural world today, and what is an eco-poem?Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Poetry and the moving image Course start date: Sun 3 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie IrigarayBoth film and poetry explore imagery and have the capacity to capture and expand a single moment in time. On this fun short course you will learn how write poems inspired by the world of film and cinema.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Micropoetry: small poems, big ideas Course start date: Fri 8 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Suzannah V. EvansExplore the emerging art form of micropoetry in this fun but informative day workshop. Compose your own poetry and learn how to make every word on the page count. - Writing haiku poetry Course start date: Sat 9 Aug 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pearl MayLearn how to write haikus that resonate, move and entertain on this fun day workshop.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Poetry: a taster Course start date: Sat 13 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie IrigarayThis short, fun workshop is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to poetry. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Ways into poetryCourse start date: Sat 4 Oct 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Cecilia KnappCome and revel in the possibilities of expression and form offered by poems across time, guided by lively group discussion and tutor expertise.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Performance poetry: getting startedCourse start date: Sat 14 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Megan BeechWrite poetry and perform it, finding your own style and delivery under the guidance of a spoken word artist. Explore the differences between performance and other forms of poetry.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
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