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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.
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?
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).
Suzannah V. EvansSee moreSee less
Dr. Suzannah V. Evans is a poet, researcher, and educator. Her debut full poetry collection is Under the Blue (Bloomsbury Poetry, September 2025). She is the author of Brightwork and Marine Objects / Some Language, and the editor of All Keyboards are Legitimate: Versions of Jules Laforgue (Guillemot Press). A chapter of her work appears in Carcanet’s anthology New Poetries VIII. Her poetry has been awarded the Ivan Juritz Prize for Creative Experiment and a Northern Writers’ Award, performed at international festivals, and broadcast on BBC Radio. She holds an AHRC-funded PhD in modern poetry from Durham University, and has taught literature and creative writing widely in higher and adult education. https://suzannahvevans.com/
Cecilia KnappSee moreSee less
Cecilia Knapp is a poet and novelist and the Young People’s Laureate for London 2020/2021. She was shortlisted for the 2022 Forward prize for best single poem. She is the winner of the 2021 Ruth Rendell award and has been shortlisted for both the Rebecca Swift Women’s prize and the Outspoken poetry prize. Her debut poetry collection Peach Pig was published by Corsair in 2022 and was the Observer’s poetry book of the month for October. Her poems have appeared in The Financial Times, Granta, The White Review, Wasafiri, Popshot, Ambit, Magma and bath magg and anthologised. She curated the anthology Everything is Going to be alright: Poems for When you Really Need Them, published by Trapeze in 2021. Her debut novel Little Boxes is published by The Borough Press (Harper Collins.) In 2023, Little Boxes was longlisted for The Authors Club Best First Novel Award.
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.
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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/Culture, history & humanities/Writing/Poetry/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Poetry Writing/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Poetry2285159020362018135811360212285117712051653201813581For 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>74.71188604Developing your poetry259259https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/d/e/developing_your_poetry2-square_4.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2025-09-23T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceSep 2025WritingHW581259259Developing your poetry259130259Christina Dunhilldeveloping-your-poetry/hw581-2526For 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|2025-09-23 00:00:00virtual1188427Developing your poetry259259https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/d/e/developing_your_poetry2-square_5.jpgInStockEveningThuKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2025-09-25T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceSep 2025WritingHW112259259Developing your poetry259130259Suzannah V. Evansdeveloping-your-poetry/hw112-2526For 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|2025-09-25 00:00:00virtual1188439Developing your poetry259259https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/d/e/developing_your_poetry2-square_7.jpgInStockEveningThuKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-01-15T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceJan 2026WritingHW113259259Developing your poetry259130259Cecilia Knappdeveloping-your-poetry/hw113-2526For 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|2026-01-15 00:00:00virtual1188559Developing your poetry259259https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/d/e/developing_your_poetry2-square_6.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-01-13T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceJan 2026WritingHW425259259Developing your poetry259130259Christina Dunhilldeveloping-your-poetry/hw425-2526For 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|2026-01-13 00:00:00virtual2539741Developing 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 poetry259130259Cecilia Knappdeveloping-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 00:00:00virtual2539744Developing 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 00:00:00virtual259259130HW581,HW112,HW113,HW425,HW114,HW550NONETue,Thu23/09/25 - 02/12/2517:30 - 19:3017:3019:3011 sessions (over 11 weeks)1111 weeks or longerWeekdayOnlineOnline,Keeley StreetChristina Dunhill,Suzannah V. Evans,Cecilia KnappSome experienceAvailable courses2025-09-23T00:00:00+00:00,2025-09-25T00:00:00+00:00,2026-01-15T00:00:00+00:00,2026-01-13T00:00:00+00:00,2026-04-23T00:00:00+00:00,2026-04-21T00:00:00+00:00EveningSep 2025,Jan 2026,Apr 2026Writing259259Developing your poetrydeveloping-your-poetry/hw581-2526,developing-your-poetry/hw112-2526,developing-your-poetry/hw113-2526,developing-your-poetry/hw425-2526,developing-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|2025-09-23 00:00:00configurable
15901205Poetryhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/history-culture-and-writing/writing/poetry1/2/285/1177/1205/1590/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Writing/Poetry
