What the poem wants: drafting and editing workshop

What is the course about?

Thinking about poems. Playing with poems. Experimenting with your poetry. Writing and standing back from what you have written to try and catch what it has become. Standing back from personal intention and investment in the poem to think what it, rather than you, might want.

What will we cover?

- We will look at and discuss a small range of published poems, and use that experience to generate new work.
- You will be workshopping poems.
- You will be encouraged to take an open-minded, open-hearted approach to your own and others’ work.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Have written some new poems.
- Have explored what it means for a poem to find itself.
- Participate more confidently in a poetry workshop.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

Some experience of reading and writing poetry will be useful.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

In-class exercises, small group discussion, tutor-led discussion, workshop readings and discussion. Out of class, when possible, you will be expected to work up something generated from that day’s work. There will be optional homework for students who are able to make time to extend their learning.

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?

Paper and pen/pencil.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Experienced poets may want to consider our intermediate-level 'Developing your poetry' course, or 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.