Digging Deeper with the Golden Shovel Studio
A new tool for a very fresh form – get to grips with the golden shovel!
The ‘Golden Shovel’ – an innovative poetic form, where a line from another poem provides the end words for each line in a newly constructed poem – was invented by Terrence Hayes, in tribute to the work of Gwendolyn Brooks. Described by Ravi Shankar as ‘the 21st Century Sonnet’, it’s a wonderfully flexible, surprising way of writing, often freeing writers from ‘the terror of the blank page’. It can facilitate a radical re-thinking of meaning, subject and tone, allowing for a really imaginative ‘deep dive’ and has already yielded many extraordinary and memorable poems. It’s also a really ‘user friendly’ form; anyone, at whatever stage of their creative journey, can try it, and learn more about themselves as a writer.
On this course, we’ll explore examples of this form, from, among others, Kim Addonizio, Liz Lochhead, Jackie Wills, Rita Dove, Roger Robinson, Fiona Sampson, Mona Arshi, Jacob Polley, Malika Booker, Raymond Antrobus and Blake Morrison. We’ll write our own ‘Golden Shovel’ poems, using lines from a variety of pre-existing sources, including poems, lines of literary prose, guidebooks, manuals, dictionaries…
We’ll challenge ourselves to let go of pre-existing notions of what our poems ‘should’ be about, allowing our deep imaginations to play, and to startle and challenge us. By the course’s conclusion, we’ll have generated new poems, incorporating this terrific poetic form into our ‘toolkit’ for generating new work.
Studios are 4-week intensive courses. Reading material will be distributed before the course begins. There are no live chats so they are suitable for both UK & International students.
Concessions & Accessibility
To apply for a concessionary rate, please send relevant documentation showing your eligibility for one of our concessions to [email protected]; conditions of eligibility are detailed here. If you have any questions, wish to be added to the waiting list of a sold-out course, or require any form of adjustment to access our courses, please email [email protected]. For more information visit our Online Courses page.
Image credit: @aditya_sethia_97
About Catherine Smith 
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Catherine Smith has published two pamphlets (The New Bride and The New Cockaigne) and three full collections of poetry, The Butcher’s Hands, Lip, and Otherwhere. Twice shortlisted for Forward Prizes and once for the Aldeburgh/Jerwood First Collection Prize, she was selected as one of ‘the twenty most exhilarating poets of her generation’ in the PBS/Arts Council ‘Next Generation’ promotion, and also one of Mslexia’s Top Ten Women Poets. She co-adapted her pamphlet-length supernatural narrative poem, The New Cockaigne, for a Live Literature show. She has performed her poetry at The Royal Festival Hall, and Latitude and Port Eliot Festival. Her poetry for adults and for children is widely anthologised. She has taught poetry for adults, teenagers and children for over 20 years and many of her students are now published poets.
"Poetry School helps me broaden my vocabulary, gives me inspiration to expand my writing and meet new people online. ."
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