Pathways through Poetry: Module 1

A blank page – do or don't? The first module in our new Pathways Through Poetry series. Jump in and we'll guide you through the journey to poetic success!

* This course will take place on the video-conferencing platform ZOOM * 

In Pathways 1, you will experience discussion and practice about poetic first principles – great for those just starting to devote themselves to writing poetry, or those wanting to refresh their essential skills and understanding. Beginning with tips on how to overcome the blank page and how to kickstart (or restart) your writing through processes like journaling and free writing (this might be part of your writing practice already, if so, great!) – but where to go with the ‘raw’ generated material from there? How does one mine for the ‘gold’ that might be made into a poem? Once you have the idea, the feeling, you’re already halfway there…

Pathways 1 will help you explore much of the ‘second half’; the foundational conundrums of poetry, including how to navigate the black type and the white page and how to shape the poem (form, enjambment/line breaks). You’ll explore sensory description, concrete images over abstract terms, and cliché; its limitations, and how to “Make it new” (Ezra Pound). You’ll learn how to prioritize the image, and how to tell your stories/memories/peak experiences “slant” (Emily Dickinson). You’ll explore an array of brilliant texts/existing poems that will help guide you through. Over the ten weeks, you will also learn the ‘etiquette’ and importance of critiquing your own and other’s work (and may even begin to enjoy it!

By the end of completing Pathways 1, you will have a basic understanding of some of the key principles of poetry, experience of ordering text into poetic shapes and forms, have a strong foundational knowledge of how to write and structure a poem, and how to critique one. By week 10, you should feel confident and comfortable enough to move onto Pathways 2, should you want to.

10 weekly Zoom sessions on Wednesdays, 6.30–8.30pm (GMT), starts 20 January 2026.

Pathways Through Poetry is a new Poetry School programme, aimed at increasing access to the poetry world and to give students a thorough grounding in the craft of writing poetry. The programme runs over 2 years and comprises 6 x termly modules of 10 sessions, each with a different focus and curriculum. Each module is taught by a different tutor, meaning that over the full programme, students will work with 6 different tutors, creating a dynamic and lively learning experience, as well as exposing participants to a wide range of current poetry professionals. The course content was devised in 2025 in consultation with a poetry dream team: Helen Mort, Rachel Long, and Matthew Caley. This is the first Module of the Pathways Through Poetry programme and next modules will be published in subsequent terms.

Concessions & Accessibility

To apply for a concession 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 or wish to be added to the waiting list of a sold-out course, please email [email protected].

What to Expect

Please check the left hand side of this page for information on how this course works in practice, under the heading ‘Course Style‘. If you’re unsure as to what any of the terms there mean, or if this course is a good fit for you, please visit our What to Expect page which includes some further information on how our courses function.

Image credit: @solenfeyissa

Related Courses

• Beginners’ Workshop Group
• Poetic Forms for Beginners
• Friday Workshop with Natasha Hakimi Zapata