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All of our Blog Posts

CLIMATE POETRY: John Whale and Lone Sorenson, ‘Jizz’
Poets have long used their craft to reframe issues, convey emotion and share ideas, and climate change is an increasing feature of poetry shared across the world. To mark the launch of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures last year, our partners, the University of Leeds Poetry Centre, paired University of Leeds poets with Priestley Centre climate…
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How Cinema Can Improve Your Writing
In this series, we interview our tutors about poetry and its place in their world. These interviews will cover creative writing tips, excelling in a poetry workshop, building a literary career, and finding your poetic voice. Here’s Simon Barraclough on how cinema can inspire and improve your writing. Simon will be teaching Jaws at 50…
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🖋️ One-Day Poetry Workshops: Boost Your Creativity & Voice
Looking for an affordable, high-impact way to deepen your poetry practice?Our one-day poetry workshops are perfect for writers seeking inspiration, creative breakthroughs, and new tools – all without the commitment of a long course. Whether you’re battling writer’s block, exploring performance, or diving into pop culture through poetry these short courses offer expert teaching, fresh…
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MA in Writing Poetry Alumni Profiles
Meet our MA in Writing Poetry Graduates, hear their stories and check out their achievements. Kevin Scully MA, Class of 2024 Why and when did you start writing poetry?As a child. I think my first poem was published (with payment) at the age of eight or nine! It’s been with me on and off ever…
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How to Improve Your Poetry: Writer’s Block
In this series, we interview our tutors about poetry and its place in their world. These interviews will cover creative writing tips, excelling in a poetry workshop, building a literary career, and finding your poetic voice. Here’s Yanita Georgieva on how to deal with writer’s block. For any writer, there are two terrible states of…
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Sensorial Poetry: Exploring Voice, Performance & the Body
Ready to take your poetry off the page and onto the stage? Our Sensorial Poetry workshops are designed for performance poets, spoken word artists, and experimental writers who want to explore the physical and vocal aspects of poetry. These courses are perfect for those seeking to connect deeply with their audience through the power of…
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‘On the cusp of daydream’; Roshni Gallagher reviews ‘Collected Poems’ by Mimi Khalvati
Roshni Gallagher Explores Light, Love, Language and the Self in Collected Poems by Mimi Khalvati. Mimi Khalvati is a poet of light, love, absence, and the many facets of self. Her various collections span from In White Ink, published by Carcanet in 1991, to her 2019 collection Afterwardness. The publication of this Collected Poems comes…
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How to Write Poetry: Can Poetry Help Us Explore Queerness?
In this series, we interview our tutors about poetry and its place in their world. These interviews will cover creative writing tips, excelling in a poetry workshop, building a literary career, and finding your poetic voice. Here’s Kat Dixon on how poetry can help us explore queerness. Kat will be running her course Queer Objects:…
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Master Your Poetry: Advanced Writing Workshops
Ready to take your poetry to the next level? Our Master Your Poetry workshops are designed for experienced poets who are looking to refine their craft and push the boundaries of their writing. With a focus on advanced skills and personalised feedback, these workshops provide a unique opportunity to work closely with experienced instructors who…
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Poetry in Motion: Writing with Playfulness & Flexibility
For poets who love to experiment with form, play with poetic structures, and push creative boundaries, our Poetry in Motion courses will introduce you to new methods, experimental techniques, and fresh approaches to modern poetry. These workshops are perfect for poets who want to embrace flexibility, challenge traditional forms, and have fun with their writing. …
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How to Improve Your Poetry: Poetry as a Revolution of Language
In this series, we interview our tutors about poetry and its place in their world. These interviews will cover creative writing tips, excelling in a poetry workshop, building a literary career, and finding your poetic voice. Here’s Rebecca Levi on poetry as a revolution of language. Rebecca is running The Poetics of Latin American Resistance:…
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Advanced Poetry: Elevate Your Craft
For advanced poets looking to refine their skills and learn from leading guest tutors, our Advanced Poetry Masterclasses offer an unparalleled opportunity to engage with expert voices, explore new poetic territories, and deepen your craft. These workshops will push the boundaries of technique, poetic form, and lyrical expression. Mayonnaise & the Sublime Masterclass – Agnieszka…
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Poetry for Everyone: Your First Steps into Writing
Our Poetry for Everyone workshops are designed for new poets, casual writers, and creative hobbyists who are just starting to explore the world of writing. With a focus on beginner-friendly techniques, you’ll learn the basics of poetic forms, how to experiment with different styles, and how to express your thoughts and feelings through the art…
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Poetry Craft: What is a Golden Shovel?
As part of our Poetry Craft series, Catherine Smith discusses how to write a Golden Shovel poem. Can you explain what a Golden Shovel poem is? The ‘Golden Shovel’ is a poetic form, where the poet chooses a line from an existing poem and uses each word from that line as the last word of…
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Stealing Fire: Learning from Female Poets
Ready to explore the transformative power of female poets? Our Stealing Fire workshops are designed for those inspired by feminist literature and the powerful voices of women in poetry. These workshops will guide you to understand the rich legacy of female voices. A focus on feminist and influential poets. Offering tools to sharpen your own…
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CLIMATE POETRY: Blaise Sales and Jasper Rees, ‘Heat Stressed Moth’
A collaboration between the University of Leeds Poetry Centre and the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures
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Break the Rules: Experimental & Playful Poetry
For young creatives, literary rebels, and experimental poets, these workshops challenge you to push the boundaries of poetry, embrace unconventional techniques, and play with form in exciting new ways. Ideal for experienced poets and alternative thinkers who are ready to break the rules and redefine poetry itself. Poems After Poems: Writing Ars Poetica – Leah…
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CLIMATE POETRY: Simon Armitage, ‘The Summit’
A collaboration between the University of Leeds Poetry Centre and the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures.
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Poetry for Change & Personal Growth: Writing in Crisis & Finding Your Voice
Poetry has the power to heal, resist, and transform. Whether you’re writing to navigate personal challenges, address global crises, or find an expressive outlet, our workshops provide the space, support, and expert guidance to help you craft the best poetic response. Lighting the World: Writing in Times of Crisis – Shazea Quraishi Explore how poetry…
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How to: Get your Poetry Published
In this series, we interview our tutors about poetry and its place in their world. These interviews will cover creative writing tips, excelling in a poetry workshop, building a literary career, and finding your poetic voice. Here’s James Byrne on getting your poetry published. 1. How did you go about getting your first poem/pamphlet/collection published?…
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How to Write Poetry: A Guide to Translation and Transformation
In this series, we explore different ways write poetry, if you’re looking for tips on how to start writing poetry as a beginner, see this blog ‘How to: Poetry Writing Tips for Beginners’. Here’s Carmen Bugan discussing the idea of poetry as translation and transformation. 1. Let’s start with Desert Island Poems. Can you name…
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Freedom in Form: Challenge Your Poetry Boundaries
Are you ready to break free from traditional structures and explore the possibilities of poetry? Our Freedom in Form workshops are designed for poets who want to experiment, challenge conventions, and embrace forms of expression. This is your chance to redefine your creative process and take bold steps in your creative practice. With a focus…
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Unsticking a Stuck Poet: Overcoming Writer’s Block
Feeling stuck? Our Unsticking a Stuck Poet workshops are designed for writers in need of fresh inspiration. These workshops provide practical strategies, prompts, and exercises to help you get back into your writing flow. Whether you’re looking for ways to break through mental barriers or just need a little guidance to get started, these courses…
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Food, Family & Poetry: Writing Memory Through the Senses
Ready to explore the power of memory and sensory writing? Our Food, Family & Poetry workshops are designed for poets looking to connect deeply with history, storytelling and memory, exploring how the senses shape the stories we tell. COURSES: Around the Table: Writing about Food & Family with Romalyn Ante Explore how food and family…
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Vanessa Kisuule on the Southbank Centre’s New Poets Collective
For the second year running, The Poetry School have invited this year’s New Poets Collective to run a series of exciting courses with us. We’ve been chatting to Vanessa Kisuule, poet, performer, and lead tutor for the Collective, about the exciting scheme and what she looks for in applications. Read Vanessa’s thoughts below and check…
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