Poetry Articles

Poetry as Practice: Ritual, Care, & Craft 

Poetry is more than art—it’s a practice of presence, healing, and deep attention. These courses explore poetry as a lived experience: a ritual, a response to crisis, a means of caring for self and others, and a space to reflect, remember, and restore.  Whether you’re navigating grief, exploring care ethics, or weaving poetic ritual into…

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Form, Freedom, & Falling Leaves

Master the art of poetry this Autumn 2025. Explore sonnets, structured forms, advanced workshops, and peer feedback in expert-led online courses. Autumn is a season of structure and study. As the days shorten and routines return, it’s the perfect time to deepen your poetic practice. Whether you’re new to form or ready to refine your…

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How to: Write About Climate Crisis

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 Elizabeth Torres (Madam Neverstop) on how to write about climate crisis. How do you see poetry’s role in…

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We’re Hiring! – Artistic Director & Joint CEO (Maternity Cover)

The Poetry School are looking to hire an Artistic Director & Joint CEO for maternity cover to join our friendly team for a 12-month period. Artistic Director & Joint CEO (Maternity Cover) Fixed term, 12 months, Part-time – 3 or 3.5 days. £60,000 – £65,000 per annum full-time equivalent (FTE) pro-rata for 3 or 3.5…

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Beyond Representation: Supporting Global Majority Writers in a Demanding Literary Landscape

As part of our Poetry Craft series, Louisa Adjoa Parker discusses how to support global majority writers in a demanding literary landscape through poetry. What are some craft strategies you use to elevate personal or political content into work that also speaks artistically or universally? I am very much what I describe as an ‘intuitive…

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CLIMATE POETRY: Kate Simpson and James Ford, ‘Adaptation Gap’

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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Global Poetics: Transreading, Translation & the World in Verse 

Poetry is borderless. Language flows across landscapes, cultures, and histories – and these courses celebrate that flow. From ekphrasis and multilingual writing to translation as transformation, these courses invite you to write beyond the boundaries of nation, genre, and tongue.  Whether you’re translating visual art, echoing ancestral voices, or remixing texts from other cultures, these…

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How to: Deal With Rejection

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 Rachel Bower on how to deal with rejection. Can you share an experience where you faced rejection of…

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Writing Through the Turning Year: Seasonal Poetry Courses for Autumn and Beyond

Writing Through the Turning Year: Seasonal Poetry Courses for Autumn and Beyond 

As the light wanes and the air grows crisp, now is the time to reflect, regenerate, and root down into poetic practice. Whether you’re seeking mythic inspiration, ecological insight, or a shift in creative energy, these autumn-ready poetry courses will ignite your imagination and carry you into the darker months with purpose.  These seasonal poetry…

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How to: Feedback, Originality, & Ownership in Poetry Workshops with Matthew Caley (part 2)

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 part 2 of Matthew Caley discussing feedback, originality & ownership in workshops. You can read part 1 of…

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How to: 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 Leah Umansky on how to improve your writing. What habits or routines do you recommend for poets who…

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How to Improve Your Poetry: Writing about Good Things: Delight, Joy, Happiness

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 Ellene Glenn Moore on writing about delight, joy and happiness. Why is there so much poetry about misery…

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How to: Write a Sonnet

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 Davies on how to write a sonnet. To write a sonnet, start with a clear theme or…

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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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MA in Writing Poetry Alumni Profiles

Meet our MA in Writing Poetry Graduates, hear their stories and check out their achievements. Applications for the MA in Writing Poetry are currently open (very limited places still available). Please visit the accrediting university, Newcastle’s admissions page for details here. Annabelle Markwick-Staff MA, Class of 2022 What sort of subjects inspire your poetry?I write…

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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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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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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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