About the course
Across four online sessions, we’ll explore the fuzzy boundaries between the categories of ‘prose’ and ‘poetry’, investigating what makes something ‘poetic’ or ‘lyric’. We’ll look at prose poems and lyric essays, unpacking what makes them tick and writing our own. We’ll do the same with Zuihitsu, a hybrid form with its origins in 10th century Japan that ‘incorporates non-fiction, musings and confessions, poetry, and miscellany to create a spontaneous, layered text’ (Poetry Foundation) and which can offer another lens on these forms.
After the four sessions, you’ll have more confidence playing with these forms, writing in a way that resists categorisation, and have a better sense of the tools at your disposal to write prose, poetry and all in between. This series is aimed primarily at those with a little experience in poetry, but all are welcome.
About the tutor
Helen Bowell is a poet, producer and editor. Her debut pamphlet The Barman (Bad Betty Press, 2022) was a Poetry Book Society Choice. Her poems, reviews and translations have been published in bath magg, Poetry London, The Poetry Review, Poetry Wales and elsewhere. She co-directs Dead [Women] Poets Society, which resurrects women poets through events and online, and co-guest-edited Modern Poetry in Translation. Helen ran Bi+ Lines, a project for bi+ poets, and edited the first anthology of bi+ poets (fourteen poems, 2023). She produced the Poetry Translation Centre’s 20th birthday programme of events in 2024.
Who is it for?
All underrepresented writers—those who face barriers to opportunities due to mental health issues, physical health/disability, sensory impairment, learning disabilities, neurodivergencce, substance misuse, survivors, working class backgrounds, and those from the LGBTQIA+ community, Black, Asian, traveler, mixed heritage or other global majority backgrounds.
Dates & Time:
Wednesdays: 28 May and 4, 11, 18 June
7-9 pm
This course takes place online via Zoom. Links will be sent seven days prior to the first session, and again the day of the first session.
Access:
You can see our full access commitments here. Please add any additional requirements when booking.
Cost:
£50 / £25 concessions
In order to make our resources stretch further, we have to subsidise some workshops with nominal fees well below most online courses. The more who book at full price, the more we’ll be able to offer.
Concessionary places are available for those on benefits, pensioners, unemployed/underemployed or on low wages. We do not ask for proof that you qualify.
If concessionary spaces are unavailable and/or the course is fully booked, we can add you to the waiting list if you e-mail info@creativefuture.org.uk.
Other workshops
We are offering as many workshops and as many places as our resources allow—they are heavily subsidised by our limited funding.
You might also want to have a look at other workshops on offer elsewhere.
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