Welcoming new and experienced poets, this popular course will appeal to those keen to develop their poetry within a supportive, homely environment. A blend of writing workshops, readings and tutorials will focus on the creative choices we make as poets.
We’ll explore the craft and mystery of poetry, its many devices: image, metre, rhyme, lineation … how both traditional forms and free verse can enrichen a poet’s voice. We’ll also look at the common ground of poem and song lyric. Using a range of poetic voices and themes as stimulus, we’ll write out of memory and from close observation. And as the week generates new work, one-to-one tutorials will include advice on drafting your poems.
‘Writing Poetry’ offers precious time and space to extend the range of your poetry in a relaxed atmosphere and in the company of fellow poets. Bring along some favourite poems, to share during the week.
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Tutor: Paul Henry – Poet/Songwriter Paul Henry is a poet and songwriter. Since receiving an Eric Gregory Award he’s published eight collections of poetry, all with Seren. The Brittle Sea: New & Selected Poems, from the same publisher, appeared in India as The Black Guitar. His work has been widely anthologised and translated. A popular Creative Writing tutor, Paul has worked with many poets who’ve progressed to publication. Described by U.A. Fanthorpe as “a poet’s poet”, he’s read and performed his work at festivals in Europe, the USA and Asia. He’s also presented programmes for BBC Radio Wales, Radio 3 and Radio 4. His recent collection, The Glass Aisle, led to a musical collaboration with Stornoway’s Brian Briggs which toured UK festivals. Originally from Aberystwyth, Paul has guest-edited Poetry Wales. His latest collection, As if to Sing, was published by Seren in 2022 and in 2023 this won Literature Wales’ prestigious Poetry Award of Wales Book of the Year . “One of the best lyric poets currently writing.” – Hugo Williams “Henry is working at the core of lyric poetry, with love and loss and the ‘deeper river’.” – The Poetry Review Photo: Zed Nelson |
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Guest, Thursday evening: Maura Dooley – poet Maura Dooley’s most recent collection of poetry is Five Fifty-Five (Bloodaxe, 2023). She has been short-listed three times for the TSEliot Award and also for the Forward Single Poem Award. With Elhum Shakerifar she published translations of verse by the Iranian poet Azita Ghahreman, Negative of a Group Photograph (Bloodaxe/PTC) which received a PEN award and was shortlisted for the Warwick Women in Translation Prize. She has edited anthologies, programmed literature festivals and received an Eric Gregory Award and a Cholmondley Award for her poetry. Maura Dooley is Professor Emerita at Goldsmiths, University of London. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. |
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| PRICES |
Fee includes all day and evening tutored workshop sessions, individual tutorials, tutor and guest readings, accommodation, inc. sheets and towels and all meals (not including alcohol). Single – En-suite room £1,115 |
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| TO BOOK |
£200 deposit payable on booking by bank transfer, PayPal or cheque, to secure place. Balance due six weeks before the start of the course. Please see Terms and Conditions. |
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| STRUCTURE OF THE WEEK | See Structure of the Week (tab above) | |||||
| WHAT TO BRING |
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| START TIME |
Please arrive between 3:00pm and 4:30pm on Monday 2nd June 2025 Tea, cake and housekeeping information 4.30pm Introductory Workshop 5.30 – 6.30pm Dinner 7.00pm |
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| END TIME |
After breakfast, 10:00am on Saturday 7th June 2025 |
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| LOCATION | The Garsdale Retreat, Clough View, Garsdale Head, Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5PW Nearest railway station: Garsdale, on the Leeds – Carlisle line. For directions, see Find Us section on the Contact page. |
All courses start on Monday afternoon.
Arrival time 3.00 – 4.00pm.
4.30pm: Housekeeping/Course information with tea and cake
5.30 – 6.30pm: Introductory workshop
7.00pm: Dinner
All courses end after breakfast on Saturday (10.00am).
Course Structure Tuesday – Friday
8.00 – 9.00am: Breakfast
9.30 – 11.00am: First workshop – Participants explore particular aspects of poetry and take part in writing exercises to further their understanding and expertise. All participants have opportunities to share their work with the tutor and fellow writers in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment in which individual work is respected and confidence developed.
11.00 – 11.30am: Coffee break
11.30am – 1.00pm: Second workshop
1.00pm Lunch. After lunch, participants are free to do whatever they like, such as: relax, go for walks, read or work on individual writing projects.
4.30pm: Tea and cake
5.30 – 6.30pm: Third workshop
7.00pm: Dinner
All participants on a course have one individual tutorial of 30 minutes with the tutor in the course of the week. These will take place in the afternoons.Each evening, at 8.30pm, there is an after-dinner event:
Tuesday – the tutor will read from their work.
Wednesday – reading from a guest writer.
Thursday – poetry/music performance from Hamish and Rebecca.
Friday – a shared reading of the ‘work-in-progress’ anthology produced during the week.
