Whether you’re new to poetry or have been writing for many years, this course aims to help you develop your skills within a safe and supportive environment.
A blend of workshops, readings and tutorials will explore the craft and mystery of poetry, its many devices: image, metre, rhyme, lineation … and how an awareness of both traditional forms and free verse can influence the choices we make as a poem evolves.
Drawing upon a variety of poetic voices and themes, we’ll write out of memory and from close observation. We’ll also explore what poets can learn from songwriters, in terms of musicality and memorability. As the week generates the beginnings of new poems, a one-to-one tutorial will include advice on drafting your work.
‘Writing Poetry’ offers a chance to extend the range of your voice in the supportive company of fellow poets.
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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 nine collections of poetry, all with Seren, including As if to Sing which won the 2023 Wales Book of the Year Poetry Award . 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 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. A new book, Away the Land’s Hold, appears in April, 2027. “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 “Paul Henry has much of his compatriot R.S.Thomas’s gift, in that poet’s later work, for terse, coolly forthright insightfulness.” – The TLS Photo: Zed Nelson |
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Wednesday Evening Guest Reader: Michael Laskey – poet Michael Laskey co-founded and directed the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival through its first decade. He also co-edited fifty issues of the poetry magazine Smiths Knoll. Shortlisted for the T S Eliot Prize and twice PBS recommended, he has published six collections and his Collected Poems was published in 2026 by Smith/Doorstop. In 2015, he was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Contemporary Poetry and in 2025 was awarded the King’s Medal for poetry. ‘Michael Laskey is one of England’s finest poets you’ve probably never heard of.’ (Stephen Fry) |
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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 £1,205 |
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| TO BOOK |
£250 deposit payable on booking by bank transfer, PayPal, credit card 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 4:00pm on Monday 12th July 2027 Tea, cake and housekeeping information 4.30pm Introductory Workshop 5.30 – 6.30pm |
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| END TIME |
After breakfast, 10:00am on Saturday 17th July 2027 |
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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.
3.00 – 4.00pm: Arrival time
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 – c.9.30pm, 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.
