Imagine...
The enjoyment you will have as your collection of poetry grows.
The sense of achievement as you complete poem after poem.
The thrill of writing poems using new forms and themes.
The pride as you hold your book in your hands.
The joy of signing copies at your book launch.
The joy of reading your poems aloud to an audience.
Get your words into the world
It took me six years to write my first book, mostly because I was working it all out on my own. Two poetry collections later, I’ve built the course I wish I’d had: a clear path from your first idea to a finished collection, with me beside you all the way.
What you get for £295
✓ 26 sessions, one in your inbox every other Monday, to work through whenever it suits you
✓ Two 30-minute one-to-one sessions with me by video call
✓ A full poetry collection, written across a wide range of forms and inspirations, plus guidance on getting published
✓ A 14-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked
✓ One payment of £295 – about £11 per session
How this course will support you
This course will support you from the first to the last word of each of your poems, whilst nurturing your talent as a poet.
You will start by exploring the experiences you can bring to your writing, and then I support you to investigate a variety of poetic forms and respond to lots of different inspirations as you produce your own collection.
The path I'll take you on ensures you won't just wander, you'll know exactly where you're going.
What other writers have said
“I’m halfway through this inspirational and encouraging course. Each session brings something new to get me thinking and working creatively with words. I love finding out about different ways to use rhyme and structure in a poem. I’m writing in ways that I would never have known about before. I’m so glad I found it!"
Mary, Leeds
“This is a clear and flexible programme offering an introduction to writing poetry in its diverse forms. It develops skill as a poet and shows not only how to write but how to present work professionally.
It also offers a range of tools and techniques for use in our own poetry. I am looking forward immensely to the rest of the course.”
J Wickes, Leeds
“The regular sessions have helped me become more disciplined as a writer. I now have a full collection written and am ready to start submitting to publishers.
It has been a brilliant course overall, well-structured and truly inspirational. Thanks!"
Judith, Otley
What you will learn
Part One (10 sessions)
Looking at other poets and theory in relation to form, structure and content.
Drafting your poems in a variety of forms using lots of inspirations.
Deciding on a theme and gathering material.
1. Generating ideas for collection and fleshing it out
2. The vital ingredients of a poem and poetry collection
3. Rhythm and rhyme
4. Form - sonnet, tanka, haiku
5. Free verse
6. Form - Terza Rima
7. Form - Villanelle
8. Using art as an inspiration
9. Using artefacts as inspiration
10. Using music as inspiration
Part Two (10 sessions)
Developing and honing poetry skills such as pace, vocabulary, rhythm and imagery.
Continuing to draft and re-draft new poems.
11. Using emotion for inspiration
12. Writing love poetry - making it original
13. Autobiographical poetry
14. Using metaphor and simile
15. Mid-point review and shape poetry
16. Landscape poetry
17. ‘Inverted’ poetry
18. Extended personification within a poem
19. Having the reader in mind whilst writing
20. Editing poetry and tightening writing
Part Three (6 sessions)
Editing, presentation, outlets for poetry and publication.
Living, networking and promotion as a writer.
21. Reading as a writer
22. Putting it all together – assembling and ordering your work
23. Networking as a poet – open mics and other events
24. Creating an online platform
25. Publishing, self-publishing, competitions and anthologies
26. Next steps as a writer, and reflection
You will write an average of two poems per fortnight to complete your collection within one year.
Is this the right course for you?
If you answer YES to one or more of the following questions, this course will be perfect for you…
Do you have lots of half-completed poems or poetry projects?
Does the prospect of writing a full-length poetry collection feel huge to the point of overwhelming?
Are you a writer who would benefit from tackling a project such as this in a methodical way?
Would your existing writing talent benefit from some further direction and development?
Have you already had one or more false starts with your poetry collection?
Read on…
My risk-free promise
You will love this course and it will help you achieve your dream of writing a poetry collection and being a published poet.
I am so confident of this that I promise a risk-free 14-day money-back guarantee.
Commonly asked questions
What if I’ve never written anything before?
Then this course is made for you. Session one starts at the very beginning, and the exercises build your skills one step at a time.
Will I really write a collection of poetry within one year?
Yes! If you follow my method of regularly writing poetry. Each session will contain a warm-up activity and the inspiration and guidance to complete a further one to two poems.
A pamphlet-length collection usually consists of 18-25 poems and a full collection consists of 45-60 poems, so completion of a collection of either length is easily attainable through following this online writing course.
Won’t I need a lot of discipline to get going?
Not discipline, more desire. Once you start, you won’t be able to bear to stop. You will find yourself conjuring poetry as you go about your life and noticing things more that you can use in your writing.
How will it fit into my lifestyle?
I send your course in 26 sessions to your inbox every other Monday at 8am (UK time). It’s up to you what day and time of day you access them. You decide when you complete the exercises, arranging your time when your writing will fit in with your other commitments.
Isn’t it isolating trying to work on my own?
Writing is a solitary activity, so later in the course, I provide information about networking as a writer, both online and socially.
What if I change my mind?
This course comes with a risk-free 14-day money-back guarantee.
What does it cost?
One payment of £295 inclusive of tax, which includes two 30-minute one-to-one sessions with me by video call. That works out at about £11 per session, for a whole year of support.
How will I know what to do with my book once I have written it?
In the latter stages of the course, guidance is given around preparing and presenting your poetry manuscript for submission to get it published along with guidance about independent publishing and traditional publishing.
How will I know if what I am writing is any good?
As you progress through the course and your writing skills improve, your poetry will strengthen along with your voice as a poet. Writing is a craft and the course will equip you to improve and be able to self-assess and edit until your manuscript is as polished as can be.
Will I get individual feedback on my writing?
This course does not include an individual critique service as this would increase the cost of the course significantly. However, this is something that can be added on request. See the private consultancy question below if this is something you would like to add to your course.
It is designed to develop your writing skills, and provide self-editing support.
Is additional private consultancy available?
You have the option to add one or both of the following to your course, as and when you feel they may help.
1. An additional 30–60-minute one-to-one session with me (by video call).
2. A detailed report which critiques a 20-line extract of your work in progress.
These services are by arrangement and will incur an additional fee.