Cha: Writing Workshop Series with Joshua Ip

Join award-winning poet Joshua Ip to explore formal poetry from the sonnet to the haiku to liwuli. The workshop is open to all.

Workshop details:
Award-winning poet Joshua Ip introduces you to the intricate world of formal poetry, and why poets from Shakespeare to Li Bai write in form. You will be exposed to rarely-seen formal poems. You will then progressively experience how writing in form can loosen up poetic muscles not usually exercised; from the haiku to more complex forms like the liwuli and the sonnet. You will also have opportunity to receive feedback on your newly-written drafts. The workshop will enable people new to writing poetry to try out formal poetry writing. They will be equipped with the skills to identify and apply literary techniques in formal poetry. The workshop is also open to more experienced poets who wish to learn the techniques associated with formal poetry.

Workshop facilitator's bio:
Dr Joshua Ip is a Singaporean poet, editor, and literary organiser. He won the Singapore Literature Prize for his debut, sonnets from the singlish (Math Paper Press, 2012), placed in three different categories of the Golden Point Award, and received Singapore’s Young Artist Award in 2017.His latest book, ownself say ownself (Landmark Books, 2024) gathers new and selected poems from his six-ish collections of rude poetry, and won Book of the Year at the Singapore Book Awards 2025. He is the Executive Director of Sing Lit Station, an overactive literary charity that runs initiatives including SingPoWriMo, and poetry.sg. He still wants to be a writer when he grows up. www.joshuaip.com

About Cha: Writing Workshop Series:
From 2026 onwards, Cha: Writing Workshop Series offers online workshops designed by writers with connections to Asia. We hope to broaden access of literary education and connect with one another through sharing. Our workshops are priced on a sliding scale: full price; discounted; and full waiver to cater for people of different wage brackets. We won’t ask for proof. Cha is run on voluntary basis. If you appreciate the work we do, please consider donating to the workshop series. All proceeds will go directly to online workshop facilitators, event page fees, and participants with financial difficulties. If you would like to learn more about Cha, please visit: https://chajournal.com/

For any queries on Cha: Writing Workshop Series, please contact Tim Tim Cheng (timtimcheng@asiancha.com).