I am so happy to be back with our signature Devotion workshop, Absolute Beginners: A five week writing course for those just starting to write, coming back to writing after a hiatus, in a rut with their practice, finding their existing tools and techniques stale, or just wanting to refresh their approach to writing. No homework, no preparation, everybody welcome.

We will look at works of prose and poetry by the likes of Wanda Coleman, Dodie Bellamy, Maggie Nelson, Frank O'Hara, Diane di Prima, Anne Boyer, Bernadette Mayer, and more. You will be given rejuvenating and expansive prompts to write from in the workshop. Unlike other workshops centred on feedback and sharing work, the focus of Devotion is on practice itself.

Topics covered:

• Why we write
• What writing can do for us emotionally, creatively, intellectually and spiritually
• How to build writing routines, prompts and creative play into our lives
• Writing with and through burnout
• Metaphor and imagery
• Originality, newness and vitality of expression
• Finding form(s)
• Working with resistance
• Pleasure, joy and excess as antidotes to writer’s block

All sessions are recorded and recordings are sent to all participants after the event. The materials discussed in the workshops are collated on a Padlet. The cost of the ticket for each workshop series includes unlimited access to both the Padlet and the workshop recordings.

Workshops will take place on Zoom, Thursdays 6pm to 8pm UK time, on the following dates:

Thursday January 16th

Thursday January 23rd

Thursday January 30th

Thursday February 6th

Thursday February 13th

Devotion Workshop- Refund Policy

This refund policy is in place to cover internal policies and procedures of the Devotion Workshops, your statutory rights are not affected.

All purchases of tickets are final and subject to discretion by the workshop coordinators if a refund is requested for any reason prior to the workshops commencing. Once workshops commence no partial or full refunds will be actioned; excepting technical failure on the part of the facilitators, injury or illness where Sophie is unable to be present. In the case that a workshop cannot run for any of the above stated reasons, rescheduling and/or a pro rataed refund will be given.

Tickets paid via instalment plan are subject to the stated deadline for the second payment. Missed or delayed payments of the deadline may limit or cease access to the Devotion Workshops for the rest of the syllabus.

The monies paid for the Devotion Workshop: Absolute Beginners programme covers a series of five Zoom events taking place from the 16th of January 2025. Access to digital recordings, interpretive materials and online reading is offered as a supplement to the workshop, and whilst we will endeavour for you as a student to have access to the materials, the Devotion Workshop cannot assume liability for the preservation and sustained access of this material. Devotion Workshop reserves the right to withdraw, amend or delete any of this material at any time.

Devotion Workshops is a reflexive and reflective organisation which is open to feedback from the attendees and the wider community. We are open to and welcome change within the context of our learning environment. The content of the syllabus is subject to change without notice and will not be grounds for a full or partial refund; excepting author specific events which are sold as separate and standalone where main players are unable to attend.

When purchasing the Devotion Workshop: Absolute Beginners tickets you agree to abide by the spirit of the workshop's good faith and confidence; please do not share recordings of Devotion events or any Devotion materials with those not in attendance. Any feedback received or witnessed by the Devotion Workshop team will be grounds for investigation by Devotion Workshops staff; with exclusion from the ongoing workshops without full or partial refund being actioned if substantial evidence is founded.