Surprise yourself

Using outstanding poems as prompts, Michael's Poetry Writing Workshops are perfect for those looking to spark new ideas in fast and uninterrupted writing. This is an excellent opportunity to produce first drafts that you'll be excited to work with later. Only at the very end of the session will poets get to reflect on the work they've produced, choosing - if they wish - to read something to the group.

About Michael Laskey

Michael Laskey has published five collections, most recently Between Ourselves (2022) and Weighing the Present (2014), both from Smith|Doorstop. His first two collections were Poetry Book Society Recommendations: Thinking of Happiness (Peterloo, 1999) and The Tightrope Wedding (Smith|Doorstop, 1999), which was also shortlisted for the T S Eliot Prize. Michael co-edited Smiths Knoll for 21 years and co-founded the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival in 1988, which he directed through its first decade. He works as a writing tutor with a wide range of adult groups and in schools at all levels. He lives in Suffolk where he runs The Garlic Press, publishing pamphlets mainly by Suffolk poets.

Zoom

These workshops will be conducted via Zoom. We have put together this simple 'How To' document to help you download Zoom, join a meeting, and navigate around the meeting features (such as adjusting video and audio, uploading files, and sharing screens).

You will receive a confirmation email from Ticket Tailor with your ticket and the Zoom invitation, containing the meeting link and Meeting ID & Password.

Someone from The Poetry Business team will be on hand prior to each workshop to offer additional help in getting connected.

There is usually a lot of interest in our workshops: in the interest of fairness, please limit yourself to one workshop ticket in every two week period.

Bursary Spaces

There are two bursary spaces available per workshop for writers from groups that are under-represented in contemporary poetry (for instance because of ethnic background) or who are experiencing financial hardship. If you would like to apply for one of these bursary places, please contact workshops@poetrybusiness.co.uk

Refunds

If you no longer wish to attend the workshop please let us know by emailing us. We ask for 3 working days' notice before the workshop starts in order to offer a full refund, and enable us to offer the place to someone else.

Though we will do all we can to help you get set up with the technology it is the participants' responsibility to ensure that their camera, microphone and other computer settings are configured correctly. Please contact us (workshops@poetrybusiness.co.uk) if you are concerned about getting set up for Zoom.