“I think I could turn and live with animals…”

So wrote Walt Whitman in Song of Myself:32. Amanda Dalton frequently feels this way herself but grapples with how to write poems that explore and celebrate the connections that so many of us feel with the other species we live with, without tipping into sentimentality, tub-thumping. or ‘cute’ anthropomorphism. In this lively, accessible workshop we’ll look at some great poems that achieve this and explore how their writers do it, before using them as inspiration and kick starts for some poems of our own.

About Amanda Dalton

Amanda Dalton is a poet and playwright. Her poetry collections How To Disappear, Stray and Fantastic Voyage (2024) are published by Bloodaxe. Pamphlets include Notes on Water (smith|doorstop 2022). For theatre and BBC Radio 4 and 3 she writes both original dramas and adaptations, many of which incorporate poems. She is a visiting lecturer at Manchester University and MMU’s Writing School, and an RLF Fellow. Amanda lives in Hebden Bridge. Her website is at amandadalton.co.uk

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.