Who’s on the stage of the poem and why?

Even if there isn't a declared ‘I’, we know 'someone' is speaking in a poem – and some poems have multiple characters in them, including the reader.

In this generative workshop, we'll take a step back and look at the poem's stage on which characters, elements, images and statements step forward to take their turns in the limelight.

Inspired by poems from Michael Donaghy, Leo Boix, Ada Limón, Isabelle Baafi, Linda France, Edwin Morgan, Ilya Kaminsky and more, we’ll consider who and what we present to the reader and what surprise guests turn up for ourselves.

About Heidi Williamson

Heidi Williamson is a Writing for Life Fellow for the Royal Literary Fund, running reading and writing groups in workplace and community settings, including charities, libraries, hospices, and Recovery Colleges. She also teaches for the Poetry Society and The Writing Coach. She is published by Bloodaxe. Electric Shadow (2011) was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation and shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry prize. The Print Museum (2016) won the East Anglian Book Award for Poetry. Return by Minor Road (2020), featured in the Guardian and was a Poetry Society and Out-Spoken Press book of the year. www.heidiwilliamsonpoet.com

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.