Start Writing Poetry

12-week online writing course begins Monday 19 September

Join us on a journey into the transformative world of writing poetry. On this 12-week online creative writing course you’ll read inspiring poets, explore how poems take shape, and begin to write poems and share your own work with a friendly supportive group.

What the course covers

1. What is Poetry Anyway? – exploring where poems come from, and exercises to generate ideas
2. The Image – ways to make images with as few words as possible
3. The Metaphor – examining what a metaphor is and how to extend one over an entire poem
4. White Space – the importance of line breaks and stanza breaks
5. Who’s Talking? – who is the narrative speaker of your poem?
6. Musicality – the use of repetition and the sound of a poem

You will learn to

• Consider different sources for poems
• Use your imagination and memory
• Examine contemporary poetry
• Feel more confident to write your own poetry
• Develop your own voice
• Explore the power of language

Designed by the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing at University of East Anglia and the National Centre for Writing.

Feedback from students

‘It really opened my eyes to the different ways of writing poetry!’ — Liz Mingo

‘The course has taken me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to try different writing styles and formats. I feel a lot more positive about my capabilities as a poet now.’ — Katy Mahon

‘Content was excellent, very stimulating and inspiring although challenging.’ — Clare Mackavoy

‘It was an excellent course – well structured. Each module introduced a new direction and the exercises provided opportunities to practice and explore.’ — Caroline Wheeler

This course is intended for writers aged 18+. If you’re looking for courses suitable for younger writers, check out these online workshops!

Browse all online courses →

About your tutor

Rebecca Goss lives in Suffolk and works as a poet, tutor and mentor. She has published three full-length collections, The Anatomy of Structures, Her Birth and Girl, as well as Carousel, a collaboration with photographer Chris Routledge. Her Birth was shortlisted to the Forward Prize for Best Collection 2013, the Warwick Prize for Writing 2015 and the Portico Prize for Literature 2015, and won the poetry category in the East Anglian Book Awards in 2014.

In 2014, Rebecca was selected for the Poetry Book Society’s Next Generation Poets. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Cardiff University, and a PhD by Publication from the University of East Anglia.

Taster resources from Rebecca

Writing poetry – five tips for staying motivated by Rebecca Goss →

How it works

All you need is a computer and an internet connection. You can find out more about the requirements here.

The course is divided into six modules, each of which introduces an aspect of the craft of writing poetry. At the end of each module, the tutor will set an assignment. You will receive written feedback from your tutor for all six modules, with hints and tips on how to strengthen your poem.

The modules are posted fortnightly. Every two weeks you will submit an assignment to your tutor, who will then respond with constructive feedback and advice.

There are two live Zoom sessions during this course:

• Monday 19 September, 7-8pm BST
  Wednesday 2 November, 6.30-8.30pm BST

Click here to find out more about how our courses work and whether they’re right for you!

Designed by the University of East Anglia and the National Centre for Writing.