Poetry Writing Courses Poetry Writing Courses Poetry Writing Courses

Poetry Writing Courses

Whether you're just starting out or preparing your first collection, our poetry writing courses offer the technical knowledge, the practical support and the creative encouragement you'll need. With courses available online and in London, take the next step on your writing journey at the home of British poetry.

Our poetry writing courses: an overview

From a one-day workshop for those starting out to an advanced six-month course for those hoping to publish a first collection, we offer a full range of courses for aspiring poets at every step of the journey

Some of our poetry writing courses are selective, meaning you’ll need to apply.

Our online poetry writing courses are held live via Zoom, so that you can join from wherever you are in the world.

Who are these courses for?

Aspiring poets

Always wanted to write poetry but don't know where to start? Some of our poetry courses are suitable for complete beginners and offer an introduction to the craft as well as feedback on your writing.

Poets developing their craft

Broaden your techniques, deepen your knowledge and meet a close-knit group of likeminded writers. Some of our intermediate courses are also suitable for writers moving over from another genre.

Poets ready to take the next step

If you've been writing poetry for a while and are hoping to begin publishing your work, our advanced courses are uniquely placed to help you achieve those goals.

Poetry Writing Courses (18)

Close-up image of a notebook open in a woman's lap, with her pen poised to start writing on a blank page
Poetry

Start to Write Poetry

Kickstart your writing life with a specially designed day of learning, writing and discussion from the home of British poetry.

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Length

i
1-5 days

Tutors

Victoria Adukwei Bulley

Start Date

Saturday 11 Jan 2025

5 more start dates available

£75
Book Now

Places available

Details
above view of person at wooden desk taking notes in diary or journal
Poetry

Writing Poems

A playful, supportive three-month poetry course for beginners and aspiring amateur poets, with two of the best practitioners and teachers in the country.

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Length

i
12 weeks

Tutors

Richard Scott, Julia Copus

Start Date

Monday 20 Jan 2025

£595
Book Now

Sold Out

Details
Poetry

The Salon: Developing Your Poems

Join Richard Scott and Rachel Long for this twelve-week intermediate course – find new paths for your work, broaden your understanding of the craft and meet a group of supportive, like-minded poets.

Level

i
Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
12 weeks

Tutors

Richard Scott, Rachel Long, Denise Riley, Maurice Riordan

Start Date

Thursday 23 Jan 2025

£795
Book Now

Last few places available

Details
Close-up image of a notebook open in a woman's lap, with her pen poised to start writing on a blank page
Poetry

Start to Write Poetry

Kickstart your writing life with a specially designed day of learning, writing and discussion from the home of British poetry.

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
1-5 days

Tutors

Richard Scott

Start Date

Saturday 25 Jan 2025

7 more start dates available

£75
Book Now

Places available

Details
Close-up image of a notebook open in a woman's lap, with her pen poised to start writing on a blank page
Poetry

Start to Write Poetry

Kickstart your writing life with a specially designed day of learning, writing and discussion from the home of British poetry.

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Length

i
1-5 days

Tutors

Victoria Adukwei Bulley

Start Date

Saturday 08 Mar 2025

5 more start dates available

£75
Book Now

Places available

Details
Close-up image of a notebook open in a woman's lap, with her pen poised to start writing on a blank page
Poetry

Start to Write Poetry

Kickstart your writing life with a specially designed day of learning, writing and discussion from the home of British poetry.

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
1-5 days

Tutors

Richard Scott

Start Date

Saturday 29 Mar 2025

7 more start dates available

£75
Book Now

Places available

Details
flying n page of old book with flowers on wooden background
Poetry

Writing Poems

A playful, supportive three-month poetry course for beginners and aspiring amateur poets, with two of the best practitioners and teachers in the country.

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
12 weeks

Tutors

Richard Scott, Rachel Long

Start Date

Thursday 24 Apr 2025

£795
Book Now

Places available

Details
Close-up image of a notebook open in a woman's lap, with her pen poised to start writing on a blank page
Poetry

Start to Write Poetry

Kickstart your writing life with a specially designed day of learning, writing and discussion from the home of British poetry.

Level

i
Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
London

Length

i
1-5 days

Tutors

Richard Scott

Start Date

Saturday 26 Apr 2025

7 more start dates available

£75
Book Now

Places available

Details

Poetry Tutors

Our poetry tutors are all published poets, from Faber and beyond, as well as being experienced teachers.

daljit-nagra

Daljit Nagra

Daljit Nagra has published four poetry collections with Faber & Faber. He has won the Forward Prize for Best Individual Poem...

More About This Tutor
Daljit Nagra
Maurice3

Maurice Riordan

Maurice Riordan was born in Co. Cork. His first book, A Word from the Loki (1995), was nominated for the T. S. Eliot Prize...

More About This Tutor
Maurice Riordan
rachael-allen-tutor

Rachael Allen

Rachael Allen’s first collection of poems, KINGDOMLAND, is published by Faber & Faber. She is the co-author of a number of collaborative...

More About This Tutor
Rachael Allen
richard-scott-tutor

Richard Scott

Richard Scott was born in London in 1981. His pamphlet Wound (Rialto) won the Michael Marks Poetry Award 2016 and his poem...

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Richard Scott

This course has genuinely helped shape my perspective, given me a lot of insight into what goes into writing poetry, and just the process of writing in general.

Beyond amazing. The quality of the teaching was outstanding.

Poetry Salon

Daljit and Rachael were both wonderful. Nicely complementary, too, with Rachael offering a slightly more academic angle, and Daljit more practical, though both fully rounded! Mostly, I loved the fact that they were so open and warm and genuinely seemed delighted to engage with the group and our work.

Advanced Poetry (Online)

Richard was excellent. He was engaging, knowledgeable, clearly passionate about poetry, and had an excellent presentation style. Even online, everything worked really smoothly and all the tasks were interesting.

Start to Write Poetry (Online)

The tutors were both wonderful, knowledgeable and encouraging. I liked that they had different styles and were at different points in their careers.

Writing Poems

This course has genuinely helped shape my perspective, given me a lot of insight into what goes into writing poetry, and just the process of writing in general.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring poems I've already written to these courses?

Yes, on some of them – although on others (including our one-day Start to Write Poetry course), you’ll only be able to get feedback on the work you do in response to the exercises set in class. Get in touch if you have specific requirements – it might be that a manuscript assessment will work best for you if you have a body of existing work you’d like feedback on.

Is it possible to teach poetry?

There isn’t a single ‘right way’ of writing a poem. But neither is there a single ‘right way’ of making a chair – it doesn’t mean that craft isn’t involved. By exploring different forms, fostering creative community and developing editorial instincts we’ll progress your poetry – without being proscriptive.

Can't find the right course?

Manuscript Assessment

Get comprehensive editorial feedback on your manuscript from our experienced readers – whether it’s still a work-in-progress or you’re preparing to submit to literary agents.

Find out more

Mentoring

We offer a range of mentoring options if you’d prefer to work one-on-one with an established writer to help you shape your project and realise your writing ambitions.

Find out more

Browse the Reading Room

From author interviews and writing tips to creative writing exercises and reading lists, we've got everything you need to get started – and to keep going.