Writers
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Forum
workshop:
p

oetry
with Poetry Editor Sarah Willans
On course for
Moniack Mhor
poetry success
T
here was a time when creative writing
was seen by most as an esoteric pursuit
with little relevance for the man or woman
in the street – but things have changed.
There has been an explosion of interest in
the subject over the last decade, and an
exponential growth in the number of courses
on offer. Are all those courses really of any
use to poets, or are they just an expensive
waste of time? I asked three seasoned
participants to assess the benefits and the some successes in my own writing, which benefits came from those involving one-to-
potential pitfalls. I don’t think would have been possible one sessions with established poets.
without the experience I’ve gained. How would she advise others who are
Madeleine Heaney has attended at least ‘I would recommend others to go on contemplating a course?
one poetry course annually for the past poetry courses, but only if they are prepared ‘Think about what you want to gain – is it
16 years, many of them through the to do so with an open mind and no knowledge about poetry, or the development
Arvon Foundation. private agenda (eg seeking an easy path to of your own poetry, or both; is it the ability
‘The first was at the newly opened publication of their own work). My advice to read and respond to others or to have
Arvon centre in Moniack Mhor, with Liz would be to consider your motive: do you others respond to you? Do you want to
Lochhead and Roger McGough as tutors. genuinely love poetry and want to learn, or work with others or in isolation? How much
Liz Lochhead was inspirational and fired do you want to showcase your own writing? feedback do you want to get and give?
my enthusiasm for poetry, which has never If the latter is true, then don’t go!’ ‘Think about time constraints: you will
since waned. I hoped, on that first course need to put more time aside to do a course
and subsequently, to be “jolted”, to discover Theresa (not her real name) has taken six than you think. Online courses are a very
something totally unexpected and to have poetry courses, some online and some face to flexible way of managing poetry if you have
my instinct confirmed that good writing face, with the aim of improving her writing work commitments too. Make sure you can
really can achieve something unexpected and developing confidence. But not all of her complete the course – the financial penalties
and profound. I’ve never been disappointed experiences have been positive, and in one are stiff if you pull out. And do not go on a
in any course I’ve attended. It is always case she was unable to complete the course. one-day course unless you can write poems
exhilarating to be in the company of people ‘I found courses that had large numbers to order.’
who value poetry – both tutors and other of participants more challenging, as one had
course participants.’ to read and respond to large numbers of Kate Noakes plans to teach creative
ith so many years of experience behindW poems as well as write one’s own. This could writing, and needed an academic
her, Madeleine knows how to get the most become a very stressful situation, especially qualification to give her credibility with
from poetry courses. if there were 15 or more participants – which potential employers and students. She
‘I’ve learned that “big names” don’t I understand works economically (for the applied for the two-year, part-time MPhil
necessarily make good tutors, and in fact provider) but not so well for those on the course at Glamorgan University because she
it is often the lesser known poets who course. Reading and responding to 15 or wanted to ‘serve an apprenticeship’ with
work hardest to encourage new writers. more poems every week is a challenge, time- elsh National Poet Gillian Clarke, whoseW
Communicating with others on courses wise, if one is working too – and this was the work she admires.
is invaluable and has resulted in some reason I left one of my courses. Ten is quite ‘The course involved lots of private work,
unexpected and productive friendships. enough participants at any one time. as you would expect from a postgraduate
There is always something to learn from the ‘I enjoyed all my online courses but had degree. There were four weekend workshops
most unlikely people, I’ve found!’ a very unpleasant experience on a one-day per annum and a one-week residential at
Her experience has been largely positive, course. One was expected to produce poems Ty Newydd (the National Writers’ Centre for
and she feels that the courses she’s taken in a 30-minute slot and then the results were ales). The workshop weekends comprisedW
have been good value for money. ridiculed; our own (pre-existing) work, giving and receiving feedback from students
‘There is almost always a real commitment which was ‘saved’ for the afternoon, took up and tutors, time with my tutor, and readings
by tutors to meet the needs of students much less time. There seemed to be a clique and seminars from visiting writers.
and the only problems seem to arise when of regulars who were highly disdainful of ‘Gillian was available to receive work by
students are over-demanding, and encroach newcomers – a most unpleasant day.’ email at any time outside the four weekend
on the time needed by others. Despite some difficult experiences, workshops, and she would comment and
‘I do feel I have continued to improve and Theresa feels that her courses helped her post it back. I think my work improved
make progress over the years, and I’ve had to make progress overall – and the biggest dramatically with Gillian’s help, and I’m
54 Writers
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Forum #99
WF99JAN54.indd 1 24/11/2009 10:18:10
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