Cut to the Bone: Editing Your Poetry with Alan Parry

CUT TO THE BONEA Broken Spine Poetry Workshop

Sunday 24 August | 14:00–17:00 | Online via Zoom

This isn’t about trimming 10 % because some editor said so.Cut to the Bone is a radical act of poetic care. Editing not as subtraction, but as elevation. It’s about slicing the fat, finding the fire, and putting the raw heart of your poem front and centre.

Led by Alan Parry, poet, editor, and indie publisher, this workshop cuts through the waffle and gets to the truth. Alan’s work has landed in international journals, his novella Peeling Apples was published by Dark Winter Lit, and he’s edited poets like Lucy Heuschen, Damien B Donnelly, Karen Pierce Gonzalez and Casey Bailey.

He also runs The Broken Spine, a fiercely independent press with 30+ titles under its belt and a stronghold in the UK live lit and workshop scene.

This is the second run of Cut to the Bone, but it’s not some isolated flash in the pan. It’s part of a proven, evolving series of workshops that have consistently delivered impact.

The Results Don’t Lie:

• 100% of poets said they felt supported and included
• 100% rated the facilitation positively
• 100% would recommend these workshops to others
• 100% experienced growth in their writing
• 100% left with new tools to apply to their work
• 100% said they’d do it again

Every session leaves poets sharper, braver, and more intentional.

Here’s what they’ve said:

“It gave me permission to write fearlessly about things I'd never written about.” — Paul Short

“Packed full of useful content and delivered in an inclusive, friendly, and practical way. A high-value toolbox for editing poetry.” — Debbie Ross

“I felt safe, seen, and ready to take risks. That’s rare.” — Anneka Chambers

“The balance of theory, practice and discussion was spot on. 3 hours flew by.” — Chris Partridge

“It surprised me that I could fictionalise a piece in poetry. I was pushed out of my comfort zone in the best way.” — Philippa Ramsden

This is more than a workshop. It’s a space for breakthrough.Not one person left untouched. 100% walked away with something new.

In this three-hour session, you’ll:

• Identify the lifeblood of your poem—the lines that land, and the ones that drag
• Learn the difference between clarity and over-explaining
• Use fragmentation, breath work and syntactic disruption to craft poems that stay with your reader
• Build a revision practice rooted in craft, not guesswork

Whether your work’s headed for publication or the stage, Cut to the Bone is here to challenge, refine, and transform it.

Spaces are limited.Book now and join the 100% of poets who said yes to braver writing.