Poetry: A practical guide to the craft with Cambridge University's creative writing tutor

Develop your creative skills in this one-day poetry-writing course with Jem Poster, emeritus professor of creative writing at Aberystwyth University and tutor for Cambridge University's Centre for Creative Writing.

Many people feel a strong urge to write, and a considerable proportion of them have a desire to express their thoughts and feelings through the powerful, often emotive medium of poetry.

This full-day course with Jem Poster, co-founder of the master's degree course in creative writing at the University of Cambridge, is designed for those with a drive to learn more about the way poetry works, with a view to enhancing their own writing practice.

Through a combination of practical exercises and discussion you will examine the nature of poetry, the value of close observation, precision and economy of style, the uses of memory, and the transformative power of imagination.

Informal in approach and balancing theory with practice, this accessible, friendly masterclass with a leading writer and academic aims to deepend participants' understanding of the art of poetry while providing an opportunity to exercise and enhance practical skills.

Course content

• The nature of poetry
• The value of close observation
• Precision and economy of style
• The uses of memory
• The poetic imagination

Tutor profile

Jem Poster is the author of two novels - Courting Shadows and Rifling Paradise - as well as a collection of poetry, Brought to Light. He has also recently completed Volume 3 of the six-volume series, Edward Thomas: Prose Writings. He has won major prizes in the Cardiff International Poetry and the Peterloo Poets Open Poetry competitions. He is emeritus professor of creative writing at Aberystwyth University, and has been chair of the editorial board of New Welsh Review and programme advisor to the Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education’s MSt in creative writing. He is currently director of the institute’s international summer programme in creative writing and is an affiliated lecturer of the institute. He is director of academic programmes for the Financial Times Oxford Literary Festival and in 2014 was writer in residence at Arizona State University.

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Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website