Writing with Hope

Writing with Hope

Where does Hope show up for you? How do we nurture it? Join us for a part storytelling, part creative writing workshop, exploring hope.

What is the workshop about?

Writing with Hope is a creative writing workshop designed and hosted by Katie Dunstan, in collaboration with The Poetry Pharmacy. We’ll be warming ourselves up to get writing, sharing our own experiences of hope and responding to some creative writing prompts. We’ll also be taking inspiration from the “Hope” poetry pharmacy pills.

How will it work?

• 90 minute in-person workshop led by Katie
  
• A blend of conversation prompts and creative writing exercises to bring hope to life in new ways, both in creative writing and in voice
  
• A welcoming, supportive environment to meet and connect with others
  

*Please note that no prior writing experience is needed, and you don’t have to share anything you have written. Whether you’re completely new to writing, or have notebooks filled with scribbles, everyone is welcome. All you need to bring is your favourite notebook and pen, and an open heart and mind.

What inspired the workshop? (From Katie)

Since working at The Poetry Pharmacy I’ve become really curious about what it could mean to create a space for people to come together to connect around and write from a particular “remedy”. As a Poetry Pharmacist I have the immense privilege of connecting with, and listening to so many people around the “remedies” they are drawn to. More and more I found myself wondering…what might happen if we came together collectively to explore a “remedy?” What conversations might we have? And how might each “remedy” inspire our own writing? So Writing Hope was imagined!

About Katie Dunstan

Katie is a poet, creative practitioner, facilitator and Poetry Pharmacist at the Poetry Pharmacy on Oxford Street. Her poetry explores the connections we make in our lives and her career to date has focused on nurturing people's creative confidence and creating spaces for connection.

In 2022 she co-founded The Poetry Lounge, a monthly open mic night in North London to find and nurture community through the sharing of poetry. She has designed and facilitated workshops with people in a variety of sectors and settings; from local government to cultural heritage, healthcare and charities, in hospitals, care homes, museums, nature reserves and many places in between. She is a founding member of ‘Wild Thing Poetry’and also works as a bespoke poet, writing for you and/or people in your life.

Some very lovely things people I’ve worked with as a practitioner and facilitator have said:

“Before working with Katie, I hadn’t thought about creativity as a process you go through, and as something you have to keep practising. Not everyone is empowered to be creative in their day to day, but working with Katie made me feel more creative, both through the creative prompts she offered, and her encouragement and support to try it. And now i’ve experienced it, I want everyone to feel that. I’m a bit addicted!”

“Katie has a calm confidence that she exhibits whenever she is hosting spaces or groups. She brings a lightness and deep care to all that she does, always paying attention to the small things that make the biggest difference to people.”