Exploring the Craft

A 6 week poetry course

Ever wondered if you can write a poem?

Do you already enjoy writing and want to expand your capability?

Would you like to meet like-minded souls, who enjoy the craft too?

This Course is for you

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Come and join Rich for a 6 session Poetry course, on Wednesday evenings from September 16th to October the 21st, 2026.

This course is open to all, whatever your level of experience – in fact, a mixed group always engenders a better atmosphere.

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When: Wednesdays 6.30 – 8.30 from the 16th September to the 21st of October

Where: Room 4 – Hillcrest Community Centre, Bay Vue Road, Newhaven, East Sussex BN9 9LH

Tickets: Eventbrite

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Writing is not about producing “good” or “bad” work.  Rich’s sessions are non-judgmental, friendly and supportive.  The point is to write, and to enjoy writing, as an end in itself.  A by-product of a good session may be some really good words, a really good idea or some inspiration to take away with you.

You’ll be guided to produce material, with simple, straight forward guided methodology – and you will produce some words in each session.  Maybe you’ll take that home and work on them.  Maybe you’ll borrow the methodology to generate material when you’re at home, between classes.  Perhaps you’ll get inspired, and write something completely different, based on the ideas you generate in class.

Doesn’t matter – the point is to help you get started if you’re new to this, or to deepen your enjoyment of the craft if you have some experience and practice already.

Later in the course, Rich will introduce methods to take some work you’ve already done, and develop that material to take it to a new place, or the next level.  For these later sessions, we’ll use material generated earlier in the course – or perhaps, for practiced writers, bring along some words that you want to develop, enhance, build on or look at in a new light.

This course is not about critiquing work, or passing opinion on each other’s words.  This is about generating a friendly, positive atmosphere to explore and enjoy the craft of writing poems.

Sessions will include:

• Sessions to generate material
  • guided workshops that will steer you, through simple steps, to generate some ideas and write a short poem, which may be the beginning of something you take home to continue, get inspired by or simply enjoy.
• Sessions that will use creative techniques
  • to look at material you have written during the course (or that you bring along), developing ideas and method, in order to take your work to the next level.
• These methods and prompts can be employed at home, when you are seeking inspiration.
• The course will be tailored to suit attendees, and the final session (or even two) could be agreed by the group. 
• Options include:
  • further creative methods to work on material
  • how to start a website and blog
  • preparation / practice for an open mic
• We’ll decide as a group where our time is best spent.

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Praise for Rich