The Writers’ Place Poets, our development programme for poets, concluded with the publication of a pamphlet of the group’s work entitled No Bird on My Bough
The Writers’ Place Poets is a development programme for poets from the southeast of England with a desire to learn more about the craft and business of poetry.
Launched in 2017 by poet Dean Atta, over the course of six monthly sessions (with virtual mentoring and regular homework in between), participants are guided to take the next steps in their poetry career, and encouraged to share skills and offer mutual support.
Twelve poets took part in the monthly sesssions in 2018, culminating in the publication of a pamphlet of poems by the group, No Bird on My Bough.
Participating poets included: Tess Adams, Claire Booker, Sophie Brown, Connor Byrne, Alexander Christie, Zella Compton, Ann Perrin, Katrina Quinn, Stephen Quinn, Catherine Ravenna, Judith Shaw and Rachel Shorer.
“Over the last 6 months I have had the absolute privilege of learning and developing my writing and poetry with some incredibly talented individuals. Public speaking and presenting is something I’ve always enjoyed and thrived at. When it comes to my writing and reading from the heart it’s pretty damn terrifying to share a part of yourself and your past with a live audience. I couldn’t be prouder of myself or the other talented writers. Vulnerability and honesty in writing and poetry is, to me; both brave and artistic. So a massive shout out to the whacky and wonderful bunch who made this happen especially Dean Atta for brining us all on board!
Off the back of this programme I am even prouder to announce that me and a few others will be running a night once a month locally in Brighton from September for people to write, share and perform. I encourage anyone who’s published, unpublished, likes to perform, or has writing that has never seen the light of day to come along, listen, learn and share.” Alexander Christie
New Writing South is delighted that Dean will stay on to lead The Writers’ Place Poets in 2019. Applications are now open.
Visit our Events section for details of Pier Poets, the open mic poetry night to come out of this group.