Life is turbulent and unpredictable for every human being to some extent. Being frightened, or saddened or exhausted by parts of our own selves – while part of the human experience – can be hard to swallow. Buried emotions are difficult to explore because we have buried them for a reason. However, when you approach them as an opportunity for artwork and creativity, they often start to change shape. This course will use poetry to talk about what we’re too afraid to voice in ordinary conversations and turn the things you are hiding into something to take pride in.

This course is open to anyone interested in poetry of any level of ability or experience. As a group, we will create a safe, positive, and kind environment, where everyone will be welcome to practice their craft and share their triumphs. We will explore how to start and end a poem, using abstract imagery to portray emotions we don’t properly understand, as well as other poetic techniques. We will also share work and support each other with constructive criticism and glowing feedback.

By the end of the course, we will have changed our relationship with our emotions by turning them into something that is self-made and creative, and leave not only with new poems but with newfound confidence in our writing abilities and desire to continue using creativity as a means for self-growth.

Who is it for?

This course is for all underrepresented writers – creatives who face barriers to opportunities due to mental health issues, physical health/disability, sensory impairment, learning disabilities, neurodivergence, substance misuse, survivors, working class backgrounds, and those from the LGBTQIA+, and Black, Asian and other global majority backgrounds or traveller communities.

Dates

Tuesdays 30 May and 6, 13, 20, 27 June 2023

Times

6 – 8 pm

Cost

£15 (total for whole course)

About the course facilitator

Tierney Elliott is a Bath-based spoken word poet and short story writer. She has performed at Shambala Festival, Unislam, Lyra Festival Roundhouse Slam, and more. She has won awards for her poetry about mental health and grief and was placed fourth at the Roundhouse Slam, as well as becoming the first ever audience winner. Tierney’s poetry explores social issues and injustices, but she also endeavours to explore the exciting ‘every-day’; she is keen to read between the lines of human life. She is a qualified teacher with a first-class creative writing degree.