Free workshops aim to inspire more to enter upcoming Fenland Poet Laureate competition

Fenland councillor and published poet Elisabeth Sennitt Clough will be running two free poetry workshops in the lead-up to the launch of the Fenland Poet Laureate Awards 2024/25.

Building on the brilliant success of the 2023/24 Laureate Awards, the culture, arts & heritage committee at Fenland District Council is hoping to get even more entries this year.

The two free workshops are to encourage more Fenland residents to start writing poetry in a friendly and engaging way.

Elisabeth said: “I know the word workshop may sound a bit daunting, but it will be quite informal and hopefully fun. We want to encourage as many people as possible to give poetry a try.”

The first of the workshops is being held at Wisbech Castle, on Saturday, October 5 from 2pm to 4pm. The second will be at the Letter B pub in Whittlesey, on Tuesday, October 29 from 10am to noon.

Participants will look at a series of poems relating to the theme of roots (where we are from).

Elisabeth said: “Inspired by these poems, we will map our childhood haunts and remember places that aren't on the map. As we build lists of these places, gradually we will work towards creating poems from our roots maps.

“We'll look at the ways in which we can utilise different poetic forms, such as the abecedarian to incorporate our place lists.

“The workshops will be fun, aimed at every level of poet from complete beginner to advanced.”

Elisabeth is a well-recognised poet nationally having been long-listed for the National Poetry Competition and read with the former Poet Laureate of England, Carol Ann Duffy.

Tickets are free and can be obtained from: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/elisabeth-sennitt-clough or by calling/texting: 07470 370155.