Poetry Platform 1: Poetry Play Day

with Keren Macpherson, Beth McDonough, and Rebecca Sharp

For 2023, Platform Poetry is expanding its wings by introducing a new series of workshops – Poetry Platform – which will offer both new and seasoned poets inspiration, help, ideas and feedback with/for their writing. Whether you’re interested in exploring new styles or in simply shaking up your writing, these diverse and dynamic workshops will take you under both wings, and get you and your pen soaring to new heights! Sessions range from practical techniques to the wildly experimental. All very welcome. Here are the dates. Please click on the links below for further details.

Poetry Platform 1: Poetry Play Day – Saturday 14 January

Poetry Platform 2: The Art of Ekphrasis – Saturday 11 February

Poetry Platform 3: Flipping the Script – Sunday 19 February

Poetry Platform 4: Occasional Poetry – Sunday 19 February

Poetry Platform 1: Details

Shake off the cobwebs and give your creativity a jump-start with this dynamic day of mini writing workshops. All welcome. A programme of six short, 30-minute sessions (with 10-min breathing spaces in between!) guaranteed to get your pen moving. Led by Keren Macpherson, Beth McDonough, and Rebecca Sharp.

Divided into groups, you will move round the 3 different sessions twice (activities will develop in the second round), receiving 6 mini-workshops in all, gathering all together at the end.

Keren’s short workshops are designed to help even the worst bout of writer’s block. Using a wide selection of artwork and various visual stimuli, in conjunction with lots of fun and lively writing exercises – exploring how to look at, relate to, and think about art, in terms of creating a written (poetic) response.

Beth will consider migrations in language. What shifts into our everyday usage, what do we uncover, and what do we risk losing? We draw words from this country’s tongues, and also, we absorb languages from all over the globe. Equally, every family (and other grouping) develops a private lexicon. Where will we journey in our lines?

Rebecca will be exploring short-form poems as talismans and amulets. Making pocket-poems for yourself for someone else; distilling language, imagery and intention into a potent poetic object. Activities include some visual playtime with sigils (words distilled into abstract visual form) and other techniques.

The perfect chance to try a range of approaches if you’re new to writing or looking to embellish your existing creative practice. And for seasoned writers, a chance to generate new material quickly, or refresh ideas you’re currently working on. There’s no pressure to have ‘finished’ work by the end of the day. The emphasis will be on enjoyment and coming away with fresh fuel in your tank. There will be an informal gathering to close the day.

What to bring:
Your own preferred range of writing materials – plenty of paper!

Tea + coffee provided. There will be a short (40 minute) break for lunch – for speed, you might want to bring your own, and there are shops nearby. There will be short 10-minute spaces between each workshop.

£55
Ages 16+
To reserve your place: please email Rebecca Sharp on info@rebeccajoysharp.com

…

Keren Macpherson is a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, and the MLitt Creative Writing course at Dundee University. She is currently undertaking the MFA in poetry at St. Andrews University. Her background is in painting.

Beth McDonough’s first solo poetry pamphlet Lamping for pickled fish is published by 4Word. She reviews for DURA and elsewhere. She is currently Makar of the Federation of Writers (Scotland).

Rebecca Sharp is a poet, playwright and interdisciplinary artist. Her recent collection Rough Currency is published by Tapsalteerie. She is Artist in Residence with the Centre for Energy Ethics (University of St Andrews).

Together they run Platform Poetry in Fife, a programmed poetry and music event that takes place every couple of months, founded at Off the Rails by Lindsay Macgregor and John Hargreaves. Since returning from the pandemic, Platform has been roving around a range of venues in Fife, to accommodate audiences in these changed times. The next date is Saturday 25 February 2-4pm, at the Larick Centre in Tayport. Contact beth.mcdonough2@virginmedia.com to attend that event, and join the mailing list.