Composing poetry can be one of the most exciting and personally rewarding forms of creative writing. It can bring immense pleasure to you and to those who read and listen to your work.

This course will take the aspiring poet from the first spark of an idea to its final revision. It has been designed to invigorate all poets, novices and experienced alike, with the excitement of the craft. Let yourself enter the wonderful world of poetry. 

 

The Course Synopsis 

• Introduction to Poetry - The history of poetry and understand the fundamentals of rhymed, free and blank verse. In this module you will explore the voice of poetry and how to chart the meter, as well as a variety of figures of speech.
• Market Research and Presentation - You’ll discover how to undertake different forms of market research to ensure you are targeting the right readership. As equally important as research is manuscript presentation, which will be discussed in detail. Learn about the correct use of imagery and how to revise your work, along with exploring your rights as a writer.
• Fundamentals of Poetry Writing - In this module you’ll learn a variety of tools that will enable you to write poetry professionally. Some of these tools include syllabic meter, accentual meter, anapaest, spring rhythm, enjambement, the couplet and quatrains. Discover other techniques such as the sonnet, the ballad, the epic, the villanelle, the pantoum, the sestina and the ode.
• Elements of Poetry Writing - Learn about the composition of poetry such as long-lined and short-lined poetry along with open field composition. You will also explore how to include humour and the Japanese style of poetry writing known as Haiku. Finally, a helpful glossary of terms is also outlined.
• Completing Your Poetry Writing and Being Published - Learn the unique differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing. In this module you will also discover how to approach competitions and poetry readings, concluding with how to go about polishing and tightening your work.