Workshop Feedback
Read feedback from Peter Carpenter and participants of the first block of workshops, if you have any questions about what to expect, please do get in touch poetry@pem.cam.ac.uk
‘Don’t worry’: my first instruction to any group in a writing workshop. ‘We are all beginners’, the next words to settle nerves before we get going. Then we dive in. Free writing as part of a three minute warm up; establishing collective word-hoards; writing quick-fire cinquains; replying to a poem by Sujata Bhatt with lightning-strike sonnets; dashing off a dramatic monologue from the point of view of a river, a beach, a raindrop; ‘claiming’ a special place with an ‘exploded self-portrait’: these were some of the challenges presented to the students in the first four workshops. Then feeding back, reading out, sharing first drafts. Exciting, energising, but daunting as well. I was thrilled and often inwardly in awe at the trust, purpose and daring displayed by the students I worked with in these first rounds of the Elemental Poetry project. Undergraduates, post-graduates, academics from across the university; school writers from around Cambridgeshire, age range from 11 to 18, were thrown together, mucked in, took the challenges in their stride and emerged with some gems. An informal student writing group was formed, first poems were penned, and much more — a new writing community started to take shape. I can’t wait for the next rounds of workshops and the poems that come our way for publication in 2025 and beyond. Please become part of it. It’s great fun
Peter Carpenter
It was a really wonderful session. Peter was inspiring. The kids were given lots of ideas to ‘get writing’, including ways of creating a word hoard. They were told to keep on with their ’work in progress’ and to send poems to poetry@pembroke throughout the year. They were also encouraged to come again! Some brought special notebooks which was great. Serious writers!
Participating in the elemental poetry workshops was – pardon the pun – fundamentally rewarding for me. It was highly vulnerable but highly worth it, and made me half-confident enough to consider myself as capable of writing poetry.
What a privilege to host the first poetry workshop – I thought Peter was fantastic and, with such seemingly simple steps, he gently led us all towards moments of creativity.
I actually wrote a poem in my head as I cycled home – and wrote it down just now. I have written lots of short stories or short pieces of prose in recent years – but no poetry!
Looking forward to more workshops!
The workshop was a really encouraging space to just get writing – Peter gave just the right amount of prompting and support and encouraged us to ‘change the lens’ on our writing about nature and the world. I think we all came away with productive new ideas!
Participating in the elemental poetry workshops was – pardon the pun – fundamentally rewarding for me. It was highly vulnerable but highly worth it, and made me half-confident enough to consider myself as capable of writing poetry.
Peter was an insightful and supportive teacher. A great opportunity to meet other poets and writers!
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