Young Poets Writers’ Day: Putting together a pamphlet
Young Poets Writers’ Day: Putting together a poetry pamphlet for submission
Saturday 8th Feb 2020 – 10.30 to 5pm at The Poetry Business, Campo Lane, Sheffield
Application deadline: Midnight Friday 10th January 20120
Are you a young poet in Yorkshire or Derbyshire between the ages of 17 and 30?
Do you have a number of strong poems that you’d like to shape into a pamphlet submission for the New Poets Prize, the Poetry Business pamphlet competition or another submission, but feel unsure how to go about it?
Hive have teamed up with purveyors of fine contemporary poetry, The Poetry Business, to offer a writing and editing day for young poets in the region at a stage where they would like to take their poetry further. This is an exciting opportunity to help you shape a body of work and receive expert advice and tutoring from poet and co-director of The Poetry Business, Peter Sansom. The intensive day will involve looking at previous pamphlets, discussing existing poems, and writing new work. You’ll be given an introduction to The Poetry Business and tips on strengthening and building on a potential pamphlet submission.
Participants will receive a free Poetry Business Pamphlet in the run-up which they will be asked to read to feedback on as part of the day’s activities.
For more about the New Poets Award (deadline 1st March 2020), click here.
Who can apply?
Priority will be given to poets aged 17 to 24 years of age on 1st March 2020 (the deadline for the New Poets Prize), and living, or with a home address, in Yorkshire (if that’s not you, but you live elsewhere in the North and are interested in this opportunity, do drop us a line anyway in case there is a spare place or we can signpost you to further opportunities in future). We’re also happy to hear from poets 25 to 30 (again subject to space).
If you are unsure whether you’re at a stage where you’re ready to apply, drop Vicky a line to discuss at: [email protected]
Cost: The day costs just £10 (we can reduce this for a number of places if it’s in any way a barrier), included refreshments (but not lunch), and a free Poetry Business Pamphlet worth £5/£6. Please mention in your application if so. Places limited. We are always keen to hear from young writers from diverse backgrounds, and those who feel they wouldn’t normally access this kind of opportunity.
To apply:
Send 5 to 7 of your best poems of any length (in one word document), each starting a new page, with a statement of interest on the first page – no longer than 400 words, to include why you would like to be considered for this opportunity, your experience of poetry so far, any writing aspirations you’d like to share, and anything else you’re like us to know. The applications will be looked at by Peter Samson from The Poetry Business.
Send your application to [email protected] by midnight 10th January 2020
The New Poets Prize is a pamphlet competition for writers between the ages of 17 and 24 (inclusive). This prize runs alongside the renowned International Book & Pamphlet Competition organized by The Poetry Business, which has now been established for 34 years. Previous winners of te New Poets Prize have included several Yorkshire young poets including Warda Yassin who’s part of Hive’s poetry collective.
The Poetry Business publishes books, pamphlets and audio under the Smith/Doorstop imprint, and new imprint The New Poets List. They also publish literary magazine The North, and run Writing Days, the Writing School, and the international Book and Pamphlet Competition.
Peter Sansom is a poet and tutor, and co-directs the Poetry Business along with his wife, the poet Ann Sansom. He has published six books of poetry include On the Pennine Way (Littlewood, 1988) and Careful What You Wish For (Carcanet, 2015). He is also the author of the influential book, Writing Poems (Bloodaxe 1994). Peter co-edits The North Magazine and Smith/Doorstop Books. His poetry commissions include work for The Guardian, The Observer, Radio Three, and a billboard in the centre of Lancaster.
