Hive Online Poetry & Mentoring Programme

Six weeks of creative writing, poetry craft & one-to-one support with Vicky Morris | For new, aspiring and returning poets aged 17–30 across the North of England & Midlands. Sunday evenings, 5.30–7.30pm on Zoom | 10 Jan – 14 Feb 2027 | Bursary places available

What makes a poem work? How do everyday experiences, thoughts and observations become something that moves, surprises or stays with us? Behind great poems are creative choices, from imagery and voice to the smallest decisions about language. So how do we recognise what works and why?

Whether you’re just discovering poetry, have been writing for a while or want to refresh your skills, this six-week online programme will help you get to grips with the craft of contemporary poetry. Through inspiring, generative workshops, you’ll explore different approaches, spark fresh ideas and write unexpected new drafts.

Led by poet, editor and mentor Vicky Morris, we’ll draw on inspiring contemporary poems, explore the essential devices and techniques of poetry, and develop practical skills for editing and strengthening your work. Alongside the workshops, individual mentoring and feedback will help you take your writing further.

“Building my confidence, learning about poetry and surprising myself with what I write – has changed everything for me. I now proudly call myself a poet.”

Expect a warm, inclusive group where you can ask questions, share ideas and explore your writing without judgement. Vicky has many years of experience teaching and mentoring young poets, some of whom have gone on to win accolades such as the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award and the New Poets Prize.

(Not sure if this programme is for you, or can’t make the dates? Hive also runs Hive Poetry Collective, a regular online poetry workshop for emerging young poets of all experience levels, meeting roughly every three weeks on Sunday mornings, 11am–1pm, on Zoom. For more information, visit Hive Poetry Collective)

Through workshops and individual support, you’ll:
– Explore the craft of poetry, focusing on the devices and techniques that give poems their impact, from imagery and metaphor to specificity and voice
– Generate new poems and drafts through inspiring examples, prompts and exercises, with plenty of fresh material to develop further
– Learn to edit and strengthen your writing, exploring practical editing techniques and before-and-after examples of published poems
– Receive individual mentoring support and feedback on your writing, helping you develop your ideas and move towards finished work
– Build confidence, knowledge and motivation to develop your skills and keep writing beyond the programme
– Explore publishing and submission opportunities, with tips and insights into getting your work out into the world and sustaining your writing practice

“Vital skills that have set me on the right path. I’m leaving this totally inspired!”

Who’s it for?
The programme is for young writers aged 17–30 who are new to poetry or want to build on or refresh their understanding of poetry craft and techniques. As it’s on Zoom, it’s open to writers from across the North and Midlands. Both those who’ve taken part in poetry workshops or courses before and those new to them are welcome to apply. We’re also keen to hear from people who feel they wouldn’t normally be able to access this kind of opportunity.

You might be curious about writing poetry but unsure where to start, or have been writing for a while and want to strengthen your understanding of the craft. Perhaps you’d like to refresh your skills, explore new approaches or gain more confidence in your writing. You might have poems you’d like to develop but aren’t sure how to edit them, or simply want the inspiration and encouragement to write more regularly. Whatever stage you’re at, the programme is designed to help you develop your skills, write new work and take your poetry further.

The programme also offers a great foundation for anyone interested in joining Hive Poetry Collective, our ongoing online poetry workshop group. Visit here for more details.

How the programme works
The six Sunday evening workshops will explore different aspects of poetry craft through inspiring examples, writing exercises and discussion. Individual mentoring will begin a few weeks into the programme, with one-to-one sessions alongside other forms of feedback and support.

Workshop dates: Sundays 10th | 17th | 24th | 31st Jan & 7th | 14th Feb 2027, 5.30–7.30pm, on Zoom.
We’d love for you to leave with new drafts and poems to develop further, practical techniques and resources to return to, creative connections and the confidence and motivation to keep writing.

How to apply
We ask for a little information about you and a writing sample – not to judge your work, but to help us understand where you’re at and whether the programme will be a good fit for you. Please send (in one Word or RTF document, with your age, date of birth, contact number and home or term-time address at the top):

• A small sample of your poetry, up to 3 poems. They can be draft ideas or finished pieces. No pressure at all if you don’t have much to send 🙂
• A little about yourself and your writing interests. You might tell us about your writing experience, what interests you about poetry, any goals and anything you’d particularly like to explore or develop through the programme and mentoring. (Up to 300 words)

With ‘Poetry Programme’ in the subject line, send it to [email protected] by Tues 15 Dec 2026. Places will be limited to keep the group small and supportive. We’ll be in touch with everyone by 19 Dec. If you have any questions, please do email us!

Cost & bursaries
The programme includes six weeks of live poetry workshops, one-to-one support, writing resources and practical guidance to take away. Thanks to funding from Arts Council England through Word Honey, celebrating a decade of Hive, the programme fee is subsidised to make professional writing development more accessible to young writers.

Standard subsidised fee: £150 | bursaries
We know that even a subsidised fee won’t be affordable for everyone, so we’re offering a limited number of additional bursary discounts of 30% and 70% off the standard fee for young writers who would otherwise struggle to take part.

If you’d like to be considered for a bursary, please mention this in your application, specifying which discount you’re applying for and briefly telling us about your circumstances. We ask applicants to request only the support they genuinely need, so we can help as many young writers as possible.Places and bursary funding are limited, so where places are offered, we may not be able to offer the bursary discount requested.

About Vicky Morris

Vicky Morris is a British/Welsh poet based in Sheffield. Her debut chapbook If All This Never Happened was a winner of the Munster Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition 2021 and was shortlisted in the Saboteur Awards for Best Poetry Pamphlet 21/22. Her poetry has appeared in places like The Rialto, The Poetry Review, Magma, Poetry Wales and The North. She has been placed in various competitions including winning the Aurora Prize for Poetry 2020, and the Prole Laureate Competition in 2019. Vicky is the founder of Hive Young Writers, and in 2019 received a Sarah Nulty Award for her impact developing younger writers across the region. She was an Arvon/Jerwood 2019 mentee, and was shortlisted for the Mairtín Crawford Award 2022.