WICE have asked me to run my successful poetry class again,

Writing Poetry – Craft and Inspiration

starting 30th September.

This will be a hybrid class – you can attend either in person or online. That way we can run it successfully despite Covid, strikes or bad weather. You can attend any or all of the classes online, whether it’s just that you’re outside Paris or it’s because you need to self-isolate.

Course description:

A poet needs both something to write about and skill in writing. We will focus on these two themes so important in strong poetry – finding inspiration and mastering elements of craft. Each week we will do some writing in class and a homework task will be set so that we can share what we’ve written the following week. Teaching will cover how to write stronger poetry and where to find sources of inspiration. All levels of experience welcome.

I’m confident the class will thrive as it has in previous years – developing a strong sense of mutual support and community around the writing and sharing of poetry.

Maximum of 7 participants.

Dates and times:

It will be 3.30pm – 5.30pm every Wednesday for 6 weeks.

• Sept 30th
• Oct 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
• Nov 4th

Fees: €195 euros + WICE membership fee of €25/30/50

Staying safe:

In the classroom we’ll wear masks and be 1m apart. Everyone will have their own desk and chair and surfaces will be wiped down. If anyone develops symptoms that could be Covid then they can still attend online. Similarly if they have been in close contact with someone contagious.

About the teacher:

David Barnes is a British poet who ran a weekly writers’ workshop at Shakespeare & Company for a decade and organises and runs the open mike poetry night SpokenWord Paris, now in its 15th year. He is the Editor in Chief of The Bastille literary magazine and was co-editor of Strangers in Paris – New Writing Inspired by the City of Light (2011, Tightrope Books) which included work by such writers as Alice Notley, Jorie Graham and John Berger. His poetry has been published in various magazines. He is a teacher and psychotherapist.

In August he was the featured poet at Literary Lavatory, Obejvak, Prague.

Signing up for the course:

Register online here
or contact WICE and give the course code or name:

WS301 Writing Poetry – Craft and Inspiration

WICE: Where Internationals Connect in English
www.wice-paris.org
Tel 01 45 66 75 50
10 rue Tiphaine, 75015 Paris

Cheers all,
David Barnes