Festival of form: interactive poetry workshop

This is a paid workshop. Please register via the website.
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Writing poetry in form can seem overwhelming to people trying poetry for the first time, and even seasoned poets. Strangely enough, writing to form can be a form of liberation. Stanza structure, rhyme and rhythm create a point of focus, liberating the brain to find inventive ways of expression within the restrictions. The Festival of Form is dedicated to finding new ways of learning and creativity via traditional poetic forms.

The three facilitators, all experienced poets, create a festive atmosphere of fun and investigation based on a market place idea with one poet at each stall that participants can visit and try out new or polish existing skills. No experience of writing poetry or knowledge about poetic forms needed, all will be revealed on the day.

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AGENDA

⭐15.30-16:00 Three poets introduce the three forms: Emma Woodford - Ghazal, Laura Davis - Sonnet, Julia Rose Lewis - Sevenling.

⭐16.00-17:00 Market Stalls (participants should be able to visit 2 stalls and spend 30 minutes on each)

Stall 1 Sonnet
The sonnet has been around for 700 years. It’s a great way to explore em

ions. It includes a change in thought and ends with a change in perspective.

Stall 2 Sevenling
The sevenling form helps newer writers learn to write turns into their poems. It has been described as a poem with a twist as it explores contrasting ideas.

Stall 3 Ghazal
This ancient poetic form was originally a love poem and comes from ancient Persian, Hindi and other Asian poetic traditions. The ghazal (prounounced guzzle) themes include loss or

onging and is a powerful form for expressing both concern and joy.

⭐17.00-17:30 Group discussion, sharing and conclusion

OPTIONAL
⭐18.00 to 20.00 Brussels Camarade in the Arenberg room
The Brussels Camarade is a perfect follow-up to the Festival of Form as it celebrates collaborative poetry. Workshop particip

ts are invited to watch a band of poets from Belgium and the UK perform poems written for this occasion.

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FACILITATORS:
Laura Davis is a poet who works across media. Her latest pamphlet Frayed Edges (Femmesocial Press, 2026) combines an essay with text and textile poems. She curates

e Brussels Camarade. She once knitted a sonnet IG: @lauradavis1709

Julia Rose Lewis is the author of eight poetry collections, the most recent of which is Traumatism (Knives Forks Spoons Press 2026). IG: @lilysbarnmate

Emma Woodford is a British Belgian poet whose first pamphlet, Wingless I Watch was published in 2024. IG: @hibouemma