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Writing Poetry

w/ Eileen Chong

Explore the fundamentals of poetic craft in this practical six week course with award-winning poet, Eileen Chong. Delivered over two months, participants will be taken through a series of workshops designed to illuminate the many tools that we unconsciously utilise in writing, and showcase how to use them with greater intent, to greater impact.

Wednesdays 6.30pm – 8.30pm (AEDT)
30 October – 18 December 2024 

$620 / $527 alumni


Join acclaimed poet Eileen Chong to explore the fundamentals of poetic craft in this practical six week course. Delivered over two months, participants will be taken through a series of workshops designed to illuminate the many tools that we unconsciously utilise in writing, and showcase how to use them with greater intent, to greater impact.

You will be part of a supportive learning environment designed to get you started – or re-started – on your journey to writing and publishing poetry.

Using examples from classic and contemporary poetry, we will discuss the components that make up great writing, isolating various techniques to gain a more sophisticated understanding of what makes great poems work, and how to apply that to your own poems.

The course will be delivered over 8 weeks: 3 weeks of coursework on image, sound, and line, as well as workshopping participants’ work, followed by a two-week writing break and a final 3 weeks focused on form, revision, and publication pathways.

By the end of the course you will have:

  • Gained an understanding of important poetic techniques and forms;
  • Bolstered your abilities and interest in writing poetry;
  • Received constructive and rigorous feedback on your writing, so that you can measure your improvement.

Your course includes:

  • 6 weeks of 2-hour evening tutorials
  • A complimentary copy of a recent Faber & Faber poetry publication
  • Feedback from your tutor and peers on two poems
  • On completion of the course, alumni discounts on future Faber Writing Academy courses and books from the Allen & Unwin Website

Please note this course will be delivered online and all times refer to Australian Eastern Daylight Time.


Writers you'll be working with:

Eileen Chong

Eileen Chong is a poet based in Sydney, Australia. She was born in Singapore of Hakka, Hokkien and Peranakan (Straits Chinese) descent.  Her poetry collections are Burning Rice (2012), Peony (2014), Painting Red Orchids (2016), and Rainforest (2018), all from Pitt Street Poetry, Sydney. Her most recent collection is A Thousand Crimson Blooms from the University of Queensland Press (2021). We Speak of Flowers is…

Course outline

Session 1: Wednesday 30 October
Introduction to poetry
In this class, we will undertake a broad overview of poetry. What defines poetry? What are its origins? What purpose might poetry serve? We will consider several perspectives on poetry, and discuss possible workshopping structures for your own poems.

Session 2: Wednesday 6 November
The fruit and the flower
How might a poem come about? What plants the seeds of a poem? How do we bring about a successful poem? We will read and discuss several published poems, and embark on several writing exercises designed to generate possible poems.

Session 3: Wednesday 13 November
The forms of poetry I
How do poets decide where to begin and end a line of poetry? What is the relationship between form and content? We will examine several established forms of poetry: the sonnet, the pantoum and the villanelle, and try our hand at writing in one or more forms.

Two week break to apply skills learned to second round of workshopping.

Session 4: Wednesday 4 December
The forms of poetry II
We continue our exploration of poetic forms: today we examine syllabic poetry, the ghazal, and the prose poem, and write in response to a number of generative prompts.

Session 5: Wednesday 11 December
The art of revision
The first draft of a poem is just that—a first draft. What are some of the ways we can revise and refine our work? How do we know when a poem is ‘finished’? We will examine and practice some techniques of revision and learn how to incorporate this into our writing practice.

Session 6: Wednesday 18 December
Pathways to publication
In this final session we will address the practicalities around getting your work published. What are some of the possibilities around sharing your work? We will also discuss the various ways in which poets can maintain a writing practice over time, and how poetry can connect you with a broader writing community.

How to Book

This course has one scholarship place available for a writer who would otherwise not be able to afford to attend. Applications from people who identify as diverse (eg. Indigenous, minority ethnic background, LGBTIQA, living with disability) are especially welcome.

To apply, please submit a link to a published poem, along with a cover letter outlining why you are interested in the course, and how you would benefit from the scholarship. Please address applications to Pip Smith at faberwritingacademy@allenandunwin.com, with the subject line ‘Scholarship Application: Writing Poetry’.

Applications for this scholarship will close on Thursday 17 October 2024.

Purchase Includes 10% tax