Writing Workshops

In this cosy and inspiring workshop, we’ll be exploring food in poetry as a conduit for memory, unlocking emotional responses by looking at the way we cook and eat. With a range of contemporary poems on food to whet your appetite, there will be a selection of prompts and writing exercises to help you gather ideas and get started on several new poems. Suitable for writers of all levels - snacks encouraged! 

Gentle and generative, all levels are welcome; if this is your first poetry workshop, wonderful, if this is your 3rd poetry workshop this month you will be inspired to write more poems!

Numbers limited to 16

Fee: £30

Places are limited and go fast so early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Jen Feroze has just won first prize in the Charles Causley International Poetry Competion ✨ With her moving poem “You are strapping your toddler into the car seat”.

She lives by the sea in Essex.

Her poetry has appeared in publications including Poetry Wales, Magma, Under the Radar, Butcher's Dog, Black Iris, The Interpreter's House, And Other Poems and The Alchemy Spoon. She has published two pamphlets - Tiny Bright Thorns and A Dress With Deep Pockets, the latter of which won the 2024 Poetry Business International Book & Pamphlet Competition.

She won the 2025 Black Cat Poetry Press Competition, was highly commended in the 2025 Ware Poets Prize, commended in the 2025 Winchester Poetry Prize and shortlisted in the 2025 Live Canon International Poetry Prize.

Jen writes personal poems on the spot on her vintage typewriter at weddings, festivals and events, and she is the resident poet at London's Poetry Pharmacy. 

Cancellation policy: non-refundable

Calling all Oxford writers (or writers coming to Oxford!)

NO NEED TO BOOK - JUST COME ALONG!

Introducing the inaugural monthly Writers’ Night at the Lamb & Flag. 6pm-8:30pm Sunday 31st May with readings of the month’s winning Short Fiction and Poetry Open mic.

• Short Prose Perfomances (chosen by submission) 6pm start.

• Interval and mingle with other writers 6:45pm.

• Poetry Open Mic 7:30pm.

Submissions now open for 100-500 words of engaging prose for first half of evening. This month’s THEME: “A new community” and/or “Safety in Numbers”.

How you tackle that is up to you. Thrill and enthrall us! What we are looking for are 100-500 words with an immediate hook/opening; vivid/memorable descriptions and/or dialogue; and strong last lines. Get writing and send those words in!

Prose reader places are limited so will be chosen for variety and quality by submission. Length 100-500words max by Friday 19th June to Kate (hello@kateoldfieldwrites.com)

Successful readers will be notified by Friday 26th.

There will also be 1-2 wildcard spaces available on the night.

Poets no need to submit - just turn up on the night.

Everyone welcome: come along to support the brave performers!

Jack and Kate

Are you writing fiction set in a particular time in the past, with a need to research your period and characters? That is an essential part of the work of course, but there comes a time when you just need to write it. 

Sure, you need to understand the nuts and the bolts of your genre, the methods, the readership’s requirements.

And of course you need to know that you have done the right research, the right kind of research, the right amount of research.

And then there is the planning, the plotting, the paving the route of your writing strategy….

Er… This is getting ridiculous, look I need to tidy my desk, the sitting room, the neighbour’s garden.

Oh, and I should really see the hygienist before I settle down to write…

Stop! Planning is becoming procrastination!

The book is safest on paper. You can’t edit an empty page. Just set your research aside and start to tell your story.

Emma Darwin is here to help. She is an inspiring and deeply experienced teacher and mentor of creative writing who believes that all anyone needs to write well is the desire to work at it, plenty of paper and pens, and access to a good, big library. And that at some point, you just have to get on with it!

In this 2-hour workshop packed to the brim with essential information, guidance and pointers - and lots of writing tasks - Emma will give you all you need to know – and the permission (if that’s what the Imposter Syndrome is telling you you need!) – to just get down to it and write.

And you will write in the session. So you will have started!

And there will be an illuminating Q&A to pick up anything that hasn’t been covered.

Whether you are battling to finish your first draft, proudly completing your development edit, struggling to put pen to paper or just wondering if Historical Fiction is something you want to write at all, this workshop is for you.

Come and join us. Jump-start the process of becoming that better Historical Fiction writer, now!

All levels welcome

Fee: £30

Emma Darwin’s The Bruegel Boy has just been published to critical acclaim and was The Times Historical Fiction book of the month. Her other bestselling novels have been nominated for several awards including the Commonwealth Writers and RNA Novel of the Year. She is the author of Get Started in Writing Historical Fiction and This is Not a Book about Charles Darwin. Her brilliant Substack ‘This Itch of Writing’ is a must-subscribe space, full of essential advice to all writers of all levels and genres. Emma has taught at Goldsmiths and Oxford University, and is a creative writing tutor, editor and mentor.

Cancellation policy: non-refundable

Join poets Carl Tomlinson and Kate Oldfield for a short walk through a long history as we explore Oxford’s canalside. We’ll look at places that have changed and think about places that have changed us. Away from the dreaming spires, we’ll be considering the trade and transport which shaped this area. 

After our walk, there’ll be time to reflect and write. Expect good conversation and generative prompts.

All are welcome, whatever level you believe yourself to be. Just come with pen, paper and your imagination.

The workshop involves a one-hour walk*. 

On Saturday 28th February, participants will meet at a location by the train station/canal. From there we shall walk over to and up the canal in Jericho, and then on to the Lamb and Flag pub in St Giles where we will be greeted with a warm welcome, tea, coffee and cake!

The writing part of the workshop will begin in earnest with inspiring prompts. There will be time to share - but that’s not compulsory.

Places are limited and booking is essential.

Fee: £35. 

There will be tea/coffee and a pastry on arrival at the Lamb & Flag. Please bring a packed lunch or buy your lunch before we get to the venue. Please wear comfortable shoes for walking a mostly flat path. Please also be prepared for British weather.

The workshop will end at 1pm but everyone is welcome to stay on and chat in the pub!

*If you would like to participate and have limited mobility, get in touch and we’ll discuss alternative arrangements.

Any queries to hello@kateoldfieldwrites.com. 

Carl Tomlinson lives on a smallholding in rural Oxfordshire. His poems have appeared in Orbis, South, The Alchemy Spoon, The Hope Valley Journal, Spelt, and several anthologies. His poem ‘Market Forces’ won the Shout out for the Oxford Covered Market competition, and now forms part of the market’s audio guide. 

Carl’s debut pamphlet, Changing Places was published in 2021 by Fair Acre Press. Helen Mort says of it that it ‘challenge[s] us to move beyond a naïve appreciation of the ‘natural’ and recognise the ways that our landscapes have been profoundly altered by human presence’.

Kate Oldfield is a writer and poet who also runs writing workshops, retreats and events in Oxford and beyond. She worked in publishing for over twenty years, latterly as a writing mentor, ‘book fixer’ and ghost-writer. She is qualified in therapeutic and reflective writing practices and specialises in helping people find their creative potential and writers their voice. She is halfway through the first draft of her first novel and has her published in magazines such as Alchemy Spoon and Spelt Magazine.

Join Jen Feroze for a cosy, generative poetry workshop, in which we’ll examine the concept of home and look at the extraordinary that can be found in the seemingly ordinary.

We’ll be looking at poems that celebrate the domestic; that centre around our routines, the little rituals and traditions we create without even realising it. 

You’ll receive a series of prompts and exercises that will help you to pin down what it is that turns a house into a home, and find ways to define what home means to you. 

Come find the magic!

All levels are welcome - if this is your first poetry workshop, wonderful! If this is your 3rd poetry workshop this month you will be inspired to write more poems!

Numbers limited to 16

Fee: £30

Places are limited and go fast so early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Jen Feroze lives by the sea in Essex. Her poetry has appeared in publications including Poetry Wales, Magma, Under the Radar, Butcher's Dog, Black Iris, The Interpreter's House, And Other Poems and The Alchemy Spoon. She has published two pamphlets - Tiny Bright Thorns and A Dress With Deep Pockets, the latter of which won the 2024 Poetry Business International Book & Pamphlet Competition. She won the 2025 Black Cat Poetry Press Competition, was highly commended in the 2025 Ware Poets Prize, commended in the 2025 Winchester Poetry Prize and shortlisted in the 2025 Live Canon International Poetry Prize. Jen writes personal poems on the spot on her vintage typewriter at weddings, festivals and events, and she is the resident poet at London's Poetry Pharmacy. 

Cancellation policy: non-refundable

“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” Dorothea Lange

In our fast-paced world, mindful photography & reflective writing help us to slow down, take a moment and notice the beauty all around us. It’s not about the kit, or learning to take technically perfect photographs, or writing like a best-selling novelist, it’s about looking at the world with fresh eyes and finding ways to engage more deeply with our environment and the moment that we are in, now.

Join us for a mindful photography & reflective writing session. No experience required – just bring your smartphone or your camera, something to write with and your curiosity!

We will meet at the Lamb & Flag in Oxford, with all its wonderful literary connections. There will be coffee and cake then we will have a mindful wander and return for a cozy writing session with prompts. This session is appropriate for seasoned writers and absolute beginners alike.

The workshop involves a 30 minute walk*. Please wear comfortable shoes for walking flat pavements and cobbles. Please also be prepared for British weather. There will be time to share - but that’s not compulsory.

Jo is qualified in mindful photography techniques and Kate in reflective and therapeutic writing practice. They both live and love walking around Oxford deepening their attention with the camera and the pen!

Places are limited and booking is essential.

Fee: £30. 

Jo is a photographer with a particular interest in exploring the natural world and using mindful photography to connect more deeply with our environment and ourselves. Since training in mindful photography techniques with Look Again, Jo has delivered sessions around Oxfordshire including at Boundary Brook Nature Reserve, the Trap Grounds and Bridge Street Community Garden. You can see Jo’s work on Instagram @jo_pix_

Kate is a writer and poet who also runs writing workshops, retreats and events in Oxford and beyond. She worked in publishing for over twenty years, latterly as a writing mentor, ‘book fixer’ and ghost-writer. She is qualified in therapeutic and reflective writing practices and specialises in helping people find their creative potential and writers their voice. She is halfway through the first draft of her first novel and has her published in magazines such as Alchemy Spoon and Spelt Magazine

*If you would like to participate and have limited mobility, get in touch and we’ll discuss alternative arrangements.

Places are limited and go fast so early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Cancellation policy: non-refundable

JOIN THE WAITLIST and we will be in touch if a place becomes available. But please note that due to the popularity of this workshop we will be RE-RUNNING IT IN JANUARY – drop us a line to register your interest. As the nights draw in, join Jen Feroze for a gentle, generative and uplifting writing workshop. We'll hunker down and look for the light, with a series of writing prompts and exercises that will encourage you to think about where you find comfort, brightness and spark. 

Jen says: There's a definite magic about this time of year, as we head towards the longest night. The run up to the festive period adds a sort of glimmering to the periphery of everything – trees and stars and garlands and gold. But there's a wildness to the season too, a feeling of being on the cusp between beginnings and endings, joy and sadness, light and dark. 

We'll be examining this liminality together, with scope for the creation of poems about people, memory, nature and place, shining light on what's important to us, and leaving with new flickering flames of ideas – a row of personal candles in a darkened window. 

Come prepared for a cozy and inspiring workshop over 90 minutes and expect to leave with many seeds of new poems and ideas for many more!

Numbers limited to 12.

Fee: £30

Places are limited and go fast so early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Jen Feroze lives by the sea in Essex. Her poetry has appeared in publications including Poetry Wales, Magma, Under the Radar, Butcher's Dog, Black Iris, The Interpreter's House, And Other Poems and The Alchemy Spoon. She has published two pamphlets - Tiny Bright Thorns and A Dress With Deep Pockets, the latter of which won the 2024 Poetry Business International Book & Pamphlet Competition. She won the 2025 Black Cat Poetry Press Competition, was highly commended in the 2025 Ware Poets Prize, commended in the 2025 Winchester Poetry Prize and shortlisted in the 2025 Live Canon International Poetry Prize. Jen writes personal poems on the spot on her vintage typewriter at weddings, festivals and events, and she is the resident poet at London's Poetry Pharmacy. 

Cancellation policy: non-refundable

SOLD OUT but if we have enough interest, we will run a repeat workshop - please scroll down to the bottom of this page and add your name to the waitlist to register your interest! Thank you.

Join poet Sarah Doyle on Sunday 9th February for one of her ever-popular ekphrastic* poetry workshops.

“The poem that merely replicates the painting (or other visual work) seems flat indeed. It should add something in its language that takes off from the picture, or talks back to it.” – The Poetry Dictionary, John Drury

Sarah writes: ‘The poet’s imagination is as vital to the poem as the original object to which they are responding. The poet brings a personal interpretation and adds layers of meaning, so we might even come to regard works of art in a new light as a result of writing – or reading – ekphrastic poetry. That doesn’t mean that some descriptive detail isn’t welcome; simply that description without interpretation or response may not result in an engaging poem.

‘For me, standing in front of a work of art is a profoundly affecting experience, and one that feels active and engaged, rather than simply being a passive receptacle for colours and shapes. I can’t help but imagine the painting coming to life, full of sounds and smells, temperature and light. I picture what might have been painted beyond the frame, and imagine what the subjects might be thinking or feeling. I also think of the artist and their sitters, of the relationships between them; and of modes of production, whether in a studio, or on location. I allow my imagination to run wild, I build stories in my mind, and I channel these into ekphrastic poems inspired not only by the work itself, but by my experience of viewing it.’

Come prepared for a dynamic and inspiring workshop over 2.5 hours and expect to leave with many seeds of new poems and ideas for many more!

*‘Ekphrasis’ means ‘description’ in Greek. An ekphrastic poem is most commonly a vivid description and engagement with a work of art.

Numbers limited to 12.

Fee: £30

What people have said about Sarah:

Wow! That was amazing. Thank you so much for all the work you must have put into it beforehand and for your careful, wise and compassionate stewardship. – CD

Sarah, thank you so much for your inspirational workshop, You delivered such an absorbing and thoughtful two hours. I have been working on my poem all evening, sneaking off whenever I can to enjoy the process. It has been ages since I have been so enthused by poetry. – SW

Thank you so much for running such a generous, inspiring and all-round delightful workshop – the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon! – ES

Places are limited, early booking recommended to avoid disappointment.

Sarah Doyle is Poet-in-Residence to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, for whom she co-judges an annual poetry competition and writes commissioned ekphrasis responding to the lives and work of the Pre-Raphaelite circle. Sarah’s poetry has been published in journals including Spelt Magazine, Wild Court, Under the Radar,Atrium, Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, Mslexia, Finished Creatures, and The Lonely Crowd; and in anthologies from publishers such as Broken Sleep, The Emma Press, Paper Swans, Shoreline of Infinity, and Places of Poetry. In 2023 Sarah won 1st prize in the Ver Poets Open Poetry Competition, was highly commended in the Ginkgo Prize for Ecopoetry, and was longlisted in the 2022 National Poetry Competition. She is a former winner of the William Blake Poetry Prize, the Wolverhampton Literature Festival poetry competition and Holland Park Press’s Brexit in Poetry; and has been a runner-up in the Keats-Shelley Poetry Prize and Essay Prize. A pamphlet of poems collaged from fragments of Dorothy Wordsworth’s journals – Something so wild and new in this feeling – was published by V. Press in 2021, and her second pamphlet, (m)othersongs, was released by the same publisher in autumn 2023. Sarah holds an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway College, University of London, and works as a freelance poetry mentor and workshop leader.

Cancellation policy: non-refundable

IMPORTANT: Please email hello@kateoldfieldwrites.com with a note of each session you have paid for so that you can be sent the session Zoom link. (More than one session may be purchased at the same time.)

PLEASE NOTE BOOKING CLOSES AT 7PM UK ON THE DAY OF EACH SESSION - Zoom links may not be able to be sent out after that time of the evening of the session.

Forthcoming sessions (drop in):

• Monday 9th September

• Monday 16th September

• Monday 23rd September

• Monday 30th September

• Monday 7th October

• Monday 14th October

Join us for a gentle but inspiring Monday evening hour to help bring you a sense of connection with your authentic voice, your self, your body, your own stories, and your creative intention for the week ahead.

Sessions include breathwork, embodied visualisation, mindfulness and meditation; gentle reflective writing prompts; and closing mindful moments to set our creative intention for the week and/or our current creative projects.

Writing time can be used to follow the reflective writing prompts or to dive into your own writing projects with an enhanced feeling of focus and intention.

Please note that all microphones will be muted for the entire session for the mutual benefit of all participants.

The sessions are open to all, whatever the level writer you believe yourself to be. (Sharing our writing will not be part of the sessions.)

All you need is a private space where you will not be disturbed for the hour, a pen and paper - and a beginner's mind.

For as long as it is viable to do so, sessions will be run on a guided pay-what-you-can basis to make them as accessible as possible.

(Self select at basket: Supported £10, and Standard £12.)

Cancellation policy: non-refundable.

[NB: This course is a repeat of the sold-out summer course.]

We are here, we have survived. But is that enough?

Join us as we set out on a creative and reflective ‘journey’ to the self and to new stories.

We will use Bridge's 'Transitions' Map' as guide: from Letting Go; through Moving in Between towards Acceptance and New Beginnings.

Participant numbers will be limited to 8.

For women’s lives, change is so prevalent. Many of these things are common experiences: hormonal change, changes in independence and dependence, loss, grief, isolation, empty nests, divorce, retirement, loss of income – to name but a few.

How can we navigate our journey using our own gifts and wisdom, rather than using the familiar demands and expectations of the ‘hero’s journey’, made popular through myth, fairy tale and film?

How might we find and claim new stories of fulfilment and self-expression through challenging times, which might feel more authentic, and help us heal and move on?

How can we use these new stories to create different, more fulfilling, expanded, safer, more sustainable lives, for ourselves and those around us?

In this 5-week programme of 2-hour workshops, we will look at our stories through the lenses of the seasons and of the cycles of life. We will share readings and discussions and have plenty of time to write in response to these.

Come and share and reclaim your own story in these safe and inspirational workshops.

These sessions are for reflective and therapeutic writing, and whilst experienced writers are welcome so too are beginners, who will be able to reap equal rewards.

We will use the poetry of writers such as Mary Oliver, Denise Levertov and Alice Walker as touchstones and signposts as we travel together. And we will consider the ideas of writers who have done so much work in this field, such as Sharon Blackie (If Women Rose Rooted) and Maureen Murdock (The Heroine’s Journey).

You can expect gentle yet inspirational and revealing writing prompts. You can also expect conversations about love and loss, determination and resilience, being and becoming, escape and transformation, creativity and community – and self-realization. 

There will be a chance to share a few lines of our own – although there is no obligation to do so.

You will gain a sense of deepened connection and curiosity – and a collection of original writing ‘stubs’ which might flourish as future writing projects or maps of your continuing journey.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this course, please do get in touch. hello@kateoldfieldwrites.com

Fee: £160 (or a limited number of £120 concession spaces) for this 5-workshop programme

Please self-select, knowing that those that can afford the standard price can help others in a less fortunate position to attend the course, while at the same time supporting the facilitators to your best ability.

Programme led by Kate Oldfield.

Kate Oldfield runs creative writing workshops at The Writing Well. She finds her own voice in poetry and is finishing the first draft of a novel set in Scotland in WW2, based on true events.

After choosing to study art history and English under leading feminist tutors at Leeds University such as Grizelda Pollock for her BA and at the Courtauld for her Masters, she moved into the publishing industry, in which she worked for over twenty years. After her third child, she adjusted her consultancy work to become a writing mentor, ghost-writer and ‘book fixer’. She is now qualified in therapeutic and reflective writing practices (Professional Writing Academy, 2020). She has been running workshops – teaching creative writing skills, writing for wellbeing, and collaborative poetry sessions – since 2019.

What people have said about Kate:

"Kate is a clever and kind facilitator who includes everyone and keeps the pace, and can evoke and stimulate people to be their best creative selves.  I love it. A doctor could prescribe it; it’s uplifting and thought-provoking."    Lucy

“Kate, it’s how you flow and keep everybody very engaged… you allow us all to feel safe enough to admit our vulnerability, and then the rest of the group becomes so connected because of that safe sharing process. It's beautiful Katie, thank you so much. I'm so happy that I found you.” Participant

“The Creative Connections workshops sounded like an excellent opportunity to connect with others who share a desire to release the creative spirit. They are a safe, nurturing place in which to explore and create. I haven’t been disappointed. Under the caring and positive guidance of Kate, I have started to unblock my creativity. Each session offers something new, exciting and challenging.”    Linda

“There is an unfolding, a dawning of confidence, a growing enthusiasm, then a welling then a spilling of ideas and associations from the stew of all of us mixed together. Faint hearts are warmed, doubts and diffidence banished. You hold the group together, reflect us back and knit bits back into the mix. We do in fact indeed ‘blossom and flourish’ as the hymn has it. I think that’s remarkable.”    Sally

These online sessions are hosted and curated by Kate Oldfield.

Step away from your daily chores for an hour and lose yourself in the creative process. The Creative Connection hour is a weekly online workshop: expect curated conversation, shared story-telling and gentle writing prompts to give your creativity a boost and foster a sense of connection in a small and supportive community. Warning: poem-making and short-form creative writing may happen without any effort or previous understanding!

All are welcome whether you are an accomplished or a reluctant writer – there is a place for everyone. Just come with a beginner’s mind.

There are currently spaces in our Wednesday session (4pm UK time). Contact Kate if you would like to know a little more.

Fees: Pay for a 6-week block

Fee structure:

"I am doing OK thanks and I can pay £15 per session" x 6 sessions = £90

"I am doing well thanks and would like to support those who are struggling to pay so I will pay £20 per session" x 6 sessions = £120

"I would struggle to pay £15 per session so I will pay £12 per session" x 6 sessions = £72

(If you need a greater concession please contact Kate)

What people have said: ‘It’s wonderful to be in a group of supportive people from all different walks of life and experiences, and the time flies by. It is more than just connecting and being creative; Kate manages to bring out the magic in life and helps us see the world through refreshed eyes. - Isobel

Cancellation policy: non-refundable

This workshop will guide you from Sei Shōnagon’s tenth century 枕草子, Makura no Sōshi: The Pillow Book, through to contemporary zuihitsu from around the world. There will be examples of zuihitsu from Japanese, Asian-American and British poets, including the author of ‘The Narrow Road to the Interior’, Kimiko Hahn and Manx poet Simon Maddrell.

Zuihitsu means ‘follow the brush’ and the form has been widely interpreted to include collage as well as words and recast in the form of a ‘disrupted zuihitsu’, by Karen McCarthy Woolf. But what exactly are the traits of a zuihitsu?

Alex will introduce traditional and modern examples of zuihitsu using a wide range of texts and audio materials so we can excavate the form. There will be many opportunities for discussion and Alex will bring her Masters in Japanese Language and Culture, and ten years’ experience of life in Japan, to help unpack the form. There will be imaginative writing prompts, a chance to share your written responses and takeaway readings to gear you up to produce your own Pillow Book!

Numbers limited to 16.

Fee: £30

What people have said about Alex:

She is a wonderfully inspiring and generous facilitator who is always thinking about the best way to combine the space to practice writing poems with learning from already established poets. 

Alex facilitated in a warm, thoughtful and supportive manner which created a safe space for participants to share ideas and extracts from their writing.

She has provided a rich mix of innovative material, facilitated inspired group discussions, and I have come away buzzing with ideas for new work!

Alex's workshops have introduced me to some of my new favourite writers. I would wholeheartedly recommend!

Places are limited, early booking recommended to avoid disappointment.

Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana has an MA in Writing Poetry from Newcastle University and an MA in Japanese Language from Sheffield University. Until this December, she also taught creative writing at Newcastle University.

 She has an intimate knowledge of Japanese poetic form, having lived in Japan for ten years.

Her most recent work appeared in PN Review,The Moth, Poetry Wales, Fenland Poetry Journal, Tears in the Fence and The Alchemy Spoon. Online her poems can be read in Anthropocene, The High Window and London Grip.

She came third in the 2020 Oxford Brookes International Poetry competition, has been shortlisted for the Winchester and Troubadour prizes, and had two poems shortlisted by Billy Collins, for the 2022 Fish Prize.

 Her debut collection, Sing Me Down from the Dark, is published by SALT.

 Praise for Sing Me Down From the Dark:

‘Charting a cross-cultural relationship through courtship, wedding and a marriage’s slow disintegration, this collection carries us across continents and years through love, disappointment and anger towards a new beginning. Vulnerable, direct and formally exact, these are generous, courageous and devastating poems that will draw you in, hold you close and leave you feeling wrung out but triumphant.’
—Jacqueline Saphra

Cancellation policy: non-refundable

Join Kate Oldfield for a day of mindful noticing and gentle writing prompts in the beautiful surroundings of High Paradise Farm. With wild moors behind and, what James Herriot called, ‘the most beautiful view in England’ spreading out below, this is a fantastic opportunity to make time for yourself and find your own voice, in Paradise.

All are welcome, whatever level you believe yourself to be. Kate can tailor the day (and the writing prompts) to individual needs.

Most importantly, it is fun and friendly. Just come with a pen and paper and a beginner’s mind.

Places are limited, booking essential.

 £125 to include coffee, lunch & tea. (Fabulous homemade food from the tearooms made with local ingredients).

(One concession place is available through generous sponsorship – please contact Kate to enquire via the website enquiry form for more.)

Led by Kate Oldfield, writer, poet, writing mentor and curator of creative communities at The Writing Well.

What does the session include?

This workshop includes 4 writing sessions; a small amount of walking in the local environment; breaks for morning refreshments, lunch and afternoon tea included.

What people have said about previous High Paradise workshops:

"Brilliant - it just flew by too quickly. It was laid back but had enough structure too. Amazing venue and food and drink. Beyond expectations.”

“Life changing.”

What people have said about Kate:

"Kate is a clever, kind facilitator who includes everyone, keeps the pace, unwrapping our best creative selves. I love it; a doctor should prescribe it.”

"Fabulous: kind, encouraging, organised. (Kate) created a safe space for all - educated and inspiring!”

Some of the world's best literature has been penned by Japanese women.

Alex will guide you through the centuries from the magical tanka and zuihitsu of the ladies of the 10th-century court,  such as Ono no Komachi and Sei Shonagon, to some incredible female contemporary writers, including Kimiko Hahn and Tamiko Dooley. 

The workshop will illuminate different poetical forms and how Japanese cultural concepts might be useful tools for changing our writing mindset and enhancing our poems.

Expect plenty of generative prompts, bespoke audio materials, examples of Japanese scripts, and a chance to share your written responses. Alex will utilise her experience of Japanese culture to throw light on these fascinating writings.

Numbers limited to 16.

Fee: £30

What people have said about Alex:

She is a wonderfully inspiring and generous facilitator who is always thinking about the best way to combine the space to practice writing poems with learning from already established poets. 

Alex facilitated in a warm, thoughtful and supportive manner which created a safe space for participants to share ideas and extracts from their writing.

She has provided a rich mix of innovative material, facilitated inspired group discussions, and I have come away buzzing with ideas for new work!

Alex's workshops have introduced me to some of my new favourite writers. I would wholeheartedly recommend!

Places are limited, early booking recommended to avoid disappointment.

Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana has an MA in Writing Poetry from Newcastle University and an MA in Japanese Language from Sheffield University. Until this December, she also taught creative writing at Newcastle University.

 She has an intimate knowledge of Japanese poetic form, having lived in Japan for ten years.

Her most recent work appeared in PN Review, The Moth, Poetry Wales, Fenland Poetry Journal, Tears in the Fence and The Alchemy Spoon. Online her poems can be read in Anthropocene, The High Window and London Grip.

She came third in the 2020 Oxford Brookes International Poetry competition, has been shortlisted for the Winchester and Troubadour prizes, and had two poems shortlisted by Billy Collins, for the 2022 Fish Prize.

 Her debut collection, Sing Me Down from the Dark, is published by SALT.

 Praise for Sing Me Down From the Dark:

‘Charting a cross-cultural relationship through courtship, wedding and a marriage’s slow disintegration, this collection carries us across continents and years through love, disappointment and anger towards a new beginning. Vulnerable, direct and formally exact, these are generous, courageous and devastating poems that will draw you in, hold you close and leave you feeling wrung out but triumphant.’
—Jacqueline Saphra

This course is now full but there is a growing WAITING LIST for another course - please do add your name to the list!

SOLD OUT.

We are here, we have survived. But is that enough?

Join us as we set out on a creative and reflective ‘journey’ to the self and to new stories.

Participant numbers will be limited to 12.

For women’s lives, change is so prevalent. Many of these things are common experiences: hormonal change, changes in independence and dependence,, loss, grief, isolation, empty nests, divorce, retirement, loss of income – to name but a few.

How can we navigate our journey using our own gifts and wisdom, rather than using the familiar demands and expectations of the ‘hero’s journey’, made popular through myth, fairy tale and film?

How might we find and claim new stories of fulfilment and self-expression through challenging times, which might feel more authentic, and help us heal and move on?

How can we use these new stories to create different, more fulfilling, expanded, safer, more sustainable lives, for ourselves and those around us?

In this 5-week programme of 2.5-hour workshops, we will look at our stories through the lenses of the seasons and of the cycles of life. We will share readings and discussions and have plenty of time to write in response to these.

Come and share and reclaim your own story in these safe and inspirational workshops.

These sessions are for reflective and therapeutic writing, and whilst experienced writers are welcome so too are beginners, who will be able to reap equal rewards.

We will use the poetry of writers such as Mary Oliver, Denise Levertov and Alice Walker as touchstones and signposts as we travel together. And we will consider the ideas of writers who ^have done so much work in this field, such as Sharon Blackie (If Women Rose Rooted) and Maureen Murdock (The Heroine’s Journey).

You can expect gentle yet inspirational and revealing writing prompts. You can also expect conversations about love and loss, determination and resilience, being and becoming, escape and transformation, creativity and community – and self-realization. 

There will be a chance to share a few lines of our own – although there is no obligation to do so.

You will gain a sense of deepened connection and curiosity – and a collection of original writing ‘stubs’ which might flourish as future writing projects or maps of your continuing journey.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this course, please do get in touch. hello@kateoldfieldwrites.com / pamwntr@aol.com

Fee: £200 (or a limited number of £150 concession spaces) for this 5-workshop programme

Please self-select, knowing that those that can afford the standard price can help others in a less fortunate position to attend the course, while at the same time supporting the facilitators to your best ability.

Programme led by Pam Winter and Kate Oldfield.

Pam Winter (BACP Snr Accred Counsellor) is a certified poetry therapist and runs a variety of personal and professional development groups using poetry therapy, expressive and reflective writing. She has a background in teaching and extensive experience as a therapist and coach. She returned to a lifelong love of poetry, journalling and the power of word for healing and change following attending a writing course on therapeutic writing with the Professional Writing Academy. Pam lives in Marsden, a small village on the edge of moorland, where she enjoys time walking and writing. For more information see her website www.path-wise.co.uk

Kate Oldfield runs creative writing workshops at The Writing Well. She finds her own voice in poetry and is finishing the first draft of a novel set in Scotland in WW2, based on true events.

After chosing to study art history and English under leading feminist tutors at Leeds University such as Grizelda Pollock for her BA and at the Courtauld for her Masters, she moved into the publishing industry, in which worked for over twenty years. After her third child, she adjusted her consultancy work to become a writing mentor, ghost-writer and ‘book fixer’. She is now qualified in therapeutic and reflective writing practices (Professional Writing Academy, 2020). She has been running workshops – teaching creative writing skills, writing for wellbeing and collaborative poetry sessions – since 2019.

What people have said about Pam:

‘’Pam thanks again for yesterday. It felt very important and galvanising. I’m already amazed by how the process of reading and writing poetry as part of therapy enables me to go so much deeper and broader, faster (and in another way, not amazed, as this is what I had thought might happen…but hardly dared to hope!’)’’  Janet

‘’ Pam's facilitation style is much more active than I've experienced previously, but this is conscious and feels appropriate. Pam selects a range of poems for stimulus, and ensures a good chunk of each session is made up of me actually writing in the moment, as well as between sessions. Working in this way has helped me to improve the breadth, depth and clarity of my thinking, understand myself better on an emotional level, and rediscover my voice. Perhaps most unexpectedly, it’s also helped me to overcome challenges and solve problems in my role and outside of work. It puts me in mind of a kind of creative physiotherapy – consciously exercising an underused muscle to increase flexibility and strength.’’    Dom

‘’You are a highly skilled facilitator of groups and in addition to making it look effortless there is a certain magic in what you do. I have always looked forward to your workshops because I know that I am going to be inspired and uplifted. You hold the group and the process well, gently encouraging people to share without pushing people to reveal beyond their own comfort levels…Great use of materials you really know your stuff, experience and knowledge of poetry as a therapeutic tool as well as a knowledge of poetry shown in the exquisite choice of poems to work with.’’    Kathryn

What people have said about Kate:

"Kate is a clever and kind facilitator who includes everyone and keeps the pace, and can evoke and stimulate people to be their best creative selves.  I love it. A doctor could prescribe it; it’s uplifting and thought-provoking."    Lucy

“The Creative Connections workshops sounded like an excellent opportunity to connect with others who share a desire to release the creative spirit. They are a safe, nurturing place in which to explore and create. I haven’t been disappointed. Under the caring and positive guidance of Kate, I have started to unblock my creativity. Each session offers something new, exciting and challenging.”    Linda

“There is an unfolding, a dawning of confidence, a growing enthusiasm, then a welling then a spilling of ideas and associations from the stew of all of us mixed together. Faint hearts are warmed, doubts and diffidence banished. You hold the group together, reflect us back and knit bits back into the mix. We do in fact indeed ‘blossom and flourish’ as the hymn has it. I think that’s remarkable.”    Sally

Settle with us for a morning exploring the Japanese poetry form, Senryu.

We will use the time to reflect and explore the nature of the form under the watchful guidance of inspiring poet and teacher Alex Corrin-Tachibana who has lived and written in Japan for a decade.

Senryu: the Haiku’s comic cousin!

Drawing on her decade’s experience of life in Japan and her Masters in Japanese, Alex will guide you through the centuries from the development of Japanese senryu in the 18th century by Karai Senryu, a judge of comic verse contests, through to contemporary British lockdown senryu, by Sue Spiers.  The senryu has been dubbed the haiku’s ‘comic cousin’ by American poet and guru of Japanese form, Kimiko Hahn.

This workshop will explore the features of the genre, compared to the more familiar haiku, and consider what type of content might best suit the senryu form. It will include generative prompts, bespoke audio materials from poet Sue Spiers, examples of Japanese scripts, and a chance to share work. Alex will utilise her experience of Japanese culture to illuminate the form.

Expect plenty of generative prompts, bespoke audio materials, examples of Japanese scripts, and a chance to share your written responses. Alex will utilise her experience of Japanese culture to throw light on this form.

Numbers limited to 16.

Fee: £30

What people have said about Alex:

She is a wonderfully inspiring and generous facilitator who is always thinking about the best way to combine the space to practice writing poems with learning from already established poets. 

Alex facilitated in a warm, thoughtful and supportive manner which created a safe space for participants to share ideas and extracts from their writing.

She has provided a rich mix of innovative material, facilitated inspired group discussions, and I have come away buzzing with ideas for new work!

Alex's workshops have introduced me to some of my new favourite writers. I would wholeheartedly recommend!

Places are limited, early booking recommended to avoid disappointment.

Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana has an MA in Writing Poetry from Newcastle University and an MA in Japanese Language from Sheffield University. Until this December, she also taught creative writing at Newcastle University.

 She has an intimate knowledge of Japanese poetic form, having lived in Japan for ten years.

Her most recent work appeared in PN Review, The Moth, Poetry Wales, Fenland Poetry Journal, Tears in the Fence and The Alchemy Spoon. Online her poems can be read in Anthropocene, The High Window and London Grip.

She came third in the 2020 Oxford Brookes International Poetry competition, has been shortlisted for the Winchester and Troubadour prizes, and had two poems shortlisted by Billy Collins, for the 2022 Fish Prize.

 Her debut collection, Sing Me Down from the Dark, is published by SALT.

 Praise for Sing Me Down From the Dark:

‘Charting a cross-cultural relationship through courtship, wedding and a marriage’s slow disintegration, this collection carries us across continents and years through love, disappointment and anger towards a new beginning. Vulnerable, direct and formally exact, these are generous, courageous and devastating poems that will draw you in, hold you close and leave you feeling wrung out but triumphant.’
—Jacqueline Saphra

Settle with us for a morning exploring the Japanese poetry form, Haiku. We will use the time to reflect on the beauty and nature of spring under the watchful guidance of poet Alex Corrin-Tachibana, while we learn about the details of this most mindful of poetic practices, with a wonderful poet and teacher who has lived and written in Japan for a decade.

Haiku might be regarded as Japan’s most successful poetic export, and no doubt most of us will have encountered westernised versions of haiku at school. But did you know that in Japanese schools all students are encouraged to compose New Year haiku? Or that it is traditional to present the emperor with a birthday haiku? And how much do you know about the importance of the seasons in Japanese culture, and of seasonal words and tropes?

Drawing on a decade’s experience in Japan and her Masters in Japanese, Alex will guide you through the centuries from the origins of Japanese haiku (including Basho, Issa and others) through to 20^th-century spring haiku by Sanki Saito, culminating in the stunning work of Scottish haijin (haiku writer) Gill Shaw, and her ekphrastic collaboration with photographer Roddy Mckenzie.

Expect plenty of generative prompts, bespoke audio materials, examples of Japanese scripts, and a chance to share your written responses. Alex will utilise her experience of Japanese culture to throw light on this form.

Numbers limited to 16.

Fee: £30

What people have said about Alex:

She is a wonderfully inspiring and generous facilitator who is always thinking about the best way to combine the space to practice writing poems with learning from already established poets. 

Alex facilitated in a warm, thoughtful and supportive manner which created a safe space for participants to share ideas and extracts from their writing.

She has provided a rich mix of innovative material, facilitated inspired group discussions, and I have come away buzzing with ideas for new work!

Alex's workshops have introduced me to some of my new favourite writers. I would wholeheartedly recommend!

Places are limited, early booking recommended to avoid disappointment.

Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana has an MA in Writing Poetry from Newcastle University and an MA in Japanese Language from Sheffield University. Until this December, she also taught creative writing at Newcastle University.

 She has an intimate knowledge of Japanese poetic form, having lived in Japan for ten years.

Her most recent work appeared in PN Review, The Moth, Poetry Wales, Fenland Poetry Journal, Tears in the Fence and The Alchemy Spoon. Online her poems can be read in Anthropocene, The High Window and London Grip.

She came third in the 2020 Oxford Brookes International Poetry competition, has been shortlisted for the Winchester and Troubadour prizes, and had two poems shortlisted by Billy Collins, for the 2022 Fish Prize.

 Her debut collection, Sing Me Down from the Dark, is published by SALT.

 Praise for Sing Me Down From the Dark:

‘Charting a cross-cultural relationship through courtship, wedding and a marriage’s slow disintegration, this collection carries us across continents and years through love, disappointment and anger towards a new beginning. Vulnerable, direct and formally exact, these are generous, courageous and devastating poems that will draw you in, hold you close and leave you feeling wrung out but triumphant.’
—Jacqueline Saphra

Some of us are fortunate enough to live near forests or woodlands – almost all of us live within walking distance of at least a few trees – but how often do we really bring our full attention to these silent but magnificent sentinels?

 This creative writing workshop is an opportunity to revel in the beauty, marvel at the diversity, and revere the capacity of trees to sink carbon, purify air, support biodiversity and stabilise the climate.

 Inspired by poetry and photography, we’ll spend our morning exploring the reciprocal relationships between humans and trees and discovering what each can reveal about the other. You can expect simple but stimulating writing prompts, and conversations about love and loss, destruction and resilience, creativity and community. There will be a chance to read poems and share a few lines of our own (although there is no obligation to do so).

 You will leave with a sense of deepened sense of connection and wonder – and a collection of original acorns which might flourish as future writing projects.

Numbers limited to 20.

Fee: £40 (£25 concessions)

 Led by Sophie Howarth. Sophie is an artist, writer and teacher.  Her work is about deepening connection to ourselves, one another and the wider web of life, and is rooted in the belief that justice and joy go hand in hand. She is the author of several books, most recently Looking At Trees, published in October 2023.

 The event is hosted by Kate Oldfield, writer, poet, writing mentor and curator of creative communities at The Writing Well.

What people have said about Sophie:

"Sophie brings a winning combination of enthusiasm, deep knowledge and reassurance."

"Your skill as a facilitator was such a delight."

"Depth of knowledge matched by an exceptional ability to hold space."

"I felt so safely held and expertly guided by Sophie."

We are so delighted to have filled all the available spaces 2 weeks before the workshop! If you were planning to join us, do not fear! We are planning to rerun the workshop in a 2-hour format one evening - are you interested? Drop me a line and we can see if we can accommodate everyone who couldn’t make it first time round.

Settle with us for a morning exploring the Japanese poetry form, Haiku. We will use the time to reflect on the winter that has been under the watchful guidance of poet Alex Corrin-Tachibana, while we learn about the details of this most mindful of poetic practices, with a wonderful poet and teacher who has lived and written in Japan for a decade.

Alex writes:

In the tenth century, Sei Shōnagon, a lady of the Heian court, wrote in her Pillow Book how delightful it was to inscribe the poems of the emperor. She also recounted how it was traditional to recite a considerable number of poems at court, and to challenge the ladies of court to write down poems they knew by heart.

Haiku might be regarded as Japan’s most successful poetic export, and no doubt most of us will have encountered westernised versions of haiku at school. But did you know that in Japanese schools all students are encouraged to compose New Year haiku? Or that it is traditional to present the emperor with a birthday haiku? And how much do you know about the importance of the seasons in Japanese culture, and of seasonal words and tropes?

Drawing on my decade’s experience of living, teaching and family life in Japan, and my Masters’ studies in Japanese language and culture, this session will introduce winter haiku and traditions synonymous with that season, such as seasonal foods like 年越し蕎麦 (Toshikoshi Soba) and the symbolism inherent in culinary traditions and seasonal activities. We will discuss our own traditions, feelings evoked by winter, and how we might use haiku to promote mindfulness.

You can expect generative prompts and time to share a line or two from your writing if you wish, and introductions to haikuists based in Japan, Britian and Ireland. The workshop offers bespoke recordings of haiku, both in English and Japanese, including from British haikuist, Matthew Paul.

Finally, we will round off the session with a brief introduction to another Japanese form- the Zuihitsu.

What people have said about Alex:

She is a wonderfully inspiring and generous facilitator who is always thinking about the best way to combine the space to practice writing poems with learning from already established poets. 

Alex facilitated in a warm, thoughtful and supportive manner which created a safe space for participants to share ideas and extracts from their writing.

She has provided a rich mix of innovative material, facilitated inspired group discussions, and I have come away buzzing with ideas for new work!

Alex's workshops have introduced me to some of my new favourite writers. I would wholeheartedly recommend!

Places are limited, early booking recommended to avoid disappointment.

Fee: £30

Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana has an MA in Writing Poetry from Newcastle University and an MA in Japanese Language from Sheffield University. Until this December, she also taught creative writing at Newcastle University.

 She has an intimate knowledge of Japanese poetic form, having lived in Japan for ten years.

Her most recent work appeared in PN Review, The Moth, Poetry Wales, Fenland Poetry Journal, Tears in the Fence and The Alchemy Spoon. Online her poems can be read in Anthropocene, The High Window and London Grip.

She came third in the 2020 Oxford Brookes International Poetry competition, has been shortlisted for the Winchester and Troubadour prizes, and had two poems shortlisted by Billy Collins, for the 2022 Fish Prize.

 Her debut collection, Sing Me Down from the Dark, is published by SALT.

 Praise for Sing Me Down From the Dark:

‘Charting a cross-cultural relationship through courtship, wedding and a marriage’s slow disintegration, this collection carries us across continents and years through love, disappointment and anger towards a new beginning. Vulnerable, direct and formally exact, these are generous, courageous and devastating poems that will draw you in, hold you close and leave you feeling wrung out but triumphant.’
—Jacqueline Saphra

Monday 30th October – Friday 3rd November

Everything can yet happen: breaking new ground in writing poetry A 1-week, online, poetry retreat with award-winning poet and inspirational teacher, editor and mentor, Vanessa Lampert. Embark upon a new journey with language. Destination exciting. Maps provided. Buckle up!

Join us for this transformational deep dive into technique and process in our online week- long retreat. Each exciting day includes dynamic morning sessions – live online, in a small, supportive group; time in the afternoon to develop your writing or have a 1:1 tutorial with Vanessa; and, in the evening, the unique opportunity to attend and participate in events and readings.

You will take risks and leaps of faith with your writing, and learn how to understand more fully the techniques and tools available to take your poems to a new level, while making new friends in an inspirational and encouraging atmosphere.

The week includes 12 workshops, a 30-min 1:1 tutorial looking at your own work with Vanessa, 2 reading evenings, a poetry problems surgery, an open mic (with family and friends if you wish) and a private celebration at the end of the week.

Places on the retreat are limited to 12.

Fee £400

STOP PRESS: Vanessa has been highly commended in the prestigious #forwardprizes. Congratulations to Vanessa and all the other prize winners.

About Vanessa:
Vanessa Lampert is an acupuncturist and poet from Oxfordshire. Since 2020, she has won the Café Writers, Edward Thomas, and Sentinel prizes and the Ver Poetry prize twice. She has come second in the Fish, Yeovil, Oxford Brookes, Ware, and Kent & Sussex prizes and was commended in the National Poetry Competition 2020. 

Vanessa’s work is recently published in Magma, The Moth, The Oxford Times, Finished Creatures, Five Dials, Poetry Wales and The Daily Telegraph. She runs courses at Ty Newydd Wales and workshops for Hive, South Yorkshire, Aldeburgh Festival, Poetry School London, Stanza groups nationwide and as a volunteer in schools. During the pandemic she taught poetry to schoolchildren in India via Learning with Leaders. 

Vanessa is a co-founder of and editor for ‘The Alchemy Spoon Magazine’. 

Vanessa’s pamphlet ‘On Long Loan’ was published by Live Canon in 2020, and her full collection ‘Say It With Me’ by Seren, to much acclaim, in 2023.