Landscapes of Memory

The past is often a forgotten land, somewhere we have been, but can no longer connect with. It can also define us and make us who we are today. This Master Class allows you to connect with your past through meditation, mindfulness, free writing and writing prompts.

Our families shape who we are and how we live our lives. As a writer it is best to write about what you know and what you ultimately value. It is this reason why our memories and families are such great resources for writing, particularly poetry.

While there is a vast amount of poetry that is written about family and memories I am particularly fond of writers such as Warsan Shire, Pablo Neruda and Sylvia Plath.

My dog has died.
I buried him in the garden
next to a rusted old machine.

Some day I’ll join him right there,
but now he’s gone with his shaggy coat,
his bad manners and his cold nose,
and I, the materialist, who never believed
in any promised heaven in the sky
for any human being

A Dog Has Died by Pablo Neruda
Translated, from the Spanish, by Alfred Yankauer

These topics are perfect for a poetry workshop as everyone takes a different route and journey in life and the stories we tell about ourselves reveal the most, while often retaining our voice and identity as writers and individuals. No one can write what you write about your life because no one else has lived it.

Poets are best advised to prepare for this workshop by keeping a journal for a week and completing the pre workshop homework which is emailed to them before the Master Class.
This Master Class is suitable for beginners and advanced writers. Further details on this Masterclass are available here.

*Photo by S A R A H ✗ S H A R P on Unsplash