Poetry Writing Workshop: Beginning Your Journey as a Poet

Want to learn more about what makes a poem work? Delve into the craft of poetry writing and how you can turn an experience into a poem. In this workshop, poet Amanda Anastasi will guide you through a series of writing exercises and share the insights she’s gained over a 15-year career, from refining your poems to finding the right audience for your work.This session is perfect for both beginners and emerging poets. No prior experience is necessary. Bring your curiosity, words, and a willingness to experiment with ideas and language. Amanda’s supportive, down-to-earth teaching style will help you gain confidence in your own voice and develop the skills to take your poetry further.About your facilitatorAmanda Anastasi is a Melbourne poet and author of 'Taking Apart the Bird Trap' (Recent Work Press, 2024) and 'The Inheritors' (Black Pepper Publishing, 2021). Her work has been featured in Best of Australian Poems 2025, Australian Poetry Journal, Best Australian Science Writing, Griffith Review and the Massachussetts Review, among other unexpected places. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Professional Writing and Editing/Literature from Deakin University and was the recipient of a Wheeler Centre Hot Desk Fellowship. She was Poet in Residence for three years at the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub and recently had a poem commissioned by DFAT and exhibited at COP30 Brazil. Amanda is the host and curator of La Mama Poetica and sits on the committees of the Williamstown Literary Festival and Sonic Poetry Festival.What to expect:

• Explore what makes a poem strong, memorable, and resonant.
• Learn how to move from concept/idea and draft to a polished, publishable poem.
• Be guided through writing exercises to spark new ideas and craft poetic lines.
• Receive insights into how to get your poetry out there and where to submit your work.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with the seeds of new poems, practical tools for revision, and a clearer path for sharing your poetry with the world.Workshop venue: Balam Balam Place, Community Room 203. Workshop guide PDFLight refreshments Read more details