This unconventional workshop from award-winning poet and creative writing teacher Steve Evans will help participants create drafts of two new works be it completely original, or created with another poet’s words as a building block.

Can you legitimately use someone else’s work to create an original and dynamic poem of your own? Is it possible to do so in order to learn how to better edit or create your own poetry? The answer to both questions is a resounding yes.

Through a series of writing exercises, each participant will draft a poem created fresh for the occasion according to easy-to-follow guide notes. That poem will then be edited with the help of further instructions and the result subject to reading and shared discussion to deepen your understanding of the editing process and its aims; in other words, to make a better poem. You will then also apply these techniques to a poem of your own that you bring to the workshop, showing that the skills are transferable.

Participants will end up with insight into better editing practices and leave with two ‘new’ poems as well as new outlooks and skills. The result should not only be writing better poetry but also be a greater prospect of having it published.

In the process, participants will learn to:

• Increase their understanding of editing techniques
• Consider certain attitudes that can either limit the success of their poetry or offer chances to make key changes that enhance their work
• Learn how to embrace those positive outlooks in practical ways to benefit their work
• Improve and apply editing skills more effectively
• Take a playful but productive approach to their writing

Suitable for both aspiring and emerging poets, and established poets interested in different craft techniques.

About Steve Evans

Steve Evans teaches creative writing. He writes poetry, prose and nonfiction, is a literary editor for an international journal, and prose editor for an Australian journal. Steve has been on organising committees for seven literary festivals, writer-in-residence internationally several times, and on arts funding and literary prize panels.

He has published eight poetry collections and edited or co-authored twelve other books, and also won various prizes. Easy Money (short stories) was released in 2019 and Unearthly Pleasures (poetry) in 2021. Animal Instincts (poetry) is due out in 2022.

WSA Member $88 / Non-member $140

Venue: TBA - Adelaide CBD

—All staff, speakers, and attendees of in-person events must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or hold a current medical exemption, in order to attend; and must comply with any precautionary measures Writers SA puts in place. We may request proof of your vaccination status or medical exemption upon entry. See our full policy here.

—Writers SA members must be logged in to receive the member discount. If you would like to use a workshop credit to book in, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the workshop commencement date. Our staff don’t work full time and we don’t want you to miss out!