A three session programme for professionals who seek new ways of writing about their work and practice.
In collaboration with the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations.
18 March, 15 April, 13 May 2025
Inspired by the programme of Deepening Creative Practice, of which I was a pioneering participant in 2020-2021, I’ve designed a spinn-off of my workshop Creative Writing for Academics. In this workshop Writing with the Poetic Lens, I invite all professionals to use the poetic lens to re-encounter your work through writing, while paying attention to embodied, sensory knowledge.
In poetry, everything is allowed: play is at the forefront, as well as getting into our senses. Exploring this playfulness as well as the sensory can be very helpful in finding new ways of writing about our work and practice, within our work, or in response to our work.
The workshop is designed for professionals who seek new ways of writing about their work and practice, within their work, or in response to their work.
Why this workshop
Rarely do we associate professional writing with creative writing techniques. And yet, the choices we make when we write have profound effects on the reality that we observe. Embracing creative writing techniques when writing about our work, within our work, or in response to our work, opens spaces of reflection, experimentation, and clarity.
What to expect
In this workshop series, participants are invited to let go of any kind of neutral language to make space and embrace polyphonies of all kinds, including the unconscious. All sessions are designed around sample texts and include on-the-spot writing exercises. There will be time for peer-review, as well as time to reflect on what it takes to make space for creativity within our professional work.
Programme per session
The first session on March 18 focuses on the times and spaces we work with, while paying attention to embodied, sensory knowledge.
The second session on April 15 focuses on defining the main characters driving the story of our work, and on staging conversations between them.
The third session on May 13 focuses on how to grasp the full narrative of our work, pausing on where it started, on its importance for ourselves and for the world, and on the transformations it generates.
All sessions can be attended separately or as a workshop series.
What you will gain
A toolbox of creative writing techniques that will expand your professional writing practice and modes of expressing and communicating your work.
A poetic exploration of your work while experimenting with creative writing techniques.
A peer community to support and provide safe critique as you develop your new writing practice.
I took away a personal insight – writing is for pleasure! It can be creative if one allows it to be. All of the exercises, writing, reading and interaction with the cohort helped with my personal analysis and thinking about what I really want to express when I write.
-Programme participant, 2024
Fees and Timings
All sessions will take place online via Zoom, from 13:00 – 16:30 UK time.
This workshop series is comprised of three sessions. It is possible to attend one, two or all three sessions.
The fee is £225 for one session, or £600 for the entire series of three sessions.
Applications made before Monday February 3rd 2025 will receive an early bird discount – one session at £200 or all three for £550.
Next steps
To join this workshop series please complete the online application form (click to access); payment details will be sent after application. If you have any questions please contact me or Meg Davies, Professional Development Manager at the Tavistock of Human Relations at: m.davies@tavinstitute.org