About this course

Have fun writing poetry as you explore and create various forms of poetry and experiment with different poetic ideas.

Get creative with a playful and practical exploration of poetry

Poetry often has the reputation of being an abstract and complicated form of expression, guarded by the pretentious elite.

On this three-week course, you’ll discover the fun and value that can be found in writing your own poetry.

This practical and hands-on course gives you the opportunity to learn the common rules of poetry and then decide how best to turn those rules into an enjoyable creative writing experience.

Explore different techniques such as lineation

What is the effect of rhythm and rhyme on a poem? Does it matter where we decide to start a new line? How do we make use of the power of the lyric? On the course, you’ll explore these questions and learn how to answer them with confidence.

You’ll cover topics such as the basics of poetry, lineation, creative writing, and lyric poetry to gain a comprehensive understanding of the techniques and theories used to shape a poem.

Build your confidence alongside experts
This course will equip you with the knowledge needed to start writing poetry as well as showing you the fun and creative side of poetics.

Learning from David Musgrave, poet, and teacher of Creative Writing and English literature at the University of Newcastle, you’ll finish the course with the skills and confidence to unleash your inner poet.

What topics will you cover?

  • The basics of poetry
  • Lineation
  • Lyric poetry

What you'll achieve

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Identify a range of different forms of poetry.
  • Discuss key techniques involved in shaping a poem.
  • Evaluate the poetic ideas and theories which inform particular kinds of poetry.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in poetry.

It will be of particular interest if you want to build your understanding of poetry and creative writing.

Playing with Poetry: Creative Writing and Poetics


Meet the instructors

Dr David Musgrave

Dr David Musgrave

Dr David Musgrave teaches Creative Writing and English literature at the University of Newcastle. He is a poet, publisher and novelist with a publishing record extending over four decades.

Like this open course?

Take the full semester 10 unit course

Learn more

[331254,304511,331474,336859,461321,333909,]