LISP Poetry Festival

Welcome to the LISP Poetry Festival! We are focusing on Poetry! Join us for a fun and interactive day filled with poetry writing and inspiration. Whether you're a seasoned poet or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to improve their writing skills and connect with other poetry enthusiasts.

Our event will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Putney Library. Come prepared to learn, share, and grow as a poet. Don't miss this opportunity to hone your craft and unleash your creativity!

Join our Poetry Masterclasses, or just come to listen to our fantastic speakers, Rishi Dastidar & Lisa Kelly! If you wanna read your own poem on the day then submit it to us!

At the end of the day, there is an exciting opportunity to read your poems, meet with fellow writers and poets, and share in the joy of poetry. Plus, you can unwind and celebrate your creativity with a glass of wine!

Programme:

LISP Poetry Masterclasses & Workshops

Nick Makoha: 10:00 to 12:30 - The Meeting Room

Sarah Hesketh: 12:30 to 13:30 - The Meeting Room

Helen Bowell: 13:30 to 14:30 - The Meeting Room

Manasi Pophale: 12:00 to 13:00 - The Main Lounge - Free

Alice D'Lumiere:13:00 - 13:30 - The Main Lounge - Free

Poetry in Translation: 13:00- 13:30 - The Main Lounge - Free

London Independent Story Prize - Poets on Stage & Networking Event:

Rishi Dastidar & Lisa Kelly: Panel 14:30 - 15:30 - The Main Lounge - Free

LISP Poetry Reading & Wine: 15:30 to 16:30 - The Main Lounge - Free

Nick Makoha: Poetry Masterclass will start at 10:00 am and end at 12:30 (2.5 hours), including the breaks in The Meeting Room. You can book this workshop on its own or book a Full-Day Pass.

Nick Makoha fled Uganda's civil war and Idi Amin's tyranny as a boy. Poet Nick Makoha’s debut collection, Kingdom of Gravity, was shortlisted for the Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection and was one of the Guardian’s best books of the year.He holds a PhD from King’s Collage London, whos thesis is titled The Metic Experience of the Black British Writer - Challenging the Margins of African writing. Nick is one of ten contemporary poets to be selected for Spread the Word's Complete Works Development Programme.

The instructions for submitting your work to Poetry Readings are in the Add-Ons section. LISP Poetry Reading will start at 15:30 and end at 16:30. You must submit your work before the event to be considered.

We offer a number of free seats for UK writers who are on a low income – for example receiving benefits such as Job Seeker’s Allowance, Working Tax Credits, Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance. Please email entry@londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk to book your seat.

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Sarah Hesketh: Poetry Masterclass

Poetry Editing: A Masterclass 'How do you know when a poem is finished? Do you chisel it down or consult a thesaurus? Do you really have enough poems for a first collection and if so, what happens now? What are editors really looking for? In this workshop we'll look at techniques for fine-tuning your poems, the process of putting a manuscript or magazine submission together, and how to research and find the right publisher for you.'

This Masterclass will start at 12:30 am and end at 13:30 (1 hour) in The Meeting Room. You can book this workshop on its own or book a Full-Day Pass.

The instructions for submitting your work to Poetry Readings are in the Add-Ons section. LISP Poetry Reading will start at 15:30 and end at 16:30. You must submit your work before the event to be considered.

We offer a number of free seats for UK writers who are on a low income – for example receiving benefits such as Job Seeker’s Allowance, Working Tax Credits, Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance. Please email entry@londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk to book your seat.

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Helen Bowell: Poetry Workshop 'So you've got a number of poems under your belt and you're ready for the world to see them. In this session, we'll talk through how to find the best poetry magazines and competitions for you, a foolproof submissions method that will have you laughing in the face of rejection, and how to begin to put together a debut pamphlet and send it out for submission. Drawing from her six years judging submissions for The Poetry Society, editing the first anthology of bi+ poets from 2,800 submissions, as well as her own experience as a poet, Helen will offer you all the tips and tricks from the industry that she knows.'

This Workshop will start at 13:30 am and end at 14:30 (1 hour)in The Meeting Room. You can book this workshop on its own or book a Full-Day Pass.

The instructions for submitting your work to Poetry Readings are in the Add-Ons section. LISP Poetry Reading will start at 15:30 and end at 16:30. You must submit your work before the event to be considered.

We offer a number of free seats for UK writers who are on a low income – for example receiving benefits such as Job Seeker’s Allowance, Working Tax Credits, Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance. Please email entry@londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk to book your seat.

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Manasi Pophale : Workshop 'Multiple Narratives of History'

Starts at 12:00 and ends at 13:00 -The Main Lounge

This workshop is Free, but please reserve your seat.

London Independent Story Prize Poetry Reading will take place on the same day.

The instructions for submitting your work to Poetry Readings are in the Add-Ons section. LISP Poetry Reading will start at 15:30 and end at 16:30. You must submit your work before the event to be considered.

Alice D'Lumier: 'Speaking up and Fitting in!' Spoken Word Workshop

13:00 to 13:30 - The Main Lounge

This workshop is Free, but Reservation required.

London Independent Story Prize Poetry Reading will take place on the same day.

The instructions for submitting your work to Poetry Readings are in the Add-Ons section. LISP Poetry Reading will start at 15:30 and end at 16:30. You must submit your work before the event to be considered.

Rishi Dastidar and Lisa Kelly: Poets on Stage will start at 14:30 and end at 15:30 in The Main Lounge.

This Panel is Free, but Reservation Required.

London Independent Story Prize Poetry Reading will take place right after this panel.

The instructions for submitting your work to Poetry Readings are in the Add-Ons section. LISP Poetry Reading will start at 15:30 and end at 16:30. You must submit your work before the event to be considered.

LISP Poetry Readings & Wine: 15:30 to 16:30 - The Main Lounge

This Event is Free, but Reservation Required.

London Independent Story Prize is running a casual, fun poetry competition to celebrate the day!

If you wish to read your poem at the event, you must submit it before the deadline!!

Deadline: 17/06/2024