Date/Time
Date(s) - Tue 13th Jan - Fri 27th Feb, 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Poetry and the world
The reading and writing of poetry is just one way of relating to the world in all its complexity and diversity – it can help us celebrate and share our sense of identity and belonging.
Get off to a flying start in 2026 by joining poet John Glenday in a sustained, long-term online poetry writing programme designed to stimulate the imagination, examine technique and hone existing skills. Although the three seasons are complementary, they can be booked individually, with each focusing on a different aspect of the writing process.
All three seasons will include sessions on creating new work; discussing craft and technique, editing draft poems and group analysis and discussion of poems. In addition, you will have one 40-minute one-to-one tutorial each season and a final group reading to celebrate new work by course participants.
This course is suitable for poets at all levels of experience, but may particularly appeal to those with a longer-term goal in mind – either working towards first publication in magazines and journals or with a pamphlet or collection in progress.
The course structure is organic, and can be adjusted to incorporate specific goals and aspirations identified by the participants.
Course outline
Season One – Poetry and People
Season One will examine the relationship between poetry and humankind. How can we use poetry to deepen our understanding of others, and to further explore our own identity?
Season Two – Poetry and Place
In this season, we will focus on a close engagement with the natural world, and by extension, our sense of belonging. How can we make sure we’re really observing the world and not just noticing it in passing?
Season Three – Poetry and Memory / Imagination
In the third season, we will explore theme of time and history. How can we use memory in a creative fashion, to inform our poetry and enrich the imagination?
Season One – Poetry and People
Timetable
Tuesday 13 Jan 18:00–20:00 Introduction / Creative workshop
This will include a welcome and goal-setting for the season, followed by a group workshop
Tuesday 20 Jan 18:00–18:40 Writing Space
Starting with a discussion / prompt, designed to generate new ideas and new work
Tuesday 27 Jan 18:00–20:00 Creative workshop
Group workshop
Tuesday 3 Feb 18:00–18:40 Writing Space
Starting with a discussion / prompt, designed to generate new ideas and new work
Tuesday 10 Feb 18:00–20:00 Craft and Editing Session
Focused session on particular aspect of craft and editing draft poems
Tuesday 17 Feb 18:00–18:40 Writing Space
Starting with a discussion / prompt, designed to generate new ideas and new work
Tuesday 24 Feb 18:00–20:00 Craft and Editing Session
Focused session on particular aspect of craft and editing draft poems
Friday 27 Feb 18:00–20:00 Ceilidh
Sharing of work with group
Tutorials
Your one-to-one tutorial with John will be scheduled when the season starts.
Tutor
John Glenday is the author of four collections. The Apple Ghost (Peterloo Poets 1989) won a Scottish Arts Council Book Award and Undark (Peterloo Poets 1995) was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. Grain (Picador, 2009) was also a Poetry Book Society Recommendation and shortlisted for both the Ted Hughes Award and the Griffin International Poetry Prize. The Golden Mean (Picador 2015) was shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Poetry Book of the Year and won the 2015 Roehampton Poetry Prize. His most recent publications are a limited edition artbook in collaboration with Maria Isakova Bennett, mira (Coast to Coast to Coast 2019) and a pamphlet, The Firth (Mariscat Press 2020). His Selected Poems also came out with Picador in 2020. In 2022 he was a judge for both the Saltire Scottish First Book of the Year and the Michael Marks Poetry Award.
Signing up
This course will run with 12 participants each season. You can join on a season by season basis or let us know if you’d like to book for the three seasons. Please register your interest in future seasons by adding a note to your web booking, or emailing us on online@moniackmhor.org.uk. Writers who take part in all three seasons will be offered a £40 discount of their Season 3 fee.
We will try to offer priority booking to continuing participants in seasons two and three. New participants will also be welcome each season if spaces are available.
Fees
The full fee for Season One is £360. A deposit of £100 is required to secure your place, which is non-refundable after a 14-day cooling-off period. The balance payment of £260 is due six weeks before the season begins. Please read our Terms & Conditions for full details about our cancellation policy.
Bursaries are available, and you also have the option to pay in instalments, please email online@moniackmhor.org.uk to enquire.
All activity takes place on Zoom, and workshops include a short break. Moniack Mhor staff will be on hand to support you during your course.
For more information please email online@moniackmhor.org.uk.
Access
Please let us know in your booking form if you have any access requirements when working online so we can do our best to support you. For more information about access to our courses, please visit our Access page.
Terms and Conditions
Please read our Terms & Conditions before booking.