LISP Poetry Festival Details!

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.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22, 2024, as the LISP Poetry Festival comes to the Putney Library. This is your chance to learn from experienced poets, share your work, and grow as a poet. Don't miss this golden opportunity to refine your craft and unleash your creativity in a supportive and inspiring environment!

The majority of the LISP Poetry Festival events are FREE!

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We also offer a number of Free Masterclass 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.

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.

Nick Makoha's debut collection the Kingdom of Gravity is shortlisted for the 2017 Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection and nominated by The Guardian as one of the best books of 2017. He won the 2015 Brunel International Poetry Prize and the 2016 Toi Derricotte & Cornelius Eady Chapbook Prize for his pamphlet Resurrection. A Goldsmiths, Cave Canem & Complete Works Alumni.  His poems appeared in  The New York Times, Poetry Review, Rialto, Triquarterly Review, Boston Review, Callaloo, and Wasafiri.

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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.

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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.

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Rishi Dastidar and Lisa Kelly: Poets on Stage will start at 14:30 and end at 15:30 in The Main Lounge. There will be a Q&A; you can ask everything you're wondering about, from how to write poetry to how to get it published!

This Panel is Free, but Reservation Required.

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

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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

After you book one of the listings above Add-On a submission, forward us your booking confirmation and attach your poem ( 1 poem - Max 40 lines, in Word doc!)

If you wish to submit multiple poems, you can add more Add-Ons. There is no submission limit per poet.

During the day, we will have more Free Workshops! Check out the details on the Eventbrite Page!

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Programme of the LISP Poetry Festival

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

Book Your Seat!