Becoming a Poet

Becoming a Poet brings together a diverse group of acclaimed young writers to reflect on their composing processes, writing experiences and developing creative practices.

Finally giving youth writers the chance to share their own creative experiences, this book includes over 30 short essays in which young poets discuss and reflect on a poem they have written, talking about the journey from draft to final version. As well as offering unique insight into the minds of developing artists, these poets will also discuss key issues pertaining to the writing process:

- mentors, inspiration and influence
- how their poems developed
- their views on poetry and how this might have shaped their poem
- identity
- the importance of poetry for mental health
- their writing life and routines, including writing during a pandemic
- experiences of submitting, performing and publishing their work
- building poetry networks

Underpinned by research from the Young Poets' Stories project, the essays are accompanied by commentary from educators Sue Dymoke and Anthony Wilson to draw out key themes and takeaways with the hope of improving poetry writing courses in the future.

Offering the broadest snapshot of young, modern writers and alert to the ever-changing and dynamic ways artists come to and write poetry today, Becoming a Poet also offers practical guidance on such areas as submitting work, mentoring opportunities, competitions, writer's networks, grants and a list of poetry anthologies and collections to be inspired by. Championing young poets and putting them into dialogue with their peers, this is the ultimate exhibition of the voices of tomorrow.

Sue Dymoke lead the PhD programme for Institute of Education at Nottingham Trent University, UK. She was editor (with Anthony Wilson and Andrew Lambirth) of Making Poetry Happen (Bloomsbury, 2015) and Making Poetry Matter (Bloomsbury, 2015) and was author of Teaching English Texts 11-18 (Bloomsbury, 2009). She was external evaluator for Paul Hamlyn First Story Student Ambassadors scheme, a member of NAWE Higher Education committee and Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature wider board, and was a poetry workshop facilitator.

Anthony Wilson is a Senior Lecturer in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Exeter, UK. An experienced writing tutor, he has held residencies at Tate Britain, Apples and Snakes and The Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. He is editor (with Sue Dymoke and Andrew Lambeth) of Making Poetry Happen (Bloomsbury, 2015) and Making Poetry Matter (Bloomsbury, 2015).

Aisling Walters is Senior Lecturer in Education at Nottingham Trent University, UK, where she teaches on the Secondary English PGCE and on several undergraduate Education courses. Aisling’s research focuses on the writing vulnerabilities of secondary trainee English teachers (2024).