Writing Hour #2

Login details for the second Writing Hour on Friday 5th December. 10am.

Hello Poets,

Our second Writing Hour will take place this Friday 5th December from 10 - 11am. The session will be recorded and will land in your inbox by midday (paid subscribers). The theme for the next 2 months is LOVE to feed your inspiration for our POEM OF THE FESTIVAL COMPETITION so I will be bringing poems on this theme for reading, and prompts.

LOGIN DETAILS BELOW.

See you Friday.

H.

For those who may have missed it….

WRITING HOUR

A monthly writing hour with poems, prompts, and time to write in community, guided by the theme of our Poem of the Month competition.

This monthly writing hour, inspired by our Poem of the Month festival competition, provides our community with dedicated time to write. Each session explores four poems linked to the current theme, with guided prompts and bursts of focused writing time.

Helen Mort reading at last years festival as the judge for our annual POEM OF THE FESTIVAL Competition. Those long-listed are published in an anthology alongside the winner. Shortlisted and Winning poets are invited to perform at VERVE FESTIVAL of POETRY & SPOKEN WORD 2026. Next years theme is LOVE. Submission window is open.

Participation includes one free entry to the current month’s Poem of the Festival competition.

This is a space to write alongside others, spark new ideas, and leave with the beginnings of fresh poems.

Format:
Cameras optional. Mics off. No long shares—just short reflections and drafts in the chat if you wish. Suitable for all levels.

Access:
All sessions will be recorded for our Substack community of paid subscribers. Not a subscriber yet? Consider joining to access the workshop every month and receive a free Poem of the Month submission with your subscription.

Hosted by:
Hayley Frances — Co-Director of VERVE Poetry Festival, Therapeutic Poetry Practitioner, Community Arts Fellow of Dudley, and Poet in Residence at Birmingham Women’s Hospital.