‘The Bell Jar’ – a poetry course for all levels with Jo Bell.

This online course runs for 6 weeks from Mon 10th September 2012 until Sun 21st October. The course is sent out to you in weekly email lessons, containing things to read /listen to, and homework exercises. You will have access to an exclusive private area of the forum where you can discuss the course and the readings with other participants, and get feedback on your work. You will also get feedback from the tutor Jo, and will receive an end of course report on your poetry.

There are still a few remaining places for this fabulous course, so sign up now. Price: £117 for six weeks (less than twenty pounds a week, and there’s a lot of stuff to get through each week!)

Participants from the last ‘Bell Jar’ course with Jo Bell said…

“I began the Winning Words poetry course “The Bell Jar” without any experience of having been on a poetry/writing course before. I was a bit daunted at the thought of a forum and at posting my work for others to see/comment on. However I found the forum the best part of the course. The feedback and support from the other writers was great and gave me a lot of confidence.. I also loved reading everyone else’s work which was very helpful. The tutor Jo Bell was really down to earth and honest and I felt that she understood what I was trying to do with my work. I found her comments and criticism invaluable and I feel I have progressed a lot through her feedback and the challenging exercises. All in all doing the course was a truly positive experience and one which has set me on the road to serious poetry writing. I would recommend this course to anyone, especially those who need confidence in their writing or those who would like to learn different techniques.. An excellent course.”

“A well structured, interesting and constructive course with a very supportive tutor. I have written more poems in the last six weeks than I usually write in a year. Thanks for a great experience.”

“I can’t speak highly enough of this online course. Jo Bell has produced a perfectly pitched poetry masterclass! The exercises were stimulating, the feedback constructive and excruciatingly honest.”

“This was an inspiring, friendly course. I think the quality of my writing really improved over the six weeks. And I loved it!”

“Before the course I was feeling stuck, uninspired, under-stimulated and my output was about a poem a month. During the course I was producing 3/4 poems a week, feeling supported, encouraged, stretched and incredibly stimulated. The feedback from Jo and from other people on the course was direct, honest, focused and practical. The solidarity was very real and I learnt what my strengths and weaknesses are and how best to use the skills I have and how to build new ones. Jo’s fantastic exercises were multi-faceted, combining practical techniques with encouragement to go off in any direction. I can honestly say it has been life-changing for me !”

About Jo:

Jo Bell is a poet and literature development worker, whose projects take her across the UK. Formerly an industrial archaeologist, she lives on a narrowboat in the NW of England. She is the director of National Poetry Day, and her poetry has been published in journals including Magma and Iota. Her latest publication Bugged brings together writers such as Stuart Maconie, Ian Marchant and Jenn Ashworth, in a collection of work based on overhearings. Find jo at www.jobell.org.uk or on her blog, www.belljarblog.wordpress.com.

The Small Print!

Course participants must ensure they have basic computer proficiency (nothing more than using a word-processor, using a web forum and opening email attachments). Technical support for using the forum/ website is available.

Participants are responsible for submitting their work to the tutor on time. Tutors are not obligated to give feedback for work submitted after the course has finished.

Refunds will only be issued if the course is cancelled by Winning Words or by the tutor.

We are in the process of re-launching the site. From around the end of August, there will be new courses, more deadlines & events listings, and more regular features by a new team of writers / bloggers. Sign up for the newsletter to keep up to date and get a subscriber’s early-bird discount on our courses.

Past tutors on our writing courses have included: Calum Kerr, Tom Vowler, Nik Perring, Keris Stainton and Jo Bell.

Winning Words courses are delivered in weekly email ‘lessons’ containing teaching, reading and exercises. There is a designated private area of the forum for course members to chat, discuss the reading material and post drafts of the exercises, and give each other feedback, as well as interacting with the tutor.