Speculative poetry might conjure images of seers and the cosmos, aliens and cryptids, or haunted landscapes and foreclosed destinies. In this workshop, we’ll explore one of the hallmarks of speculative poetry – its sense of wonder and the blurring of time, space, history, and identity. Through a series of short prompts, we will play with these themes, re-orienting ourselves towards the future to speculate on what it means to us. Drawing on myth and our own personal histories, we'll reimagine the pasts of places of personal importance and, together, transform these imaginings into spaces brimming with possibility.
This workshop is open to writers of any level who wish to delve into the world of speculative poetry. It is designed to both inspire and offer practical guidance, holding space for lyrical experiments.
The aim of this workshop is practical and generative. Writers will come away with a draft of a poem they can polish for submission as well as ideas and prompts for honing their own poetic projects.
Be sure to bring a notebook and/or laptop! There will be time set aside for advice on submissions.
Your Workshop leader
Morgan L. Ventura (They/She) is a Belfast-based poet, writer, translator, and former archaeologist. They hold degrees from the University of Chicago and the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University, Belfast. Poems and short fiction have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Poetry Ireland Review, Strange Horizons, Banshee, Shoreline of Infinity, and Lackington’s, among others. Thrice a finalist for the Rhysling Award, Ventura’s the author of the microchap, some minor, sometimes divine, existential crises (Ghost City Press 2024) and translator of the forthcoming collection by Ñuu Savi (Mixtec) poet, Kalu Tatyisavi, Tyi Niin Iyo / Because of the Silence (Skein Press 2027). Find them on Bluesky: @morganvl.bsky.social
About the event:
Running time: 105 minutes including breaks
Venue: Cheviot Room
Tickets: £20.50/ £18.50 (plus 50p booking fee)
The event will be take place in-person. Workshops are not recorded. Workshops are not included in a weekend pass.
Find out more about ACCESS to our events here, and for information about TICKETS, click here.
Any other questions? Check out our FAQ.