SONNET: A Summer Poetry Intensive Course

Write your poetry chapbook with multi-award winning poet Rakaya Fetuga!

Salaam writers – it’s been a minute!

We have a lot to catch you all up on, like this Threads of Palestine book launch we did with House of Amal, and of course the MWS Spring Writing retreat which we’re still buzzing from (gloat, gloat…but really, alhamdulillah.)

OK, OK, a few photos to whet your appetites until we write a proper post about it...

All in good time…right now we have big news!

We are joining forces with multi-award-winning poet and storyteller Rakaya Fetuga for Sonnet, a three-part online intensive poetry course to fill your summer with lyrical inspiration – culminating in your very own chapbook!

This course is structured in three six-week cycles, the first of which launches on June 2nd. In Cycle 1, on the theme of Retelling, Rakaya will provide deep dives into poetic forms and techniques, analyse poetry readings by poets like Assata Shakura, Hiba Abu Nada and Caleb Femi, and inspiration for new writing.

Cycle 2, starting on July 21st, will be dedicated to develop a body of work, honing and editing your pieces under the expert guidance of Rakaya. In Cycle 3, starting on September 8th, you will finalise a chapbook manuscript, complete with editing workshops, expert advice on submitting to publishers, and even self-publishing.

You can take each cycle separately, or all three for a $50 discount.

WRITE WITH RAKAYA!

Rakaya Fetuga is a poet, writer and workshop facilitator based in London. Leading writing & performance workshops for people from all walks of life, from hospital staff, barristers and refugee community groups to hundreds of school students every year, Rakaya uses her fervour for the written and spoken word to inspire creativity and confidence in others. Rakaya has received writing awards from the New York TV & Film Festival (2024) and Royal Holloway University of London (2015), as well as winning both the national Roundhouse Poetry Slam (2018) and international Rooftop Rhythms Slam (2020).

Rakaya’s writing has spearheaded an array of campaigns by organisations and brands including Cartier, the BBC, the UNFPA and L’Occitane. Rakaya's poetry has been published in anthologies by HarperCollins, Pan Macmillan and Penguin Random House. As well as writing and facilitating, Rakaya has hosted the Rumi’s Cave Open Mic since 2020 and finds joy in creating spaces of inspiration, connection and community. She is currently working on her first novel.

SONNET POETRY CYCLE 1 INCLUDES:

• 2 interactive live sessions led by Rakaya

• Weekly self-paced writing exercises & activities

• Access to course materials on the MWS community platform

• Deep dives into poetic forms and techniques

• Poetry readings with collective analysis

• Workshopping and guidance on self-editing

• Private community of course participants

No prior experience is necessary.

COURSE FEES: PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN

We want to make our writing courses as accessible as possible, so we operate a Pay-Way-You-Can tiered system of payments for each cycle:

1. Concessions: $80 – I am requesting partial support from the community to access this program

2. Full Cost: $150 – I am able to engage at this level

3. Supporter: $220 – I am resourced and willing to support myself and our community with an additional offering

FAQs:

Q What is each cycle for?

A Cycle 1 is for learning poetry skills & generating new work. Cycle 2 is for developing a body of work, while Cycle 3 is for editing and honing your poems for publication, with the help of editors and publishing professionals.

Q What if I plan to self-publish?

A Cycle 3 is for you! We will dive into all you need to know to self-publish.

Q Is there a discount for MWS members?

A Yes – our members get 15% off.

So if you’ve been longing to develop your poetic practise and create a papered thing of beauty, there really isn’t any excuse (we know you’ve been harbouring a few…we do too!).