A world of words: workshops for writers

Course Programme

10:00 Group A: What is poetry? | Group B: What is prose?

11:15 Coffee

11:45 Group A: Between the lines | Group B: Micro fictions

13:00 Lunch

14:00 Group A: What is prose? | Group B: What is poetry?

15:15 Tea

15:30 Group A: Micro fictions | Group B: Between the lines

16:45 Day school ends

More about the individual sessions

What is prose?
'The distinction between 'verse' and 'prose' is clear; the distinction between 'poetry' and 'prose' is very obscure,' observed T. S. Eliot. We'll look at some boundary-bending examples of flash fiction (very short stories) and consider why anyone might choose one over the other.

Micro fictions
We'll conduct our own writing experiments in under 100 words.

What is poetry?
This isn't a quest for clear-cut definitions (there aren't any) but a broad exploration of the nature of poetry, with a view to developing our own poetic skills.

Between the lines
The meaning of a poem often lies as much in subtle suggestion as in plain statement. The session will help you to see more clearly how the art of suggestion might work in your own writing.

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Accommodation

Although this is a non-residential course, students requiring accommodation may be able to book B&B at Madingley Hall, as availability permits. Please contact reservations@madingleyhall.co.uk or +44 (0)1223 746222 for availability and booking enquiries.

Dietary Requirements

If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies please inform our Admissions Team on ice.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk or +44 (0)1223 746262 if you have not already advised us of your requirements.

Additional Requirements

Further information about student support.

No academic qualification is required of applicants, and most courses are suitable for students who are new to the subject.

All teaching is in English (unless a foreign-language course). If your first language is not English, you need to satisfy yourself that you have the required near-native command of the language to get the maximum benefit from studying with ICE.

A booklist, course syllabus and detailed timetable are circulated as far as possible in advance of a course. You will receive these documents by email if you have provided us with your email address; please check your spam folder if you have not received these documents. You can also download material from the course web page.

This course takes place at Madingley Hall, home to the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education.

About Madingley Hall

Madingley Hall itself is an impressive manor house dating back to the mid-16th century. The decoration of the Saloon and the formal Stair Hall was carried out 200 years later, and the whole fabric was renovated with great care around 1900. About four miles from the centre of Cambridge, the Hall stands in several acres of beautifully-maintained gardens and overlooks a landscape which has changed relatively little since it was laid out by Capability Brown. It is just four miles from the centre of Cambridge, and only 60 minutes from London, with excellent links to London airports.

Getting here

We now have a mini-bus service which runs between the station and Madingly Hall weekday mornings between 06:45 and 09:25 and evenings between 16:45 and 19:25. Please contact the reception desk at ICE for more details.

For more information see directions to Madingley Hall.