Drawing on the close relationship between poetry, literature and social protest, Creative Writing for Radical Hope offers a shared space to channel the emotional energy of protest into creative writing. The 1 hour 30 min writing session has a loose workshop style, where some guidance around writing prompts is given, and there is also free time for writing and optional sharing. Folks with all levels of writing experience, including none, are warmly welcomed to attend. I'm setting this up as a one-off event for now, with the aim of potentially expanding it to a recurring event.
Why Radical Hope?
It's easy to lose sight of hope when political developments and ongoing realities, domestically and internationally, provide so much fuel for grief, anger and disillusionment. I have always found the act of creative writing, be it to express these heavier emotions, or to draw focus towards the threads of love and light that run through our communities in the face of darkness, to be inherently hopeful. Through letting parts of us take form in words, and sharing this with others, we tap into our authenticity and power. I believe that the current moment we are living in demands radical resistance, and one way we can do this is through coming to articulate how we feel, and use literary expression to boldly set forth the parameters of the world we want to collectively create.
What can I expect from the event?
- 1 hr 30 minute workshop delivered on Zoom, from 6 - 7:30 pm BST on May 1st, 2025
- Looking at some examples together of protest writing and poetry, with the option for discussion
- Writing prompts and exercises to have a go at in real time. Participants are welcome to write in any form they like, with an emphasis on poetry as I am foremostly a poet
- Recommendations of resources to continue creative writing practice after the session
- Opportunity to meet other people and get to know each other a bit around the writing
Who can come?
Everyone! First-time scribes, long-time literati, and all in between. Inclusive space for people of all genders, ethnicities, sexual orientation, religious backgrounds, disability/ability.
About your facilitator:
I am a poet, writer and workshop facilitator with a first-class BA in English Literature and Spanish from Durham University and a PGCert in Teaching Creative Writing from the University of Cambridge. I am passionate about using creative writing to bring communities together and build political power, and have previously facilitated workshops at charities including Freedom From Torture and The Pret Foundation. Currently based in London, I have a background in social care and youth mental health support work, and have trained in trauma-informed practice. I have self-published two poetry collections, and my journalistic writing has appeared in outlets including Huck, Shado, and Friends of the Earth Camden blog.
For examples of my creative work, please see:
https://linktr.ee/jessrubyc