Introducing...Poetry Pals

A place to read and write more poetry

Wanna read and write more poetry? Me too.

Me too.

Five years ago I did a poetry writing course and fell (back) in love with poetry after a loooooong hiatus (studying only dead, white, male poets at University will do that to a girl!)

The course was excellent but did highlight how much I had to learn. My favourite poems were all from Instagram, I didn’t recognise any of the forms we were discussing and my shelf contained approximately zero poetry books. But I was keen. And committed.

A few years later I published my first poetry book - Motherhood Minus the Medals, started having poems published in anthologies and won a couple of national competitions. I’d fallen hard for this genre, poetry had got under my skin.

But there was still something missing - I hadn’t found my poetry people. I still felt like a poetry dabbler, a bit of an imposter (if you will). I’m someone who sees the strap-line, “poetry for people who don’t like poetry” and immediately wants to read on.

I craved someone to send poetry to who would reply with, “OMFG this poem is EVERYTHING.” Or, “Have you ever read any of THIS person’s work?” I want to share book recommendations, understand how others might read a certain line of a poem, basically just geek out about poetry but without having to return to formal education.

And so Poetry Pals was born. Originally as a way to share and connect with others via my annual goal of writing 100 poems (still going strong four years in) and now in it’s current form as a kick ass book club, reading and writing community.

The journal page tracking my ‘Year of 100 Poem’ challenge in 2023

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Poetry Pals is like receiving a letter each week from a pal who wants to encourage you to read and write more poetry.

Every Sunday morning I send out a poem with some reflection and a journaling / poetry writing prompt. Even if you do no other writing in the week, hopefully this provides you with a pause point, a quiet half hour with a cup of tea, an invitation to find yourself a spot at the back of the coffee shop with a notebook, or even just an opportunity to add a more regular dash of poetry into your days. Paid subscribers receive these every Sunday, everyone else gets one a month.

I’m a bit of a journaling addict. I can’t get enough. I write a separate Substack newsletter called Journaling Wild that often talks about the power of journaling. My poems regularly start off as journaling. And my journaling regularly turns into poetry. The two are so very closely linked. They can both help to make sense of the world and work on a deeper level, they both tap into our innate creativity, they both help us to say the unsayable. Hence why I tend to call the largest chunk of writing I do, ‘poetic journaling.’ Which I suppose makes me a ‘journaling poet.’

I think journaling can be an excellent door opener to writing poetry. But likewise, that poetry can take our journaling to new levels. I love both. I’m hoping you might love both too, if you don’t already.

The content of the Poetry (pen) Pal letters varies - playful one week, a bit more abstract the next, always exploring different ways to open up your world.

To make sure you don’t miss them, you can subscribe below:

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Want to expand your poetry knowledge and reading habits? Want to read more poetry books cover to cover? Want to do so with a group of others?

In January of this year, we also launched our very own, ‘Poetry Book Club’!!!

Poetry sometimes gets a bit of a bad rep. And some people (not me) still see it as fairly ‘niche.’ Which makes so sense at all. Even as I have slowly gathered more poetry books on my shelf I found that I was just scratching the surface. Dipping in and out. Which is one of MY FAVOURITE things about poetry, and yet also doesn’t always give me the full experience.

I’m part of a fiction based book club and love how it gives me the chance to develop my understanding of craft, notice new themes and ultimately adds in the accountability to finish the damn thing, ha. I also love that I get introduced to new books that I might never have picked up (decision fatigue is REAL). Not to mention that I’ve met some amazing friends this way.

I want ALL of this but for poetry. What can I say, I’m greedy.

I’m an annoyingly enthusiastic Poetry Pusher. I believe the world would be a better place if more people read and wrote poetry more of the time.

Read more about the book club here. You can also find all the books we’ve read so far on this page. And it’s FREE to take part - hurray, hurrah. Should you choose to subscribe (come onnnn, it’s fun) then you’ll be reminded when we choose new books and can read the discussion posts (which I ensure contain some poems so that they are still interesting for anyone who hasn’t read along that month).

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O.k, so Pen Pal letters, a Poetry Book Club, anything else?

Since starting this Substack in Jan 2024 I’ve discovered that there are so many other women out there still standing by the door of the poetry party. Unsure if any sort of writing ‘is for them’.

Or maybe already doing a spot of writing and wanting to get more into poetry but not sure where to start. Wanting to attend more poetry events but still be in their jammies by 9.30pm.

I’ve found there are others who quite like the idea of a writing group but a really low key, low pressure one. A supportive, non-judgemental one, where you don’t have to turn up knowing your favourite 20th century poet. A group where we are mostly amateurs (even in regards to mindset if not literally. On this, did you know that the root of ‘amateur’ is the Italian ‘amatore’ - a lover? So then, fellow lovers of poetry. How nice is that?!)

Where we write for joy, self-expression, self-preservation. Where we write to get to know ourselves and our worlds better. Where publishing might be on the cards but isn’t the main event. Where we’d like some accountability and encouragement to keep writing but not the sort you’d get with a serious study programme.

I started out thinking I was the only one. I’ve found others and it is THE best feeling.

Behind the scenes we have a pretty special Poetry Pals community growing. Here’s what that involves:

As a paid subscriber to Poetry Pals you get:

• Every weekly pen pal letter (these are sent on a Sunday) PLUS the entire back catalogue of posts from 2024. Poems, poetry writing prompts, additional book reviews, writing challenges. There is SO much to explore.

• Monthly live ‘Poetry in PJ’s’ event. Held over Zoom (with a recording sent out following) these are a chance to read, write (using prompts - call it journaling, call it poetry, they are very relaxed) and share your own poetry out loud (the last bit is optional of course). Think less ‘workshop’, more ‘writing permission slip’.

• Additional CHAT threads with the opportunity to share, learn and generally just be around other people who like poetry. First drafts, rough scribbles, random ideas, ramblings all so welcome. You can dip in and out of these features however and whenever you choose. This is pressure free and playful poetry writing.

• Encouragement to keep on writing - I share behind the scenes of writing a second poetry collection, poems I haven’t published elsewhere and my attempts to keep up with ‘100 poems a year’!

Plus you’ll be supporting the time it takes to write this newsletter - which I’ll be honest is a fairly large undertaking (looks up from head on desk!)

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“Nelly’s poetry club is my favourite space in the internet right now. My soul is nourished in poetic and encouraging words every week.” - Colleen Verhamme

Poetry Pals has been the biggest breath of fresh air this past few years. I’ve read more poetry than ever before, I’m slowly growing my poetry writing skills and I no longer feel like an outsider looking in on the poetry circuit.

Come and join us, come play.

You’ll be so very welcome,

Nelly xx