Empowered Beginnings

Learn all the fundamentals to write beautiful poetry -

without the intimidation.

Empowered Beginnings teaches you to write authentic poetry that you will be proud and confident to share.  

Find Your Voice.   Write with Confidence.   Rekindle Your Creativity.

Are you curious about poetry but unsure where to start?

Perhaps you learnt poetry at school in a way that left you feeling intimidated and blocked.

Empowered Beginnings is specifically designed for you to connect with your creativity in a way that feels empowering, authentic, and joyful.

Step into the role of the empowered poet and feel inspired by your own words.

What to expect

Let's get specific

Empowered Beginnings is structured into seven engaging online modules, covering:

Who's afraid of poetry?

Explore, let go and embrace your new life as an empowered poet. 

At the conclusion of this module, you will have:

- an understanding of how passions and ideas contribute to your poetry writing,

- an analysis of past influences and how they contribute to your understanding of poetry,

- let go of any creative beliefs that do not serve you in creating your best work,

- confidence to create a first draft,

- tips on how to silence your internal critic,

- a first draft of a brand new poem.

Finding Inspiration

Connect to ideas that authentically align with what inspires you through a range of crafted activities.

At the conclusion of this module, you will have:

- compiled a list of topic ideas that resonate with you, so you're never pondering what to write next, 

- written at least six empowered first drafts ready to edit in the later modules, 

- learned the process of heartstorming to emotionally connect with the subject matter, 

- connected with writing prompts to increase your chance of poetry publication.

Poetic Devices

Did you learn about poetic devices at school? Did it intimidate you? Well, forget that because we are empowered poets here. Prepare to connect with poetic devices in a new way.

At the conclusion of this module, you will have:

- an understanding of poetic devices used by poets to enhance the emotion and impact of a poem,

- identified poetic devices in your favourite poems to assess how a poet uses poetic devices to affect their reader,

- identified poetic devices in your drafts to determine which devices come naturally to you,

- applied additional poetic devices to your drafts after learning of their impact.

Form

Get inquisitive and try some new poetic forms - I dare you!

At the completion of this module, you will have:

- gained a knowledge of the most common poetic forms,

- identified the poetic forms of your favourite poems,

- identified poetic forms in your drafts, providing you with an understanding of your natural poetry writing tendencies,

- furthered your own capabilities by using new poetic forms in your own work

- written a draft with a poetic form in mind.

Stucture

Be as creative as you want, edit your own poems and learn the techniques to shape your work.

At the completion of this module, you will have:

- an understanding of how stanzas and lines work within poetry, 

- analysed stanzas and line techniques within some of your favourite poems to determine how poets use these to affect their readers, 

- edited your work with a focus on stanzas and lines to improve your poems, 

- written at least two new poems to consolidate your learnings so far.

Editing

Never trust a first draft - a little (or big) edit will always improve your poem. This module will consolidate what you've learnt so far and provide you with new editing skills.

At the completion of this module, you will have:

- worked an editing checklist against your poems to identify any improvements that can be made,

- edited at least three of your poems in specific ways to experiment with the editing process.

Keep Going

Determine how to make the most of your learning by establishing a regular writing routine aligned with your lifestyle and goals. Learn tips on how to make the most of your new poetic life.

At the completion of this module, you will have:

- explored your mindset towards your writing to best create an ongoing writing routine,

- listed practical ways that you can continue to write with both ease and structure,

- pledged your ongoing creative commitment, acknowledging your dedication to your writing. 

Course Outcomes

 In a nutshell...

✔ Overcome intimidation & find your poetic voice through self-trust and creative alignment
✔ Find inspiration & generate ideas effortlessly with intuitive techniques
✔ Explore poetic devices & their impact to unleash your power
✔ Understand poetic form & structure with a spirit of ease and discovery
✔ Editing techniques that refine your work while maintaining its authenticity
✔ Establish an ongoing writing practice that feels aligned to you.

The course includes video lessons, a comprehensive workbook, and guided exercises that encourage exploration and creativity.

Sample part of Module One

View this abridged sample from module one, where Melissa talks about traditional ways of learning about poetry, and how this course is different.

I know what it's like to feel intimidated by poetry

As a teenager, all I wanted to do was write - poetry, fiction, non-fiction. I worked as hard as I could to getaccepted into the Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, which at the time was a prestigious course. But, as I describe in the video,  during my study, and after graduation I didn't write poetry for years.

Intimidated by the ‘masters’ and daunted by the ‘indie’ poets, I was convinced that I would never be able to write as beautifully or as passionately as them. I kept these (incorrect) feelings of inadequacy in my heart as I created this course because, although I have moved past that chapter in my writing career, I know that many new writers still face confidence challenges. 

 My heartfelt intention is to empower new writers with a spirit of courage and determination to create work that is authentic to them. I wish to demonstrate ease and flow, rather than advance ideas of exclusivity within the poetry community. 

Melissa

About your tutor

Dr Melissa Watts has a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (creative writing & literary studies) from the University of Melbourne (2004) and a PhD in creative writing & history from Federation University (2023).

Melissa Watts has published poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Her poems have inspired other artists to craft bronze statues and compose piano performances for audiences in New York.

She has published a collection of free-verse and structured poetry exploring the relationship between people and place. In Small Towns (2022) Melissa shines a light on the unsaid. She picks the scab of small-town tensions, then unflinchingly aims her bow at social injustice, tipping her hat to the feminist poets who have come before her.

Melissa is currently exploring pathways to publication for her novel depicting the lives of female cartographers in World War Two. 

She has hosted keynotes at Melbourne Writers Festival interviewing British author M.J. Hyland and Ballarat Writers Festival interviewing YA icon Maureen McCarthy. She has spoken at Clunes Booktown and maintained monthly radio programs interviewing authors such as Paddy O’Reilly, Graeme Simsion, Toni Jordan and Angela Savage. Melissa spent several years as the publicity officer for Ballarat Writers working on large literary projects including festivals and competitions. Melissa was the 2024 judge of the Martha Richardson Poetry Prize.

When not writing Melissa has worked in instructional design and online learner engagement strategy for some of Australia’s largest corporations.

Special Introductory Offer!

For a limited time, enroll for just $80 AUD (regular price: $120 AUD).

Prefer to pay in an alternative currency - scroll down for options.

This course is for you if you want to 

✔ Find your poetic voice through self-trust and creative alignment
✔ Generate ideas and inspiration effortlessly with intuitive techniques
✔ write confidently with poetic devices, poetic form & structure 
✔ maintain your poem's authenticity through editing techniques that refine your work
✔ Establish an ongoing writing practice that empowers you
✔ Connect with the poems that you already love and gain a deeper understanding of your favourite poets 
✔ Go deeper with activities that stoke your curiosity.

Special Introductory Offer!

For a limited time, enroll for just $80 AUD (regular price: $120 AUD).

Prefer to pay in an alternative currency - scroll down for options.