Well Versed
Read poems. Meet poets. Find inspiration.
- In partnership with
- Open Book
Well Versed is a one-of-a-kind reading and creative writing series delivered in partnership with Open Book since 2024, featuring poets from recent and upcoming StAnza festival programmes.
Each Well Versed season features ten three-week courses, all free and open to everyone. Each course offers a chance to discover a contemporary poet, explore their work in depth, meet them in person (online!) and find inspiration for your own writing.
Free
All courses are free and open to everyone.
Three weeks
Ten three-week courses each season, each one focused on a contemporary poet.
Lunchtime
Sessions run between noon and 1 / 1:30pm, with the poet meeting you online.
Join
Join the full programme through Open Book.
How it works
Week 1
Explore the poems
Join a friendly, facilitated discussion exploring a selection of poems by the featured writer. Share your thoughts, discover new perspectives and get to know the poet's work alongside other readers.
Week 2
Meet the poet
Join a live online reading and conversation with the poet, with opportunities to ask questions, share your reflections and hear directly from the writer about their work, inspirations and creative process.
Week 3
Get writing
Put inspiration into practice in a creative writing workshop, using the poet's work as a springboard for your own writing.
All sessions take place at lunchtime, between noon and 1 / 1:30pm, offering a welcome break from busy days and bringing a little poetry and creativity into your daily life.
You can join the full programme through Open Book or watch recordings of our conversations with poets on StAnza's YouTube channel.
2026 sessions
- 21st JanuaryNick Makoha12.00 - 1.00pm
- 18th FebruaryMichael Mullen12.00 - 1.00pm
- 15th AprilYousif M Qasmiyeh12.00 - 1.00pm
- 20th MaySarah Howe12.00 - 1.00pm
- 17th JuneKeith Jarrett12.00 - 1.00pm
- 15th JulyIyad Hayatleh12.00 - 1.00pm
- 16th SeptemberVicki Feaver12.00 - 1.00pm
- 21st OctoberChen Chen12.00 - 1.00pm
- 18th NovemberRachael Boast3.00 - 4.00pm
We'll be announcing more sessions with more fantastic poets in the coming months, so keep an eye on this page or on our socials to hear who else we have in store.
Missed a session? Watch past Well Versed sessions on YouTube.
What people say
Well Versed has been called "an eye-opener", and praised for giving participants the opportunity to discover "many styles, methods & motivations".
"The whole outline of the project, the fact that you pay close attention to an author's work, then meet them and then respond to the work - that's really compelling, and I don't think I've heard of another series of workshops that do that."
Joelle Taylor, Well Versed artist
"Love the format!"
Well Versed participant
"A unique opportunity to hear insights from the authors, pose questions which had arisen during the shared reading sessions and engage in a very accessible conversation - these were FANTASTIC opportunities and so valuable and valued. I have not only discovered authors I had not heard of, I feel more engaged with the poetry scene and this has motivated me to read more of the work of new and contemporary authors."
Well Versed participant
Join Well Versed
Whether you're a regular reader of poetry, an aspiring writer or simply curious to discover something new, Well Versed offers a welcoming space to explore contemporary poetry and connect with the people who write it.
About Open Book
Open Book organise and run over 1200 shared reading and creative writing sessions each year, for a diverse range of community and public participants across Scotland. Every year, Open Book arranges and funds visits for their groups to book festivals and other literary events across Scotland, including Edinburgh International Book Festival, Wigtown Book Festival, Paisley Book Festival, Granite Noir, StAnza, Ullapool Book Festival, and St Magnus Festival. Open Book also regularly offers additional author visits and opportunities to participate on Special Projects and performances.
Well Versed is generously supported by Old Possum's Practical Trust and Creative Scotland.
Funded and supported by
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