Who are we?
The Slipstream Poetry Group was formed in 1999 by well known West Sussex poet Ursula Kiernan to meet the need for a local organisation where people could meet and share their enjoyment of poetry and at the same time develop their own skills in writing poetry.
Where and when do we meet?
The group meets on the first Monday of each month at:
The Trinity Centre,
By The Methodist Church,
Thakenham Road,
Storrington,
West Sussex
RH20 3NG
From 1.30pm until 4.30pm paying a small subscription towards costs. Members are usually drawn from the West Sussex area although some travel quite a distance rather than miss meetings
What do we do when we meet?
Sessions usually take the form of workshops run either by members themselves or, at periodic intervals, by invited well known poets. In the last couple of years we have enjoyed sessions run by Jane Duran, Moniza Alvi, Ros Barber and Jackie Wills as well as coaching sessions on Performance Poetry and delivery techniques.
What topics are used?
The workshops have used a wide range of topics to stimulate our creativity, as is evidenced by examples of programs given elsewhere in this site. They usually take the form of reading and studying well known works on the selected theme which, after refreshments, is always followed by a creative writing session. The draft forms of the work produced are then discussed by the group as a whole and valuable reactions and exchanges of ideas adds to the benefits we all derive from participation.
Who can join?
Several members of Slipstream are published poets and details of their works will be found in their members profile – but having appeared in print is not a criterion for joining the group.
New members who have dabbled in writing poetry and would like to expand their range and skill are very welcome as long as they are keen to explore different themes using old and new poets and their work and to use these as a stimulus to produce something original of their own.
Do we do anything else? – Yes!
Group members often take part in outside activities either as one off presentations of their own work or readings of published poetry and other times in support of other groups from local Arts Groups or Charities.
Plus we run our own Competitions
In addition over the last few years we have run Open National Poetry Competitions with valuable cash prizes. These competitions have attracted entries from all over the country and even a few from abroad!
The Open Competition doubles for a best West Sussex entrant competition and The Chanctonbury Cup is awarded to the winner to hold for one year.
Winning poems from our latest competitions are to be found elsewhere on this site.
Keep an eye on this section as details and entry forms for our next competition will appear there nearer the date.
In 2010, in memory of our Founder member Ursula Kiernan, we introduced a Children’s Poetry Competition for selected schools in the West Sussex area and these have been well supported.
Interested in participating?
If so get in contact with one of the nominated people shown in the Members page if you know them or use the ‘Contact Us’ form.