Full-Day Writing Retreat (All Levels / Emerging)
With facilitators Deanna Rodger & Adam Kammerling.
Deanna Rodger is an international poet, performer and facilitator. She featured on The Art That Made Us (BBC1) and her reimagined version of ‘If’ was read by Serena Williams for International Women's Day (BBC Sport). Her poetry has been welcomed across the world incl. Mexico, Sudan, and Lebanon, and commissions include; Adidas, FIFA, St Paul’s Cathedral, Nationwide, Young Vic, and Amnesty International. She is a Clore Fellow, a former trustee at Easton Community Children’s Centre, and a Pervasive Media Studio resident working with creative technology and poetry.
Adam Kammerling is an award winning poet, interdisciplinary artist and educator. His most recent works include Seder, his debut poetry collection which was a finalist in the National Jewish Book Awards, Shall We Take This Outside, a three-person spoken-word/dance theatre show that toured nationally, and Inside!, a piece of poetry/rave theatre commissioned by Centrepoint and the Saatchi Gallery. A highly experienced educator, he has created spoken word and theatre with emerging poets, musicians and circus practitioners at the Roundhouse, The Albany and Pentonville Prison.
APPLY HERE
PLEASE NOTE: Before applying for one our courses, please read our Terms and Conditions which include information about Accessibility, Accommodation, Bursary Spaces, Code of Conduct, Payment, Pricing and Refunds. You can also read our Privacy Policy here.
DATE: Saturday 19th September 2026 (10:00 - 16:00)*
LOCATION: Chew Valley Community Farm, Chew Magna, Bristol BS40 8SZ
PRICE: £60**
AIMED AT: All Levels / Emerging poets (see description below)
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Sunday 31st May 2026 (9pm)
**Participants can arrive from 09:30 - 10:00, and the retreat runs until 16:00.
**2x bursary spaces and 1x travel bursary are available for each retreat. See Terms and Conditions & Application Form.
DESCRIPTION:
This retreat is aimed at emerging+ poets looking for a day of inspiration to create new work and learn key career skills.
You will meet plenty of other writers, build community and create work under the tutoring of Deanna Rodger and Adam Kammerling, two nationally acclaimed poets, performers, facilitators and former UK poetry slam champions. Participants will be supported by the friendly and experienced Raise the Bar team.
Focusing on various skills as a writer and a creative practitioner, this retreat will help you build confidence and skills to map out new artistic/career pathways, whilst learning new writing techniques and engaging in lively conversations to develop your voice and style.
Raise the Bar’s retreats offer a warm, welcoming and family atmosphere. A full vegan lunch + snacks are included as part of the day. The retreat will consist of facilitated sessions with both tutors, a Q&A, and a chance to read/write/explore in the beautiful Chew Valley Community Farm.
Aimed at poets of all kinds, including those working primarily in writing or in performance.
Post-emerging writers are also welcome to apply for this course but should be aware that all exercises will be suitable for less experienced poets.
KEY INFORMATION:
These retreats are open to anyone over the age of 18, with priority given to applicants living in South West England, both at the time of application and throughout the duration of the course/retreat applied for. This area is defined as consisting of the counties of Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly), Dorset, Devon, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Candidates living outside this area are very welcome to apply but will initially be added to a reserve list. If we can't fill spaces from eligible candidates in the South West, we will offer spaces to suitable applicants on the reserve list.
These courses are not designed for complete beginners and experience of writing poetry is required for all applications. There is no cast-iron definition of emerging and post-emerging poets, but the following lists may be useful in helping you pick course that most accurately matches your level of experience.
An all levels / emerging poet:
Will have less than 3 years experience as a writer/performer
Will usually be active mainly in their local area, and be seeking to expand their profile
May regularly attend poetry workshops and courses, or perform unpaid at open mics or slam competitions
May have minimal experience of being published in journals/magazines/competition.
May have a pamphlet or debut book of poems published
May have some experience performing paid support slots at poetry events
Will consider poetry to be more than just a hobby, seeking opportunities to develop their creative practice or professional skills
A post-emerging / mid-career poet:
Will have more than 3 years experience as a writer/performer, in a part-time capacity or as part of their profession
Will usually make regular income from poetry-related work
May have significant experience of being published in journals/magazines/competitions
May have at least one full-length poetry collection, album or body of work
May have significant experience headlining events and being paid for their work, including outside of their town/city/region
May have performed, or been published, internationally
May be paid to judge competitions or sit on panels
May be paid to edit or mentor other poets’ work
May have work commissioned by organisations on a semi-regular basis
Will still be seeking to further their professional skills in order to become a more established poet with a full-time, or majority of their, income coming from writing/poetry-related work (including teaching, producing and facilitating)