In this lateral thinking and writing session, we’ll explore poems that move through association, digression, repetition and unexpected connections — rather than following a straightforward line of thought. Through playful writing exercises, we’ll follow our minds to discover how seemingly unrelated ideas can come together to make a poem. **Rough schedule** 6:30-6:40pm: welcome, time to grab a drink 6:40-7:00pm: warm-up exercise & discussion 7:00-7:45pm: reading, discussing, writing 7:45-8:00pm: break 8:00-8:30pm: reading, discussing, writing 8:30-9:00pm: sharing, workshopping, editing *Ruth is a London-based poet & tutor originally from the West Midlands. She believes everyone can write poetry & is passionate about making the community more inclusive & accessible. Ruth’s first pamphlet ‘The Thought Sits With Me’ was published by Nine Pens in 2022. She edited Morocco Bound’s first anthology of poetry, ‘Slow Progress’ in 2024. She has placed & been shortlisted for several prizes in the last few years, including the Passionfruit, New Poet’s, Plough and Prole Prizes.*