Join creative copywriter and poet Rishi Dastidar in this workshop, taking participants through fundamental foundations and flights of experimentation in punctuation for practicing poets.

Punctuation, or its absence, is what gives shape to work – what powers poems, even. It instructs readers and helps them to receive what we write. In this workshop you will explore the why and how when considering commas, stops, dashes and more. There’ll be a practical discussion where participants can pose their punctuation questions to Rishi.

There are a few select recorded tickets of the workshop available, however, a recording won’t be sent to participants, as these are only for those who can’t make the session on the day.

Hosted on Cath Drake’s ‘The Verandah’.

Punctuation is fascinating, fun and essential for all poets. Marvelously creative copywriter and poet, Rishi Dastidar is our host to lead us through fundamental foundations and flights of experimentation in punctuation for practicing poets, a perfect workshop to reset our poetry new year.

We know words matter in our poems. But what of the near invisible scaffolding we might use – or not use? Punctuation, or its absence, is what gives shape to our work – what powers our poems, even. It instructs readers and helps them to receive what we write. Adding a comma could change the meaning or give your readers the 'ahh' reaction you want. And what happens if you don’t use any punctuation at all? The weight that specific marks carry means that we must pay close attention to their role, and what we want to deploy them to do.

We’ll canter through the why and how when considering commas, stops, dashes and more. There’ll be a practical discussion where you can pose your punctuation questions to Rishi.

1.5 hours long

Start time: 9am UK time // 5pm Perth Australia // 7.30pm Adelaide // 6.30 Darwin // 7pm Brisbane // 8pm Sydney, AEST // 10pm NZ

Cost £24 GBP (with cost effective exchange via STRIPE)

Rishi Dastidar has parallel careers as a poet and critic, and copywriter and brand strategist. In the latter, he has worked for a wide number of brands including O2, and has twice served as a jury member for the D&AD Awards. In the former, his poetry has been published by Financial Times, New Scientist and the Southbank Centre amongst many others. A poem from his third collection Neptune’s Projects (Nine Arches Press) was included in The Forward Book of Poetry 2024. He is a regular poetry reviewer for The Guardian, and is chair of Wasafiri, the magazine for international creative and critical writing. 

Zoom link and materials will be sent by email at least 2 days prior. If you don’t receive it get in touch with me.