10.30am Roz Hall’s quirky poetry workshop takes younger children’s imagination into the great outdoors with a lot of rhythm, actions and general goings-on around the ways of animals, flowers and some interesting opposites. Organised chaos maybe - but great fun and the kids will love it! Frinton Library 59 Old Road, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 9DA Phone 01255 672581 to book a place

Venue: Frinton Library 59 Old Road, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 9DA

Telephone: 01255 672581
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk/workshop.htm

5 to 7 pm Workshop Philip Wilson - Freeing The Muse It has often been argued that poetic creativity flourishes when subject to constraint. Rhyme, rhythm and verse form: these can all be seen as limitations that poets have imposed on their writing. In this workshop, participants will engage in three exercises to three exercises to bring out the spirit of creativity. No history of writing poetry is assumed. 5pm Colchester Library

Venue: Colchester Library, Trinity Square, Colchester, CO1 1JB

Telephone: 01206 245900
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk

11am Workshop Roz Hall - The Time of my Life! Roz Hall’s poetry workshop takes you on a micro-journey through your own life, inspiring you and showing you how to express so much - yet in so few words. Abandon the autobiography; this is far more fun! And if you’ve never dared to pick up a pen before, come along and find out that you, too, can write something really special. 11am Clacton Library, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea. CO15 1SF Phone 01255 421207 to book a place.

Venue: Clacton Library, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea. CO15 1SF

Telephone: 01255 421207
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk

Starting at Ely Museum,dropping down to the river, ending at Oliver Cromwell's House, the walk provides readings from poetry and prose about Ely history and characters and a chance to reflect on your own Heroes and Heroines. Afternoon writing workshop with John Lyons and Clare Crossman. Also Poetry Celebration read with Sue Butler & Andrea Porter on NPD at 7.30 in the evening.Live music, many voices.Celebrate those who give you inspiration...

Venue: Ely Museum and Babylon Gallery

Tickets: for workshop £18/£10

Contact: Clare Crossman
Telephone: 01763 261300
Email: claremcphee@netscape.net
Website: claremcphee@netscape.net

Are you a budding bard or perhaps you have been writing for some time and would like to put a polish on your poetry, either way come along with your poems that are unfinshed or maybe stuck in a rut and masterclass them with poet and one-time magazine editor, John Steer at the poetry surgery (bring copies to to share)

Venue: Harlow Library, The High, Harlow. CM20 1HA

Telephone: 01279 413772
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk

National Poetry Day launch for all Central Bedfordshire schools who have signed up with Mick Gowar 10 - 12

Venue: The Forest Centre,,, Marston Moretaine

Tickets: Free to Central Bedf

Contact: Chris Hogan
Telephone: (01234) 836109
Email: chirs.hogan@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Dorothy Turner leads a poetry writing workshop on the theme of 'Heroes and Heroines' Compare poems about different types of hero, write a verse for your hero. 2.30pm

Venue: Hullbridge Library, Ferry Road, Hullbridge, SS5 6ET

Telephone: 01702 230868
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk

Celebrate National Poetry Day by exploring, performing and writing poems about your favourite heroes and heroines. For all the family. Bring along your favourite poem too!

Venue: Leagrave Library 4.00-4.45pm

Tickets: Free

Contact: Alexis Dimyan
Telephone: 01582 574803
Email: alexisdimyan@hotmail.com

Mixture of poetry and music event to be held in school Learning Centre 1.00 - 2.00. In addition teachers are being encouraged to read a favourite poem at the beginning of their lessons on Thurs. A secondary school event only. Not available to the public

Venue: King Edward VI School, Bury St Eds

Contact: Mrs Bridget McMillan - Librarian
Telephone: 01284 761393
Email: bmm@king-ed.suffolk.sch.uk

At 2.15pm on BBC Radio Suffolk poet Chrissie Gittins will be reading and talking about a new poem she's written about the Orford Merman called 'The Return of the Wildman of Orford'.

Venue: BBC Radio Suffolk

Contact: Chrissie Gittins
Email: chrissie.gittins@btinternet.com
Website: www.chrissiegittins.co.uk

30min Reading followed by writing workshop Tim Cunningham - The I of the Storm Tim will show you how to navigate your way from private emotion to public poem.

Venue: Billericay Library

Telephone: 01277 624624
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk

Shenfield Library, Hutton Road, Shenfield, Brentwood CM15 8NJ

Venue: Shenfield Library, Hutton Road, Shenfield, Brentwood CM15 8NJ

Telephone: 01277 225540
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk

Big Day of Poetry at the Cramphorn Theatre in the evening: John Hartley Williams Kathryn Simmonds Inua Ellams & competition winners reading introduced by adjudicator Jo Bell In the afternoon: Essex Poets, Jeremy Over,Joanna Ezekiel & Sally Festing Tall Lighthouse present their guest readers: Alex Brockhurst, Alan Buckley, Brendan Cleary & David Crystal with MC Helen Mort Plus Open Mic at 1.30pm (sign up from 1pm)

Venue: Cramphorn Theatre, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1JG

Tickets: Eve: £8.00 (£6.50 co

Telephone: Box Office 01245 606505
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk

11.30 Workshop Ken Champion - The Best Words In The Best Order What IS poetry.?..GOOD poetry? (Is there agreed criteria? Can there be?) What's yours like? Bring it along - we'll talk about it, write it... Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton. IG10 1HD Phone 020 8502 0181 to book a place

Venue: Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton. IG10 1HD

Telephone: 020 8502 0181
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk

Thursday 15th October 2pm Workshop Dorothy Turner - 'Heroics of the Poets Verse' Dorothy Turner leads a poetry writing workshop on the theme of 'Heroes and Heroines' Compare poems about different types of hero, write a verse for your hero. South Benfleet Library, 264 High Road, Benfleet, SS7 5HD Phone 01268 758558 to book a place

Venue: South Benfleet Library, 264 High Road, Benfleet, SS7 5HD

Telephone: 01268 758558
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk

11.00am till 1pm Childrens event - Reggae, Rap & Rhymes Enjoy the flavour of the Caribbean with Poet Anita Marie Sackett's popular Poetry workshop for Children which uses the poet's experience of living in Jamaica, to spark the imagination. Brentwood Library, Hutton Road, Shenfield, Brentwood, CM15 8NJ Phone 01277 225540 to book a place

Venue: Brentwood Library, Hutton Road, Shenfield, Brentwood, CM15 8NJ

Telephone: 01277 225540
Email: derek@essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Website: http://www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk/workshop.htm