“Elaine – thank you for unleashing the creativity of so many of our young people. They have loved working with you and we’ve loved having you with us.”
– Rachael Warwick, Executive Headteacher, Ridgeway Education Trust
“Elaine Baker is a skilled poet and educator, with much experience of guiding emerging poets to get the best from their writing in a workshop setting. She is generous, sensitive and detailed in her critique of poems, and has a strong knowledge of the contemporary scene and recent critical theory, and an incredible enthusiasm for the poetic art.”
– Tamar Yoseloff, Poet (Seren), Tutor & Publisher (Hercules Editions)
***
The Poetry Mixer, evening course:
“Elaine’s teaching is always engaging, constructive and makes you want to come back.”
“I found this course stimulating and well balanced. I would definitely recommend it!”
“As a beginner poet, I found the course encouraging. It managed to be nonthreatening as well as challenging.”
“My favourite two hours of the week! Beautifully led sessions, informative, fun and hugely welcoming.”
***
One-to-one poetry mentoring and editorial guidance:
“I am a published poet who was searching for a method of further developing my poetry skills to achieve further successful publication.
I found Elaine’s coaching inspirational and it led me to totally review my approach to writing poetry. She gave me the conviction that I was opening a new door to my creativity. In particular, I developed poems which I had previously only half-finished and put away in a draw. She gave valuable advice but always left the final decision to me. She helped me to discover the potency of some of my ideas. I am so grateful to her, she has motivated me to continue writing.
Besides being an excellent poet herself, Elaine has teaching skills which I would recommend to anyone who is committed to creative writing. She was, for me, a first class coach who helped me lift the quality of my writing and find true expression.”
***
Work in schools:
“Elaine’s work with our students has been outstanding. Inspiring, motivational, creative and well-organised. Elaine’s programme has given our young writers the skills and confidence to really flourish as poets and authors. Without exception, the writers involved have loved their experience and, as a result, I would recommend Elaine without reservation.”
– Tom Goodenough, Headteacher, Didcot Girls’ School, 2018
Award-winning poets!
So proud of my writing mentees: Kat, Elena & Anna, who were all Award Winners in the 2018 Poetry Live competition, as part of the prestigious Oxford Festival of the Arts! (Congrats to all my young writers who took part.) Find a couple of pics of the event over on my Blog.
Student Feedback
‘Elaine is amazing. The support she provided was incredible! I have 100% benefitted from this opportunity.’
‘Thank you for freeing my words.’
‘I’m so happy I signed up for the workshops 20 weeks ago, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the writing experience.’
‘The structure of the sessions is good’
‘Thank you! The experience has been amazing!’
In their own words, the best thing about mentoring has been:
‘The one-to-one specific feedback’
‘Being able to share my work’
‘Writing a poem I’m proud of’
‘Learning how to improve a piece of writing’
Please get in touch with me if you would like me to plan and deliver some bespoke poetry workshops or mentoring for your school or organisation.
Elaine Baker - Poet 