Welcome to the SoA Poetry and Spoken Word Group (PSWG) page, a professional community for poets and spoken word artists. We come together to discuss issues affecting poets and the spoken word community, offer advice and support, and raise the profile of poetry and performance.
The Group is run by an elected Committee and a professional coordinator from the SoA. We welcome new and existing SoA members. Please email Sarah Baxter and Rose Hensher (PSWG coordinators) if you would like to get involved and be added to our newsletter.
The current Committee are Dean Atta (Chair), Rosaline Callaghan, Sophie Dumont, Isabel del Rio, Amanda Holiday, Alwyn Marriage and Michaela Morgan. Philip Gross is a coopted member of the Committee.
We run events to give members the opportunity to socialise, share experiences and learn about topics relevant to their craft. Most of our events are now held online and the recordings of all our SoA@Home Festival events are available to watch online via our Vimeo Channel.
We hold an Annual General Meeting, during which the Chair presents the committee’s annual report to the members, followed by a panel with experienced poets and spoken-word artists.
We also send out regular newsletters with info and opportunities in the world of poetry and spoken word, as well as news, advice and other related features. If you are a member and have something you would like to include in the Group newsletter, please contact Sarah Baxter and Rose Hensher.
If you are not a member of the SoA yet, see our joining page for information about signing up. Don’t forget that poets and spoken word artists can use the discount code PSWG20 to get 20% of their first year of full-price membership.
Committee news
There are four vacancies on the PSWG committee.
The committee is made up of SoA members who volunteer to help organise our events, steer campaigns and make sure that the voices of poets and spoken word artists are heard at the SoA. Terms last for three years and new committee members would start in March 2026.
We have received more than four eligible applications for the committee and there will now be an election. Voting will open on 15 December and close on 12 January.
You can read the candidate statements here
Resources
We are always working on creating useful resources for poets, which will be made available on this page.
Working in Poetry
A free guide designed to signpost useful resources for poets and spoken word artists and to help you to navigate ways of working and earning through poetry.
Opportunities for Poets
The PSWG’s list of organisations that offer opportunities to poets and spoken word artists across the UK.
Facebook discussion group
We have a private Facebook discussion group for members to stay in touch and exchange ideas, offer advice to others and discuss topics affecting poets and the spoken word community. Join here
Remember, for any queries that require immediate or specialist advice, contact our advisors directly on info@societyofauthors.org, or call the office on 020 3880 2230.
Poetry and Spoken Word AGM
Our Annual General Meeting for the year 2024/25 took place online on Wednesday 27 March 2025.
Log in below to read Chair’s reports since 2017.
Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter to be the first to hear about our events. Please contact Sarah Baxter and Rose Hensher to be added.