Award-winning poetry.
Expert support for poets and writers from blank page to publication.
Sign up to my Substack, Speak Up! On Writing, Failing Better and taking Up Space for free writing resources, prompts, advice, and musings on the messy relationship between creative writing and everyday life.
Develop your unique voice.
Write with confidence.
Publish work you feel proud of.
I help writers to develop their voice, deepen their craft, and build a sustainable creative practice—whether you’re returning to the page, working towards submission, or shaping a manuscript.
Through workshops, mentoring, editing, and my online poetry workshop community, I support writers to move beyond self-doubt and to make work they feel proud to share.
Work with me
I offer flexible, thoughtful support for writers at every stage of their journey
WORKSHOPS
- In-person writing workshops (Stroud, UK)
- Online poetry workshops
- Poetical Workshop: my ongoing online poetry community
MENTORING
One-to-one mentoring to help you develop your craft and build confidence—while maintaining a writing practice that fits your real life.
EDITING
Expert editorial support to hone individual poems or full manuscripts, and to prepare work for submission or publication.
Writer feedback
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'Kate Potts is a fantastically astute reader whose insightful critical eye and helpful suggestions have frequently been of great benefit to my development as a writer. Highly recommended.'
John McCullough, poet
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'Kate is a transformative poet and educator. Kate’s support of her students was unwavering, her excitement around poetic craft was infectious, her feedback comprehensive, constructive and sincere. She fostered in me a confidence predicated on a greater understanding of poetic form and function, and a sort of writerly instinct that ultimately affords me the ability to interrogate my own work.'
Elizabeth Morton, poet
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'Kate pushed me to stretch my writing further than I was accustomed with thorough notes and detailed conversations. She has a keen editorial eye and helped me become a much stronger writer. She is particularly excellent with character development and plot. Kate is a consummate professional who understands how writing and publishing work. I highly recommend her services for any writer.'
Erin Niumata, writer and literary agent
Why work with me
I’m a poet, mentor, editor and creative writing teacher with over 20 years’ experience supporting writers.
My poetry has been shortlisted for The Michael Marks Award, The Moth Poetry Prize, The Mslexia Poetry Competition, and The Basil Bunting Prize. I’ve received three Arts Council England Awards and a Hawthornden Fellowship.
I love helping writers to
find and trust their voice
develop craft and clarity
navigate submission and publication
sustain a creative life alongside work, care, and everything else
About my work
In 2025, after more than a decade working in academia and publishing, I made freelance teaching, mentoring and editing my main focus. This shift is part of my ongoing commitment to building a sustainable, fulfilling creative life as a solo parent.
I’ve taught creative writing for City, University of London, the University of Oxford, Royal Holloway, Middlesex University, Arvon, and The Poetry School, as well as in workplaces, care homes, and music venues.
I have a PhD on multi-vocal radio poetry (Royal Holloway), an MA in Creative & Life Writing (Goldsmiths) and a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education (Institute of Education). I’m a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a member of NAWE, and a professional member of the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders.
My poetry
My latest poetry collection, Pretenders (Bloodaxe Books), is a multi-voiced work exploring imposter feelings.
My second collection, Feral (Bloodaxe, 2018), was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation and a Telegraph Poetry Book of the Month.
