All That Sparkles…

Wednesday 1st April 2026

Back in the summer of 2024, something beautiful was forming.

Our Invoke Poetry leader Oli was leaving Nottingham and Hannah Norris was ready to step into his shoes with fresh ideas for a dynamic monthly poetry event - Diamonds and Rust. Oli’s followers were delighted their already close community could continue to meet and grow. And so it has! One year on, Diamonds and Rust Poetry celebrated a hugely successful year at a sparkling event where poets honoured their work, and each other. It was a privilege to have attended, so we are delighted to be returning to Nottingham Playhouse for the two-year anniversary this July.

For this month’s post, we handed our blog space over to Chloé Rose Whitmore, to hear first-hand why Diamonds and Rust is such a special event on the NWS calendar and how Hannah nurtures and inspires her creative community.

Hannah introducing the line-up at the one year celebrations

So Chloé… what did bring you along to your first Diamonds and Rust workshop in August 2024, and what were your first impressions?

“I’d recently joined Nottingham Writer’s Studio, and I’d been meaning to go to their poetry workshops for a few months. When I saw it was relaunching as Diamonds and Rust, I took my opportunity – not realising that my first session as an attendee was also Hannah’s first session as a workshop leader. It felt like such an immediately welcoming and creative environment; despite most people already knowing each other, Hannah’s prompts and introductions made it easy to start talking to people – and, more importantly, to start writing. I ended the evening in the pub with the other attendees, before sprinting to my car in the pouring rain. It was magic.”

Chloé Rose Whitmore (Pic 2)

Could you tell us how your writing has evolved since attending the first workshop? Are there any prompts, exercises or moments that particularly stayed with you?

“The most important change in my writing has been in regularity; by carving the space out for poetry and poetic conversations every month, it helps me keep the tap running, which makes it easier to slip into writing on a more regular basis. But the prompts and exercises have been amazing too – in encouraging me to loosen the restraints, to take things lightly, engage in play, consider things from a different angle. Last month’s ‘inspiration buffet’, with prompts flying at us from every direction, is something I’m still feasting on.”

And what role does being part of a writing community play in your creative life?

“It’s hard to overstate how wonderful it is to be part of a writing community, even if it’s on a monthly basis. That feeling of kinship, of kindred spirits being able to talk about things like sestinas and pantoums with genuine ardour – it makes everything feel possible. Writing, life, standing on a stage and reading your poems into a mic. The community makes these things feel valuable, worthwhile, even essential. And, of course, it’s a source of constant inspiration – whether it’s from other attendees’ poems, or the sparkling conversation.”

When you sit down to write a poem, what usually sparks it - an image, a line, a feeling or something else?

“For me, it’s a mixture. Sometimes, an image presents itself that’s so obviously a poem – like a bird devouring a blackberry the size of its head, from a bush I didn’t even notice in my garden. Other times, a certain word or phrase catches my attention, and I’ll note it down and let it marinate to see if something interesting sparks. Or a chewy, complicated feeling will arise that I’ll try to put words to, even if it’s just to make sense of it to myself. Reading poetry on a regular basis helps me notice these moments when they come, so I’m ready to snatch them – and not lose them to the infinite scroll.”

So, what would you say to someone who is thinking about coming to a poetry workshop but feels nervous about getting started?

“Walking into a room of strangers is always daunting – even more so when you’re there to create, which requires a certain level of vulnerability. But if you love writing, poetry, language – or even if you just want to try something new – there’s no better place to be.”

This is where your people are. You won’t regret it.

Diamonds celebrating together at the one year event - July 31st 2025

And it’s all about finding your community, right?

A huge thanks to Chloé for sharing her thoughts with us here, and of course to Hannah who devotes her time, care and energy to creating her workshop sessions. We hear you both have grand plans for the rest of the year!

Diamonds and Rust Poetrysessions are moving from the city library to Broadway this April, and we are all excited to see this new venue becomes part of the D&R story.

Come and join our creative community!

Deb