Indrani Perera

poet, publisher & mentor

Tag: feedback

Writing Together

I had such a fabulous time yesterday at the Kathleen Syme library in Carlton, teaching my poetry workshop, Beyond the Page, to a lovely group of people.

Beyond the Page is a different kind of poetry workshop. Instead of analysing poems written by other people and then trying to write your own poems, the focus is on what the poets already know and those gifts that they have within themselves. They trick is helping them to find the right key to open that locked box of treasure.

The poets whole-heartedly embraced all the prompts including hopping about like a grasshopper and blowing in the wind like a tree in a hurricane. I created a mix of movement, drawing and sensory exercises along with poetry prompts to help the writers access their subconscious minds.

After all the preparation and promotion leading up to the workshop, it was so lovely to sit aback and let the poets do their thing. It was so much fun seeing them scribble away and then hear the results of their efforts. It was a real honour and a privilege to hear such raw and fresh writing.

Thanks to everyone who came! I hope you found the exercises useful and that you can incorporate some of them into your writing practice.

September 8, 2024
Beyond the Page – A Poetry Workshop
I’m running a poetry workshop, Beyond the Page, on Saturday 7 September in Carlton as part of the Sonic Poetry Festival 2024.

If you're feeling uninspired or stuck in a poetry rut, come along and learn how to neurohack your writing through sound, movement and drawing.

Through exercises and writing prompts, you will:
- use movement and drawing as part of your writing practice and to access different parts of the brain.
- write poems from different points of view, including insects and inanimate objects.
- write using senses other than sight — especially those of sound and hearing.
Bring your child-like self, a sense of adventure and a willingness to play!

This workshop suits emerging poets wanting to learn new skills as well as more experieienced poets looking to super charge their writing.

Will you join me? Book now!
August 30, 2024
Haiku in the Hills

I drove up into the Dandenong ranges earlyish on Sunday morning for my second poetry workshop of the weekend. This time it was Haiku in the Hills with AJ D'Costa, another Sonic Poetry Festival event which makes three in three days! I love poetry month – there's so many amazing things to do!!!

We all met up at the gazebo and then AJ took us through a beautifully curated and thought-out walk through the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden in Olinda. We stopped at various places along the way where AJ would give us some haiku theory/history/poems and a prompt for writing our own. As we walked between locations, she asked us to note down our observations which we then turned into haiku at the end. It's been a while since I've been in the hills and I had forgotten how chilly it gets, especially in the mornings at this time of year. Luckily we got moving and I soon warmed up.

At the very end of our walk, we stopped in a grassy meadow and spent some time working on our haiku in the sun. After that we had a picnic style lunch with pakoras, samosas, dips, veggie sticks, cheese, apricots, crackers, chai and iced tea – all carried in packs by AJ and Ady, her partner.

It was a brilliant morning and it's definitely in my top three of all time favourite workshops. It was the perfect combination of walking, writing, talking and eating. And I met so many lovely new people. Huge thanks to AJ and Red Room poetry who gave AJ a micro grant to run the workshop. Aj is an incredibly warm and generous person and donated all the profits for the day to PARA (Palestine Australia Relief & Action), supporting Palestinian refugees in Australia.

August 28, 2024
Storylines: Voices in the Street

Exploring new places is one of my absolute favourite things to do. All those new little nooks and crannies to explore. Those new cafes and bookshops to discover. The hidden gems just waiting to be found. On the weekend I was lucky enough to be able to combine my twin loves of exploring and writing when I caught public transport to the Voices in the Street: Storylines poetry workshop hosted by Mothertoungue, a long running Naarm poetry night.

It was a rare, sunny day here in late winter and I had an enjoyable stroll from the station to the Ivanhoe library where the workshop was being held. I found the cutest ever bookshop that almost took all my money (but not quite) and a bulk food store that had the best trail mix ever and gorgeous mini white Persian figs. Oh my. They were so good that I went back and bought more after the workshop!

When I walked into the workshop room I was greeted with a table filled with art supplies, flowers, leaves, feathers, an emu egg and a couple of coolamons made by Aunty Sharon. It was my first clue that this workshop was going to be anything but ordinary!

Aunty Sharon Hughes and Kristen Munro from the Storylines Aboriginal Writers Group were our facilitators. We started with a beautiful movement practice led by Kristin that called on the land and the elements. We were guided through a fabulous writing prompt to create five lines of poetry. We then learnt how to make mini books and spent the rest of the afternoon happily collaging and decorating our mini books with the art supplies on the table.

It was so wonderful to be making something with my hands again. Poetry, art and books? I was in heaven!

Thanks Aunty Sharon, Kristin and Mothertongue for a fabulous afternoon!

August 26, 2024
Mentoring

Indrani Perera is an Australian author who shares her extensive experience and knowledge as a published poet with her students. She provides expert guidance for emerging and established writers. Her mentoring services include encouragement and support, feedback on writing and editing as well as publishing industry advice and information.

‘What sets Indrani apart is not just her mastery of poetry but her genuine investment in nurturing emerging voices. Her feedback was always constructive, pushing me to explore new horizons while staying true to my voice. Her mentorship was a blend of professionalism, warmth, and genuine passion for the craft, making every interaction both enlightening and enjoyable.’

Lakshmi R Kanchi

Author of Lake song

‘Indrani was one of the first poets published by Ginninderra Press. Her first collection, Defenestration, clearly demonstrated that she was a talent to watch and her second, pas de deux, amply confirmed her dedication to the craft of poetry. New and aspiring poets would learn an immense amount from her workshops and benefit richly from her enthusiasm and insights.’

Stephen Matthews OAM

Publisher, Ginninderra Press

To book an online mentoring session, please email Indrani with ‘Poetry Mentoring’ in the subject line.

Take a deep dive into poetry with a one-on-one session with Indrani, tailored to meet your needs. Be that feedback on your work, questions about writing techniques or information about the industry, she is happy to discuss it all!

Indrani shares her knowledge about joining writers’ groups, attending open mics, submitting to journals, entering competitions, preparing manuscripts, finding a publisher and more!

Duration: 1 hour

Class Size: personal, one-on-one session

Venue: online

Cost: $100 per session

Hello! I’m Indrani Perera.

I have been writing, editing and publishing for over 25 years.

I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge and helping writers to become published authors.

I have had two poetry books published, been shortlisted for major Australian poetry prizes and my poems appear in literary journals in Australia, India and the USA. I have performed extensively on the open mic and been a featured poet for Girls on Key, the Melbourne Spoken Word & Poetry Festival and the Perth Poetry Festival.

I also have significant experience in the publishing industry — working in an Australian book shop, for an independent Australian publisher and as editor of the Pocketry Almanack print journal.

I can help you achieve your writing goals with support, encouragement, feedback, editing and industry advice.

To book a mentoring session or enquire about what she can offer you, please email Indrani with ‘Poetry Mentoring’ in the subject line.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Send an email to Indrani and she can design something just for you!

February 6, 2024
Workshops
Indrani Perera teaches poetry workshops and classes for primary and secondary school students as well as adults of all ages. She has taught online and in person classes. She offers both one-on-one online sessions as well as group classes which can be taught either online or in person. Organisations she has taught workshops for include Melbourne Spoken Word and WA Poets Inc.

‘Indrani’s friendly manner and her skill in leading participants to achieve breakthroughs made this a pleasant and enjoyable workshop. Definitely worth the time attending.’

Gary De Piazzi

Secretary, WA Poets Inc

In this unique workshop with Naarm/Melbourne poet and board gamer Indrani Perera, you will create your very own custom poetry game with which you can write original poems! Exercises include creating a personal word bank, customising a die and making word cards. And of course, writing poems!

Play isn’t just for kids – it stimulates the brain and enhances cognitive abilities such as critical thinking, problem solving and creativity. All necessary skills for poets. Suitable for all ages and abilities, this is the workshop that puts the fun back into writing!

Workshop: Game On – Word Play for Poets!

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Event: Perth Poetry Festival 2025

Organiser: WA Poets Inc

Time: 11.30 am – 1.30 pm AWST

Date: Friday 29th August 2025

Venue: City of Vincent Library 99 Loftus Street, Leederville, WA, 6007.

Cost: $30/$25

BOOK NOW!

To book one of the below workshops or to enquire about a class you would like her to create for you, please email Indrani with ‘Poetry Workshop’ in the subject line.
Do you find it hard to put your feelings into words? Are you struggling to find ideas? Has the muse left you and inspiration fled? Are you stuck in a rut with your writing — revisiting the same metaphors and line breaks again and again?

It’s time to neurohack your writing and get out of your poetry rut!

In this two hour workshop with Indrani Perera, author of pas de deux and editor of the Pocketry Almanack, you’ll learn how to get out of your head and creep into the cracks by exploring the spaces in between. Through exercises and writing prompts you will:
- use movement and drawing as part of your writing practice and to access different parts of the brain.
- write poems from different points of view, including insects and inanimate objects.
- write using senses other than sight — especially those of sound and hearing.
Bring your child-like self, a sense of adventure and a willingness to play!

Workshop: Beyond the Page Poetry Workshop

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Event: Sonic Poetry Festival 2024

Time: 10.30.00am – 12.30pm AEST

Date: Saturday 7th September 2024

Venue: Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre, 251 Faraday Street, Carlton VIC 3053
In this intimate, one-on-one online class, you will learn what gives a poem its heart, how to breathe life into your words and the importance of good bones (aka structure).

Poetry prompts will be provided during the session and there will be time to write your own poems. Participants receive notes with a list of writing resources and recommended reading.

Workshop: Anatomy of a Poem

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Time: 10.00 – 11.30am AEST

Date: Friday 17th November 2023

Venue: Online

Get out of your head and creep into the cracks with a workshop that explores the spaces in between. Bring your child-like self, a sense of adventure and a willingness to play. Through movement, sound and drawing you’ll discover how to write poems that move beyond the page.

As a tool to tap into those spaces between our thoughts, this workshop will also explore different ways of using pen and paper. Bring along any art supplies that feel inspiring (coloured pencils, textas, watercolour paints, pastels) as well as journals, sheets of blank paper etc. It’s an excuse to go wild in the stationery section!

Workshop: Beyond Words: A Liminal Spaces Workshop

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Event: Perth Poetry Festival 2023

Organiser: WA Poets Inc

Time: 9.00 – 11.00am AWST

Date: Saturday 16th September 2023

Venue: Centre for Stories. 100 Aberdeen St, Northbridge, WA

Find the joy in writing and learn to play with your words in this workshop packed with fun and games.

Suitable for all ages but it’s especially great for primary school students and adults looking to lighten up a little.

Workshop: Word Play

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Time: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm

Date: Tuesday 21st March 2023

Venue: Harkaway, Victoria

‘The workshop was a combination of interactive games and activities that kept even adults motivated to participate! We all had a really great experience and I would highly recommend it! I am looking forward to repeat the workshop again in future.’

Victoria Konash

Dressmaker, Fashion Designer & Parent

You’ve written a book. Yay you! Now what? This workshop will show you how to promote your poetry online and in person so that people will learn about you and want to buy your work.

You’ll learn how to create an online presence, how to find a writing community and how to build your reputation and get your work known by fellow poets. The workshop will also touch on branding and creating promotional materials. Promoting Your Poetry is aimed at poets but the content applies to all writers seeking to promote themselves.

Workshop: Promote Your Poetry

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Event: Melbourne Spoken Word Festival Online

Time: 2.00 pm AEST

Date: Saturday 1 August 2020

Venue: Online

Book one of the above workshops for your organisation or group, or enquire about mentoring services, via email to Indrani with ‘Poetry Workshop’ in the subject line.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Send an email to Indrani and she can design a workshop for you and/or your group!
March 18, 2019
Workshops
Indrani Perera teaches poetry workshops and classes for primary and secondary school students as well as adults of all ages. She has taught online and in person classes. She offers both one-on-one online sessions as well as group classes which can be taught either online or in person. Organisations she has taught workshops for include Melbourne Spoken Word and WA Poets Inc.

‘Indrani’s friendly manner and her skill in leading participants to achieve breakthroughs made this a pleasant and enjoyable workshop. Definitely worth the time attending.’

Gary De Piazzi

Secretary, WA Poets Inc

In this unique workshop with Naarm/Melbourne poet and board gamer Indrani Perera, you will create your very own custom poetry game with which you can write original poems! Exercises include creating a personal word bank, customising a die and making word cards. And of course, writing poems!

Play isn’t just for kids – it stimulates the brain and enhances cognitive abilities such as critical thinking, problem solving and creativity. All necessary skills for poets. Suitable for all ages and abilities, this is the workshop that puts the fun back into writing!

Workshop: Game On – Word Play for Poets!

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Event: Perth Poetry Festival 2025

Organiser: WA Poets Inc

Time: 11.30 am – 1.30 pm AWST

Date: Friday 29th August 2025

Venue: City of Vincent Library 99 Loftus Street, Leederville, WA, 6007.

Cost: $30/$25

BOOK NOW!

To book one of the below workshops or to enquire about a class you would like her to create for you, please email Indrani with ‘Poetry Workshop’ in the subject line.
Do you find it hard to put your feelings into words? Are you struggling to find ideas? Has the muse left you and inspiration fled? Are you stuck in a rut with your writing — revisiting the same metaphors and line breaks again and again?

It’s time to neurohack your writing and get out of your poetry rut!

In this two hour workshop with Indrani Perera, author of pas de deux and editor of the Pocketry Almanack, you’ll learn how to get out of your head and creep into the cracks by exploring the spaces in between. Through exercises and writing prompts you will:
- use movement and drawing as part of your writing practice and to access different parts of the brain.
- write poems from different points of view, including insects and inanimate objects.
- write using senses other than sight — especially those of sound and hearing.
Bring your child-like self, a sense of adventure and a willingness to play!

Workshop: Beyond the Page Poetry Workshop

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Event: Sonic Poetry Festival 2024

Time: 10.30.00am – 12.30pm AEST

Date: Saturday 7th September 2024

Venue: Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre, 251 Faraday Street, Carlton VIC 3053
In this intimate, one-on-one online class, you will learn what gives a poem its heart, how to breathe life into your words and the importance of good bones (aka structure).

Poetry prompts will be provided during the session and there will be time to write your own poems. Participants receive notes with a list of writing resources and recommended reading.

Workshop: Anatomy of a Poem

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Time: 10.00 – 11.30am AEST

Date: Friday 17th November 2023

Venue: Online

Get out of your head and creep into the cracks with a workshop that explores the spaces in between. Bring your child-like self, a sense of adventure and a willingness to play. Through movement, sound and drawing you’ll discover how to write poems that move beyond the page.

As a tool to tap into those spaces between our thoughts, this workshop will also explore different ways of using pen and paper. Bring along any art supplies that feel inspiring (coloured pencils, textas, watercolour paints, pastels) as well as journals, sheets of blank paper etc. It’s an excuse to go wild in the stationery section!

Workshop: Beyond Words: A Liminal Spaces Workshop

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Event: Perth Poetry Festival 2023

Organiser: WA Poets Inc

Time: 9.00 – 11.00am AWST

Date: Saturday 16th September 2023

Venue: Centre for Stories. 100 Aberdeen St, Northbridge, WA

Find the joy in writing and learn to play with your words in this workshop packed with fun and games.

Suitable for all ages but it’s especially great for primary school students and adults looking to lighten up a little.

Workshop: Word Play

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Time: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm

Date: Tuesday 21st March 2023

Venue: Harkaway, Victoria

‘The workshop was a combination of interactive games and activities that kept even adults motivated to participate! We all had a really great experience and I would highly recommend it! I am looking forward to repeat the workshop again in future.’

Victoria Konash

Dressmaker, Fashion Designer & Parent

You’ve written a book. Yay you! Now what? This workshop will show you how to promote your poetry online and in person so that people will learn about you and want to buy your work.

You’ll learn how to create an online presence, how to find a writing community and how to build your reputation and get your work known by fellow poets. The workshop will also touch on branding and creating promotional materials. Promoting Your Poetry is aimed at poets but the content applies to all writers seeking to promote themselves.

Workshop: Promote Your Poetry

Facilitator: Indrani Perera

Event: Melbourne Spoken Word Festival Online

Time: 2.00 pm AEST

Date: Saturday 1 August 2020

Venue: Online

Book one of the above workshops for your organisation or group, or enquire about mentoring services, via email to Indrani with ‘Poetry Workshop’ in the subject line.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Send an email to Indrani and she can design a workshop for you and/or your group!
March 18, 2019