How do you make a living as a poet? Three figures from the poetry world will be discussing this topic at a special event at the Society of Authors on Wednesday 26 October. Tamar Yoseloff, pictured, who is chair of the Society of Authors poetry and spoken word group committee, and a creative writing tutor and co-founder of small press Hercules Editions, will be joined on the discussion panel by Tom Chivers, director of poetry publishers Penned in the Margins, and Julia Bird, creative director at the Poetry School and an independent literature producer and promoter.

The poetry and spoken word group at the Society of Authors was formed just over a year ago after Tamar Yoseloff and performance poet Kate Fox conducted a survey of poets which revealed widespread confusion and unhappiness around fees for poets and support for suggested pay scales.

The SoA is a trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators. It also administers grants and prizes, such as the annual Eric Gregory awards for promising young poets aged under 30. The discussion at the Society of Authors at Drayton Gardens, Chelsea, south-west London, is from 6-8pm. More details

Background: Fair pay for poets