This event explores how poetry-generating computer programmes could help aspiring writers. Through flash talks and poetry performances, attendees will discover how the computer has learnt to say more than ‘no’. Then participants will turn their hand to writing poetry, entering a handful of words and phrases into the programme to see what the machine helps them create.

Flash talks will cover the digital possibilities, from asking online communities to crack Dickens’ unsolved murder mystery, to seeing whether the Victorians’ futuristic ideas about talking books came true. The old-fashioned human author will also be present, as a poet will give spoken word performances and go up against the machine to create a brand new work. In the second part of the evening, participants will get the chance to explore interactive stalls to generate their own poems, join the ‘Save the Author’ protest and become an online detective.