Ever had a bad day at the poetry workshop coalface? I think I had one yesterday. Here’s what happened and what came from it. Firstly, I made some mistakes. I haven’t been reading or writing much poetry the last few weeks, as I’ve been consumed with work, research and a very different kind of writing. TiredRead more ⟶
Month: March 2014
National Poetry Competition awards last night
6.30pm on Thursday evening, and I receive an email invitation to the National Poetry Competition and Ted Hughes Award prizegiving evening at the Savile Club in the swanky area of London that is Mayfair, taking place 24 hours later. Quick calculation: do I go? What can I wear? What if no-one speaks to me? CanRead more ⟶
Mammoth list of literary journals
Worth bookmarking – the Poets & Writers database of lit mags (litmagz?) Salivate over this if you dare – “listings for 977 journals, providing details about the kind of work sought, authors previously published, submission guidelines, payment policies, tips from the editors, and more” WOW – nearly a thousand mags?? Why does this kind of listRead more ⟶
The pamphlet is here, hurrah!
Just taken delivery today of my new short pamphlet, The Great Vowel Shift. I’m very pleased with how it looks, and feeling kind of freed up to focus now on new writing. If you’re so inclined, you can buy a copy here … just £4 plus 50p postage. Bargain! And signed by the poet!! ThanksRead more ⟶
Harry Man’s ‘telesue’ from Lift
Just as I was umming and ahhing about doing a video blog post in which I would read something from Harry Man’s pamphlet ‘Lift’ (tall-lighthouse), I learn that it’s been awarded the Bridges of Struga Prize – part of the award being translation into Macedonian – golly! I’ve really enjoyed ‘Lift’ – not least ofRead more ⟶
So bad they rejected it twice
Just raising my head above the parapet to report that I’m about 20k words into my book and now at the point where I have to start printing pages off and going through everything with post-its, before I lose my many threads. It’s amazing how I can be convinced I’ve already covered something, or filedRead more ⟶
Launch of The Interpreter’s House #55
And so to Oxford, or the Albion Beatnik Bookstore in Jericho, to be precise. Martin Malone took over the editorship of The Interpreter’s House after the untimely death of Simon Curtis last year, and this is his second issue. I have to say, the production quality is great, I love the cover design, and it’sRead more ⟶
These poems will make you rich/attractive/understand the off-side rule
Lots to think about in this post from Todd Swift, in which he ponders on how to sell poetry, or rather poetry books … he says people only buy stuff that’s going to either inform/advise them about something, or provide entertainment/escapism, and that poetry does ‘neither exactly’. In the comments, someone points out “that’s whyRead more ⟶