A name you’ll have come across often in the poetry magazines is Louise Ordish. She is a talented poet who has had a number of high profile successes, including a shortlisting for the Poetry School/Nine Arches Press Primers Vol 1, and a poem nominated for the Forward Prize. I hope we’ll be seeing a lot more ofRead more ⟶
Category: Inspiration
Seven Questions for Poets #6 – Claire Dyer
Claire Dyer is a fine poet and novelist who I first met at a launch reading for The Interpreter’s House. She seems to be one of those people who quietly produce one good book after another, without any of the kind of angsty fuss some of us like to indulge in. If you get a chanceRead more ⟶
At the South Downs Poetry Festival
When Tim Dawes came to Lewes just a few months ago to talk about his plans for a South Downs Poetry Festival, I admit I was sceptical about whether it could be done in such a short timeframe. But hats off to him, the event happened and from what I can tell, it was aRead more ⟶
Thank you, Dr Upadhayay
I was one of those lucky people who enjoyed school, and whose English teachers (and I will name them, by way of a belated thank you – Dr Upadhayay and Mr Jennings) believed I had some writing ability and encouraged it. But I couldn’t see what they saw and thought it was utterly ridiculous toRead more ⟶
Lynne Hjelmgaard book launch
[…] Outside each propelling constellation but inside that feeling of boat. It demands and bruises, cuts pride, hardens stomachs. […] (‘That Feeling of Boat’) It was such a pleasure to be at the launch of Lynne Hjelmgaard’s new collection A Boat Called Annalise last night. Hosted by publisher Seren Books, it was a warm occasion,Read more ⟶
Music and words, what alchemy
I am singing for a funeral next week, in a quartet – and although these are sad occasions, it is wonderful to be able to sing some beautiful music, and of course in such a charged setting. While re-acquainting myself with Byrd’s Ave Verum I found myself listening to the CD our group made in 2013,Read more ⟶
Tips for open mic poetry…
[View the story “What are your top 3 tips for a poetry open mic?” on Storify]
The Reading List, winding up
First: general ‘how I’m feeling’ stuff, feel free to skip down if you’re short of time Apologies for the silence these last few days. The usual self-employed person’s dilemma of feeling like rubbish and simultaneously wanting to stay on top of work and not let people down. Yesterday I had to leave early from John McCullough’s poetry workshop atRead more ⟶
Some inspirational writing & poetry sites to enjoy in 2016
Happy New Year, and welcome to the rest of your life. May it be a long, healthy and happy one. Had a nice Christmas? Glad it’s over now? It’s OK to answer ‘yes’ to both, by the way. I’m in a contemplative mood. It’s great to look out of the window and see just oneRead more ⟶
The Reading List, week 11 – Clare Best’s ‘Cell’
It seems my blog posts of ‘micro reviews’ have set some sort of trend – who’d have thought? Anyway, I haven’t posted one for a couple of weeks as other aspects of LIFE have rather taken priority. The original idea to read a book a day was ambitious, but the blogging of the reviews has provenRead more ⟶