Don Paterson interviewed by Maitreyabandhu
Don Paterson from Poetry East on Vimeo.
Category: Readings
Bumper latest news
Lots been happening lately.
Firstly, my good friend and very talented poet Charlotte Gann was shortlisted for the Michael Marks pamphlet award. Although she was pipped at the post it was a wonderful to see her pamphlet The Long Woman make the shortlist for a big prize.
Then, I had the chance to take part in a workshop here in Lewes with Mimi Khalvati. I’ve been on the ‘reserve’ list for a while and there’s now a strong possibility I may make the cut for the autumn dates.
It’s difficult to step into an established workshopping group where everyone else knows each other, and I had decided not to attend as a ‘fill in’ any more, but if I can become a regular member I think that will be much more helpful, for me and I’m sure for everyone else, as It’s not always useful to have a stranger turn up and launch into a critique of your work.
Also in June I finished a short course at the Poetry School with Jack Underwood, all about putting together a pamphlet. It was useful and fun, although I’m not sure I’d do a regular class in Lambeth again as travel to and from isn’t easy – the class over-ran every time and because I had to run for a train it meant I missed quite a lot. More about the pamphlet in another post. Met some interesting poets on the course, including Harry Man, Madeleine Wurzburger, Steve Boorman and Olly Todd.
Although I missed the Brighton Stanza meetup last month and will miss the next (am giving a talk to the London Writers’ Cafe group about blogging) I did make it to the Pighog poetry night at the RedRoaster Cafe in Brighton last week. It was a great evening, with John Davies, John McCullough and Rosy Carrick reading – I really enjoyed Rosy’s performance and was great to finally meet the lovely John McC who I feel I already know a little via Twitter and Facebook – I’m now enjoying reading his book The Frost Fairs. I did read at the open mic (just – they called it a day and then said ‘OK, we’ll take one more reader’) and got a ‘well done’ from John Davies afterwards, which was kind of him.
PS the photo was taken in Dieppe at the weekend, where it appears to be summer.
Olly packs em in at Lewes Poetry
Last night I nearly didn’t get a seat at the Lewes Arms for Oliver’s poetry night. Who were all those people? Where did they come from?
I hate to say it, but having a few posters out this time (as opposed to none last year, despite my begging Olly to send me one to copy and put up around town) made a big difference. AND the date was in the paper, together with forthcoming dates – amazing! We don’t need to read the horoscope any more to find out when they’re on. Nice one, Olly.
There was a very mixed bag of readings, thankfully none too long, as there were quite a few of us wanting to read. I really appreciate it when poets don’t grab more than their fair share of stage-time.
The limerick competition threw up some great entries, although for some reason the better ones got binned early on, much to the annoyance of one lady at the front who got more and more vociferous and I thought she was actually going to start a fight. And we had some loud moaning about ‘having to write a limerick’ from one person who didn’t seem to want to enter into the spirit of it. Ho hum. And no, I didn’t win this time!
T S Eliot prize winner
We saw him read on Sunday evening, alongside the other shortlisted poets. He was great, my money was on either him or Carol Ann Duffy to win (although I confess the only collection I’d read of the shortlisted ones was this…)
Am a bit of a fan
And he’s coming to town: Weds 23rd Nov 8pm, Red Roaster in Brighton. Ooer!