FEATURED

Blog Books Inspiration Writing

What Mary Oliver said about distractions

by Robin Houghton on January 20, 2019

FEATURED

One of the first books I bought and consumed (once I started thinking it possible I could write the odd semi-decent poem) was Mary Oliver’s A Poetry Handbook, along with…

Read More

FEATURED

Blog Blogging Events Mags & Blogs Readings Rejections Submissions Writing

Catchup for a rainy day – news, upcoming etc

by Robin Houghton on August 26, 2018

FEATURED

With a real sense of summer coming to an end, I just wanted to mention a few things before August is up, and that feeling of moving on to the…

Read More

FEATURED

Angst Blog Inspiration Writing

“Patience is the master key to every situation”

by Robin Houghton on June 26, 2018

FEATURED

Another wonderful article from Brain Pickings, this time Rilke on ‘the lonely patience of creative work.’ Solitude and patience are essential to creative work, he says: “Leave to your opinions…

Read More

FEATURED

Blog Courses Inspiration Places Retreats Writing

Notes on a poetry residential at Garsdale

by Robin Houghton on June 21, 2018

FEATURED

I’m back from an inspirational week at the Garsdale Retreat, on a poetry residential course that deserved to be full but wasn’t – if you’ve ever done an Arvon week…

Read More

FEATURED

Blog Courses Events Inspiration Pamphlets Retreats Writing

From Picasso to Garsdale: news roundup

by Robin Houghton on May 14, 2018

FEATURED

Taking a leaf out of Peter Kenny’s book, here are seven items from the imaginary newsdesk at Kenny Houghton Towers (sorry Peter – but as Picasso said – possibly – ‘Good artists…

Read More

FEATURED

Angst Blog Events Mags & Blogs Readings Workshopping Writing

Roundup | a good poetry week

by Robin Houghton on October 16, 2017

FEATURED

Bit of a roundup post. Last Tuesday evening at West Greenwich Library I got to hear some super poems inspired by the Mary Evans Picture Library, by Sarah Westcott (who…

Read More

FEATURED

Blog Retreats Writing

Flogging old drafts – ‘do I still want to say this?’

by Robin Houghton on October 3, 2017

FEATURED

No, not flogging in the sense of selling, although who knows? Maybe there’s a market for it – poets could sell their old given-up-on poems to others who might be…

Read More

FEATURED

Blog Mags & Blogs Places Submissions Writing

To Liverpool, 28 drafts later

by Robin Houghton on September 20, 2017

FEATURED

It’s wonderful how software like Illustrator allows non-designers like me a chance to play around with layout, typefaces and graphic design. I really value how digital has made good quality…

Read More

FEATURED

Blog Poet's Tips Writing

Those poetry ‘banned words’ again

by Robin Houghton on September 15, 2017

FEATURED

Another perennial topic that poets always seem to enjoy debating – what are the ‘banned’ words? The word ‘shard’ came up the other evening at Hasting Stanza and I couldn’t…

Read More

FEATURED

Angst Blog Pamphlets Writing

A new pamphlet & all the angst of getting there

by Robin Houghton on April 26, 2017

FEATURED

It’s taken a while coming but I’ve found a home for my second pamphlet, ‘All the Relevant Gods’. Those lovely, hardworking folks at Cinnamon Press (Jan Fortune and team) have…

Read More