All Blogposts

  • Poetry and Self-Promotion

    Poetry and Self-Promotion

    This post has been prompted by a letter I received, out of the blue, from a Writing student who’s composing a research essay about the connections between getting published and “self-promotion in contemporary poetry in the UK.”  The letter goes on to say that “self-promotion is a rather poor term…… and that online sharing of work……connecting with other Read more

  • A quick update and a mention for Poetry Wales

    A quick update and a mention for Poetry Wales

    I’ve been ill with the first cold I’ve had in about two years, maybe longer.  It was a stinker: constant sneezing, dripping nose, watering eyes.  I was measuring out my life with soggy tissues.  I’ve only just stopped feeling wretched.  Somewhere in the foggy depths of my fuzziheadedness, I seem to recall receiving a very nice Read more

  • New poem at The Morning Star

    New poem at The Morning Star

    Since I first published this post, I’ve added some more thoughts about documentary poetry and about my reasons for writing the poem ‘Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe Says Sorry’. The poem came out of Andrea Brady’s Documentary Poetics workshop at Poetry Swindon.  Andrea sent through excellent course materials and poems by writers such as Mahmoud Darwish, Carolyn Forché, Ken Saro-Wiwa Read more

  • I am not a failure I am not a failure

    I am not a failure I am not a failure

    It’s the end of the first quarter of 2015 and I must admit that my New Year’s Resolution to write for one hour every day has slipped a little.  Argh!  I’ve been writing in dribs and drabs but these little scraps don’t add up to one hour each day.  IamnotafailureIamnotafailure I keep telling myself. Of Read more

  • Uncut Poets, Exeter

    Uncut Poets, Exeter

    I really enjoyed reading at Uncut Poets at the Phoenix Arts Centre in Exeter last week.  Before the event, my lovely friend Emily treated me to a delicious Turkish meal at the Dinosaur Café.  I ordered a mixed salad – one generous spoonful of every type of salad on the menu – with home-made hummus, warm haloumi Read more

  • Not feeling all that ‘fresh’.

    Not feeling all that ‘fresh’.

    ‘Fresh’ is this week’s Photo Challenge at WordPress and here are a few daffodils (from our front garden) which always put me in mind of Spring, season of fresh, new beginnings. I’m not feeling all that ‘new’ myself, after a busy few weeks at home and work. However, things I am looking forward to include: Read more