I usually think it's unnecessary to stipulate what age reader a poem (or any piece of writing) is for. I usually write for adults but I don't consciously consider what age they might be. In any case, I started reading books "for adults" when I wasn't even ten years old - as I'm sure is the … Continue reading A poem for young people on my SoundCloud page
I'm not really taking part in #NaPoWriMo this year although I do feel steeped in poetry. I have attempted to write (or at least start) a poem a day in the past and found it fun and exhilarating. I promised to review some poetry books for a magazine so I've been reading those and making slow … Continue reading A quick update during National Poetry Month
I am extremely happy, excited and grateful to have been asked to read poetry at this year's Greenbelt Festival, alongside Nancy Campbell, Sasha Dugdale and Rebecca Goss, and introduced by Anthony Wilson! More details coming soon. Find out more about the festival at the Greenbelt website.
I've spent a lot of time blogging this week, not really blogging but reading poems submitted to And Other Poems for an open call I put out for "poems about Ireland". Eighty-three people sent in emails, most with two poems in their content, so I spent time reading the poems, drawing up a shortlist, uploading … Continue reading Read 19 poems about Ireland
This work I've allowed myself to be distracted by a competition running on Instagram and it's been huge fun. The Poetry School and Soda Pictures have teamed up to run a competition to mark the release of A Quiet Passion – a new biopic of Emily Dickinson (in cinemas 7 April). You can read all … Continue reading Instagram Poetry
Poetry from Art workshop with Josephine Corcoran. Write new poems in response to an exhibition of Anita Taylor's drawings. Saturday 21 January 2017. 10am - 1pm. Drawing Projects UK, Bridge House, Trowbridge. £15. Limited places. Please book your place - you can book online or in person at Drawing Projects UK. This is an exciting opportunity … Continue reading Poetry from Art workshop at Drawing Projects UK
I'm struggling to keep going with a blog a day.... but here I am. After the election of Donald Trump in the US and the EU referendum result in the UK, and with the rise of the far-Right in mainland Europe, not to mention the continued oppression of so many of the world's people in … Continue reading The miracle of keeping going
Ahead of Winchester Poetry Festival which runs from Friday 7 October to Sunday 9 October, and because I'm teaching some poetry workshops for children at Trowbridge Town Hall on National Poetry Day (October 6), I've been re-reading a 2015 issue of Modern Poetry in Translation magazine which had a focus on children's poetry in translation. … Continue reading Thinking about Children’s Poetry
This is an update of my previous post about formatting poetry in WordPress because someone asked me how to format a prose poem this week and I realised I hadn't mentioned how to do that before. The two most useful poetry formatting tips I've learned are: Use 'Text' Editor rather than 'Visual' Editor. Adding the … Continue reading How to format poetry in WordPress (updated)
On the poetry trail this week, I've been in search of some more participants for my poetry workshops which start on Tuesday, 20th September. Numbers are going to be low (unless there's a last minute rush) but, rather than cancel, Town Hall Arts is supporting my classes and I'm really looking forward to getting to know … Continue reading Life on a (mostly) unfunded Poetry Trail
