A new pamphlet in 2023

A bouquet of flowers with the message 'Congratulations with love from your family'.

I’m very happy to share the news that I was one of three winners in Live Canon’s 2022 Pamphlet/Chapbook Competition and a pamphlet of about 20 of my poems will be published in 2023. These poems have been accumulating in my notebook since the 2018 publication of my full collection What Are You After? (Nine… Continue reading A new pamphlet in 2023

On getting poems published

The image is of a pink hydrangea flower in a china mug

A few notes from recent chats The poetry group I belong to, Trowbridge Stanza, met earlier this month to talk about routes into publishing, sharing our own stories of publication, and chatting about the different options available in the UK. We’re a mix of published and unpublished writers of different ages, backgrounds and experiences. Most… Continue reading On getting poems published

A Poem in Poetry Ireland Review

The image is of issue 137 of Poetry Ireland Review which features a painting of two blurred figures clambering up the side of a hill or sand dune beneath a vividly blue, clouded sky

I have a new poem published in Poetry Ireland Review, issue 137 edited by Gerald Dawe. The poem 'High Summer World of Light' takes as its starting point a 2009 abstract painting of the same name by Gillian Ayres. High Summer World of Light, 2009 by Gillian Ayres It's my first time in the magazine… Continue reading A Poem in Poetry Ireland Review

Two New Poems in Magma Poetry and Raceme magazine

The image shows a published poem by Josephine Corcoran hidden behind a yellow notebook and a pen

I have new poems out in current issues of two poetry magazines. Magma has published my poem 'Seen while walking: one high-heeled boot, black suede, in a public flower bed' in its 'Solitude' issue. This is my first time in Magma after submitting multiple times. This poem was one of a series I wrote last… Continue reading Two New Poems in Magma Poetry and Raceme magazine

Two poems from my book

The image is of my poetry book 'What Are You After' which has a blue and orange cover.

I've shared a couple of poems from my poetry book on Twitter recently because the poems seemed relevant to different items in the news. Like many people, I was irritated by Dominic Raab's criticism of Angela Rayner (in Parliament, during Prime Minister's Questions) for attending an opera - Glyndbourne, in fact. For those who don't… Continue reading Two poems from my book

Out and About Again

The image is of a country road surrounded by greenery

Although not back to how it was before the pandemic, I am increasingly venturing out in the world to attend poetry events and readings, as well as still going to online things. Trowbridge Stanza, the monthly poetry group I organise, is meeting in person again, not monthly, as we previously did, but every other month… Continue reading Out and About Again

Judges announced for Sarah Maguire Prize 2022

 Following the success of the inaugural Sarah Maguire Prize for Poetry in Translation, the Poetry  Translation Centre is delighted to welcome an esteemed line up of judges for the 2022 prize.   The panel will be chaired by Rosalind Harvey, a critically acclaimed translator who co-founded the  Emerging Translators Network. She is joined by the poet,… Continue reading Judges announced for Sarah Maguire Prize 2022

End of month, rainy Sunday blog

Last year, I entered poems into more competitions than usual. I wonder why I did this? Perhaps I was trying to win some money in a patchy year or trying to store up funds for whatever lay ahead? I'm not sure, but, in any case, it's a good job I wasn't relying on competition prizes… Continue reading End of month, rainy Sunday blog

New poem in 14 magazine

A new poem 'Self-Portrait as a Green Silk Dress' has been accepted by 14 magazine (Vanguard Editions) and will be published in their next issue, now available to order. My thanks to editor Richard Skinner. Here is an image of the dress that inspired the poem:

Making visual poems with flowers

The image is of sweet pea petals arranged in three lines as a haiku, with each petal representing a syllable. There are five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables. The final syllables on the first and third lines are inedible sweet pea beans. The text reads 'Sweet Pea Haiku, Late Draft (Overworked).

I've used this blog before as a place to record workshop ideas, so I'm adding a post about some visual poems I've made as they would also work very well in a workshop. Here I've substituted flowers for syllables, words and rhymes in a few poetic forms (haiku, couplet, quatrain, end rhyme) but any found… Continue reading Making visual poems with flowers