I am excited to announce that I will be reading at Fountains Abbey's regular October event, 'Fountains by Floodlight'. The event takes place each Saturday during October, and also includes the final two Fridays as well. Tickets are selling fast! In addition to spectacular lighting, special tours and music, there will be a number of … Continue reading ‘Fountains by Floodlight’
Category: Blog
A week of Readings: how was it?
Primarily as a direct result of Ripon's fifth Poetry Festival (RPF), I have read at four events over the past week. So how was it? Thursday: RPF - Open Mic. In many ways it was a typical open mic: massive variety in terms of style, content and quality. The most jarring element of the event … Continue reading A week of Readings: how was it?
“The Book of Form and Emptiness”
I can see why Ruth Ozeki's "The Book of Form and Emptiness" made it to the Booker Prize shortlist. It's wonderful. Don't be put off by the c.550 pages of the paperback version as I nearly was; the novel rewards reading. And persistence isn't really needed as the story keeps up a good pace throughout. … Continue reading “The Book of Form and Emptiness”
Mentoring with arm-bands…
Last week I mentored at a private two-day retreat whose eleven attendees were all academics from a renowned UK university. Needless to say, I had been a little nervous in advance..! Firstly we were talking about hosting / steering / having 1-2-1s with proven intellectual heavyweights. Secondly, I knew very little about any of their … Continue reading Mentoring with arm-bands…
When you’re only half-way through…
After far too long I have finally completed the first draft of a long sonnet sequence which has been rumbling along, largely as a background task, since March 2019. If not before. Having consciously given the project a degree of focus over the last few months, I have been able to cover the last of … Continue reading When you’re only half-way through…
In the Library
The library is one large first floor open-plan space. At this end of it, in the reference section, six tables: four uniquely shaped allow pairing to make two octagonals; the other two - rectangles - form a square). Purple chairs surround all three arrangements. Purple is the theme here: chairs (soft and hard), shelf signs, … Continue reading In the Library
Sometimes someone says something…
In the last week I have been struck by two almost throw-away comments made to me by friends. The first, in discussing the role of a writer - particularly when it comes to things like readings and Open Mics - was the statement that "our job is to entertain". I confess I've always struggled a … Continue reading Sometimes someone says something…
Write-on Ripon: Found Poetry workshop
I'm looking forward to running a Found Poetry workshop tomorrow afternoon at our weekly 'Write-on Ripon' session. The workshop will be based on one I have already successfully run on writers' retreats. The challenge this time will be that we'll be writing found poems in real time! The session will cover: What is Found Poetry? … Continue reading Write-on Ripon: Found Poetry workshop
“Snow Country”
I liked Sebastian Faulks' "Snow Country". That's the simple summary. It was all you would expect it to be: well-written, well-paced, interesting and complex characters and plot... However, now you expect there's a 'but' coming... But I thought the ending was far too neat and predictable. You could see what was coming from some way … Continue reading “Snow Country”
Does our writing need a regular service?
Driving home the other day, unbeknownst to me the front passenger-side suspension spring broke on my car. I only realised the extent of the damage once I'd got home, when I saw the virtual zero clearance between tyre and wheel arch. Without doubt something nasty could have happened during those last few miles home... The … Continue reading Does our writing need a regular service?
Ian Gouge - Writer 