I think the 1-2-1 mentoring went okay yesterday. It's always difficult trying to strike the right balance between honest critique and encouragement. Writing is such a personal thing, and our words can be so precious to us, that any questioning of them can feel like vicious betrayal. I know, because I've been there! Haven't we … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 3rd February →

Part one of my short burst of mentoring went reasonably well yesterday. I spent 50 minutes helping someone work out what their next steps should be on the journey to try and get their children's book into print; and later in the day, an hour reading the draft of a short story which will be … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 2nd February →

After my two writing groups yesterday I was once again left wrestling with the question of 'what constitutes poetry?' - a clearly subjective issue. And also - to a slightly lesser extent - what's the point of poetry? When I run my 2-day poetry course in the Spring, these are the first two questions I … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 1st February →

Got a fair amount done yesterday: a decent chunk of Irregular Sky reviewing, plus some further shaping of my 2-day poetry course that will run at Writers' Retreat UK at some time in the Spring (date to be confirmed). I also managed to fit-in an unscheduled podcast episode production and posting: four sonnets from my … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 31st January →

Well, I managed to put 'fingers to keyboard' again yesterday in pursuit of Tilt's missing chapter. It's interesting when going back into a project to carry on drafting new material a long while after you last did so (and have done some editing of the already existing in between!); picking up the tone and rhythm … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 30th January →

Yesterday proved to be a rewarding day in the end, not because I did tons of work, but because I actually began to draft the missing chapter in Tilt. There's nothing quite like the buzz you get when you start to make your characters do things, interact, and think. And having been so engrossed in … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 29th January →

If yesterday was a relatively quiet and unexceptional day then that was entirely expected - not that editing, planning upcoming work and projects, and various writing-related 'odds and sods' should be decried. If not exactly as substantial as 'writing bricks', the mortar that joins them together to form a wall is of equal importance. One … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 28th January →

At yesterday evening's Contextual: 14 poetry event we had 24 attendees - which is a super turnout once again! Thank you to all those who joined the session - and especially to our readers: Richard Lister, Graeme Ryan, Brian Docherty, Penny McCarthy and David Smith. Already looking forward to the next one! It did feel … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 27th January →