The Forward Book of Poetry 2023

Inevitably perhaps there is much to admire in The Forward Book or Poetry 2023, an anthology made up of extracts from candidates for the Forward Prizes: 'Best Collection', 'Best First Collection', and 'Best Single Poem'. Unfortunately there is - thankfully in the minority - a number of pieces which simply don't deserve their place, to … Continue reading The Forward Book of Poetry 2023

Yesterday & Today: 18th January

The library was quiet yesterday which meant I got a fair amount of editing done on The Opposite of Remembering's update. I wonder if aiming to have this completed before the end of the month would be a realistic goal? In addition to that, the other big slug of time went on Write-on Ripon where … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 18th January

Yesterday & Today: 17th January

It's an interesting and unnerving experience when doubt creeps in. I had another dose yesterday when working on my new fiction project. It was a moment when I said to myself "yes, it hangs together, and yes, I could do it, but...". At times like that I find the 'but' all-powerful. So I'm clearly not … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 17th January

Yesterday & Today: 16th January

A modest amount of effort yesterday, though in-line with what I had anticipated doing i.e. drafting the opening four pages of "C", a little more editing on The Opposite of Remembering. In terms of the odd sentence, it's amazing what you can find even after multiple previous edits! The work on the fiction project was … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 16th January

Yesterday & Today: 15th January

Though I hadn't planned to do so, yesterday I recorded a new episode for my WalkingThruFire podcast. The episode is An Irregular Piece of Sky, the title short story in a collection that will see publication this year - one way or another! Apart from that I tinkered around the edges of things, spending far … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 15th January

New Podcast Episode: “An Irregular Piece of Sky”

I have just posted a reading of my short story "An Irregular Piece of Sky". The story is included in a new collection - also entitle An Irregular Piece of Sky - which should see the light of day at some point in 2023.

Yesterday & Today: 14th January

Even though I didn't get that much done yesterday (as expected) I did manage to type up all my Tilt edits, which is something. Just now editing has become something of a spectre hanging over me. I have been re-editing some of my already-published work and I've another old novel to go through. Additionally I … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 14th January

Yesterday & Today: 13th January

This entry will be pretty short, I'm afraid. Only a little work yesterday, and certainly not as much as I'd hoped. Knocked a bit sideways by a bad night's sleep, and that always messes the day up, doesn't it? Today I have a domestic commitment which will wipe out most of the day, so also … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 13th January

‘Best’ but not First…

After my local writing group poetry competition adjudication last night, I left knowing my poem had been 'the best' entry - and that it hadn't won the competition... Sound strange? It's important to say that I knew I was taking something of a risk, though not with the poem per se. The piece is called … Continue reading ‘Best’ but not First…

Yesterday & Today: 12th January

It was the face-to-face events which provided the main news from yesterday. Firstly it seems entirely possible that "Crash" will be adapted and performed at this year's Ripon Theatre Festival. There is a potential slot on Sunday 11th June into which it could fit - though it may be tight to be ready in time. … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 12th January