Category: Poetry

Yesterday & Today: 3rd January

I think sometimes at poetry reading groups we fall into the trap of preferring to talk about 'meaning' rather than explore and critique the craft on display. Most often we do this because it is an easy way for readers to make a contribution; occasionally it's an authorial necessity because a poem isn't working. Indeed, … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 3rd January →

Yesterday & Today: 2nd January

I used to berate myself if I didn't do any writing-related work during a day, but things have moved on: I now feel unsettled if I haven't done enough. I keep a log of where I spend my creative time; perhaps this is a little sad, but it keeps me honest! My target is four … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 2nd January →

Yesterday & Today: 1st January

Hopefully it will be a common theme, but yesterday went pretty much as I had expected it would: revision work on "Tilt" and some more notes on what "C" might look like. One area where I did spend more time than anticipated was in working on draft courses / workshops for the writers' retreats at … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 1st January →

Yesterday & Today: 31st December

As with many days recently, some of yesterday was spent going through and validating my 2023 plan of writing and publishing activities. It will flex over time of course, but is pretty much there. In addition to some ongoing revision of the draft of a new novel - "Tilt" - I also managed to break … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 31st December →

“Armada”

It felt strange coming back to Brian Patten so many years after The Irrelevant Song and Vanishing Trick, but I found a copy of Armada in an Oxfam shop and simply couldn't resist. Why would you? In the main I was struck by a familiarity of tone, a kind of lazy meandering towards a conclusion … Continue reading “Armada” →

It’s all about 2023…

Already - and so soon - it's all about 2023. It's about building on the foundations laid during this year. Kicking-on again. And maybe for the first time a new year won't be about production (that age old dilemma of what to write - and then struggling to do so!) but about recognition; of taking … Continue reading It’s all about 2023… →

I’m being interviewed: the video!

About three weeks ago I was interviewed in Harrogate Library as part of their 'Books and Beverages' series. The interview covered both my writing and publishing exploits. The recording of the event is now available on YouTube and can be accessed via this link or here.. Settle down with a cup of coffee and a … Continue reading I’m being interviewed: the video! →

A new definition of ‘vintage’

Apparently the laptop on which I write this post is 'vintage'. Perhaps I should explain. The machine in question is a MacBook Air with an eleven-inch screen purchased in Singapore in 2014. So eight years ago. It has served me faithfully and reliably all that time, in the process surviving numerous operating system and software … Continue reading A new definition of ‘vintage’ →

You cannot be serious..!

According to the folk at the Forward Prizes, this is one of the best 'poems' of 2022... Gimmick or what?! Surely an insult to the millions who try and write good poetry...

I’m being interviewed: post-interview update

I was interviewed today in Harrogate Library as part of their 'Books and Beverages' series. The interview covered both my writing and publishing exploits. I think it went really well. Unfortunately the event was not streamed as expected (e.g. the Facebook stream kept dropping out) but there is a recording of the event. I will … Continue reading I’m being interviewed: post-interview update →