It seems appropriate to briefly reflect on my first experience of Swanwick Summer School, a week spent with like-minded and friendly folk immersed in all things writing. There's no point beating about the bush, the highlight of the week for me was reading my prize-winning short story Park'n'Ride at the prize winners' event - and … Continue reading Swanwick Summer School, 2022
The two things which impressed me most about Daniel Mason's "The Winter Soldier" - in addition to the quality of the writing - were, firstly, the self-evident depth of research Mason had undertaken, and secondly the way he was able to keep the three or four possible endings in play until the last five or … Continue reading “The Winter Soldier”
My Swanwick Summer School short story competition first prize has been picked up by a local news outlet and they have written a piece on me. You can read it here. Note: although the article says most of the US attendees to my monthly virtual poetry events come from California, for the anthologies contributors come … Continue reading No such thing as bad press?
It's an old adage: write what you know about. And for very many poets, doing so forms the heart of their oeuvre. And why not? In addition to known subject matter providing a solid foundation for 'authentic' work, poetry can act as a kind of confidante when it comes to 'working stuff out': you only … Continue reading Poetry: writing about what you know – blessing or curse?
I attended half of an on-line multi-poet poetry reading the other day - and it was like being machine-gunned with poetry. "Here's a poem; here's a poem; here's a poem; here's a poem" ... a rat-a-tat-tat of quick-fire delivery, one piece after the other. A session for the readers themselves, not really for the listeners. … Continue reading Poetry: Chew don’t Swallow…
Robert Olen Butler's "Late City" is quite simply fantastic. It is a novel full of depth and feeling and passion; it is truly inventive, superbly written, fluid yet really well structured; and somewhat amazingly - given its subject - something of a page-turner. The ending made me cry. This is the first time I have … Continue reading “Late City”
I am delighted to announce that I have won First Prize in the Short Story competition for the 2022 Swanwick Writers' Summer School. Press coverage This is a prestigious prize, and I am absolutely thrilled! Swanwick Writers’ Summer School has been captivating audiences for over 70 years. Believed to be the longest running residential writers’ school in … Continue reading NEWS! – A competition win!
There is something quite enigmatic and magical about Anne Rouse’s latest collection, “Ox-Eye”. Many of her images are nuanced, coded, almost just out of reach. It is as if she has an idea, taken one step away from it to ‘make it poetic’ (as is the way with poets!), and then taken another step away … Continue reading “Ox-Eye”
The premise for Mark Watson's "Contacts" is original and intriguing, and one filled with real potential - especially for the writer. Unfortunately, to my mind, this potential is never quite realised. I'm afraid I found the narrative a little flimsy and, in spite of the book's 370 pages, for me the characters never made it … Continue reading “Contacts”
I am delighted to announce that I have won First Prize in the Short Story category for the 2022 Swanwick Writers' Summer school. This is a prestigious prize, and I am absolutely thrilled! Swanwick Writers’ Summer School has been captivating audiences for over 70 years. Believed to be the longest running residential writers’ school in … Continue reading Finally – A FIRST PRIZE!
Ian Gouge - Writer 