If you were looking for a collection of short stories with a somewhat dizzying array of themes, characters and styles, you could do a lot worse than take a look at Daniel Mason's "A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth". Thanks to the variety in the nine stories offered us, it is actually very … Continue reading “A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth”
Category: Writing
One little word…
The other day I read my short story "Park'n'Ride" at a local writing group. Someone whose opinion I respect described it as 'brilliant'. It was - needless to say - a real boost! Of course it was also a demonstration of how subjective our appreciation of writing - or any art - is. "Park'n'Ride" has … Continue reading One little word…
Two New Podcast Episodes
I have just published two new episodes on my "Walking Thru' Fire" podcast; both are short stories. "Downsizing" - sometimes short stories can surprise you, emerging not from specific ideas or experiences, but growing organically from seeds which you are later unable to identify or remember. “Downsizing” is one such story. It will be included … Continue reading Two New Podcast Episodes
Published today! “Selected Poems: 1976-2022”
I am delighted to be able to announce the publication of "Selected Poems: 1976-2022". At a recent reading event, I was asked which of my collections was my ‘best book’. It was an innocent enough question, designed to aid a purchasing decision. It was also an unfair one. Any marginal preference I may have for … Continue reading Published today! “Selected Poems: 1976-2022”
New Podcast Episode: “The Homelessness of a Child”
I have just added readings of poems from my collection The Homelessness of a Child to my podcast "Walking Thru Fire". You can find this episode - and many others! - on Buzzsprout, and it should find its way onto other podcast platforms - such as Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music etc. - in the next … Continue reading New Podcast Episode: “The Homelessness of a Child”
“Tea at the Midland”
The stories in David Constantine's "Tea at the Midland" are a little like stained glass windows: sometimes you see fully formed portals through which the sun shines, and on other occasions just a fragment or two of glass glinting in the sun. As a consequence - and as I may have said before - don't … Continue reading “Tea at the Midland”
New publication: “Selected Poems: 1976-2022”
I am delighted to be able to announce the forthcoming publication of "Selected Poems: 1976-2022". At a recent reading event, I was asked which of my collections was my ‘best book’. It was an innocent enough question, designed to aid a purchasing decision. It was also an unfair one. Any marginal preference I may have … Continue reading New publication: “Selected Poems: 1976-2022”
After the dust settles…
The best part of a week since I returned from my retreat and, in terms of 'what next?', things are now clearly in focus. Which was one of the things the retreat was all about, to answer questions like that. And the 'what next' things are tangible and solid. Firstly: finish my next novel; second … Continue reading After the dust settles…
“Lockdown Journal”
At the beginning of the UK's first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, Hamish Wilson began writing a series of sonnets. With one a day for the first twenty-five days of the period, these poems eventually became "Lockdown Journal". Many single Covid / lockdown poems written at the time seem to me to fail for two main … Continue reading “Lockdown Journal”
Retreat – Day 4
06:30 - 14th May 2022 When yesterday's working time concluded, I'd managed to get about 25% of the way through the second edit of 'Reunion'. That has been the major activity of the week and has gone well. As well as some other bits and pieces, again spent a little time on drafting some of … Continue reading Retreat – Day 4
Ian Gouge - Writer 