One of the great perks of being a freelance creative writing teacher is that I get to read a load of books of poetry and claim that it’s work. And one of my favourite targets for this is (or possibly are – grammar?) the annual poetry anthology. I love anthologies. Especially this sort, which limit selection to …
Tasks to while away a wet afternoon …
One of the things I’ve discovered this year is the joy of citizen science. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the concept, it’s a way of putting the vast connectivity of the internet to actual use in solving scientific problems. No, not in the sense of using the wisdom of crowds to somehow make …
Spring 2016 CPC Readings
Blossom all over the lawn? Check. Blackbirds having dogfights through the trees? Check. A mixture of t-shirts and wooly jumpers strewn about the house Because Of The Freakin’ Weather? Check. An almost uncontrollable urge to get up in front of strangers and air my new poems? Check. That can only mean one thing … The Spring Readings …
Teaching poetry – Kate Clanchy article
I was recently sent a link to a gorgeous article in The Guardian written by Kate Clanchy: the story of The Very Quiet Foreign Girls poetry group. Having spent the weekend revisiting the deep pleasure of being a student (despite nearly dislocating myself trying not to butt in and teach over the top of poor …
Inertia is a thing with stacks of paper
I’m now at the point where shame has tipped me past grief, and I’ve actually started the tangible work of putting together Helen’s final collection. I know, I’ve “started work” on this many many times in the months since she died. But it’s incredible how physically as well as mentally difficult it is to get myself …
A Dark Feathered Art 