Thursday 27 November 2008

Writing on Stone

The 2009 Buxton Poetry Competition is underway. In the new year I'll be running workshops in Derbyshire schools on the theme: stone. Here's a Poetry Archive classic to whet your appetites and chisels: Wall by the Cumbrian poet Norman Nicholson (1914 - 1987).

To change tack.. I've won first prize for poetry in the Chroma Queer Writing Competition with Return, a 'specular' poem (reads line-by-line the same backwards as forwards). It's also a 'concrete' poem (the shape reflects the subject) which nicely takes us back to stone and walls :) ...

Photo: Dry stone wall, Edale. photoeverywhere.co.uk

Thursday 6 November 2008

Killamarsh: Ready, Steady... Write!

Today I was in misty Killamarsh for an inspiring morning of reading, writing and discussing poetry. Thanks to Michelle from the Library who organised the event, and to Wendy, Ann, Sheila, Elaine, Tina, Lynne, Lynne and Dorothy who wrote wonderful autumnal poems. They've started a new writing group - the first meeting is at the Library on Wednesday 3rd December, 4 til 6pm - all welcome.