tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.comments2022-11-29T10:37:35.070+00:00Derbyshire Poet LaureateRiver Woltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05977750619421218274noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-44059544285397442832013-10-19T22:49:26.425+01:002013-10-19T22:49:26.425+01:00My second try at leaving a comment on your blog. O...My second try at leaving a comment on your blog. Of course a big congratulations for getting the post. I really hope you can 'big up' poetry in Derbyshire. By the way I like the book 'Division Street' I think 'Coffin Path' is my favourite so far. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-77416044338861671042013-10-18T12:35:37.306+01:002013-10-18T12:35:37.306+01:00Ah, a blog post I can understand. Congratulations ...Ah, a blog post I can understand. Congratulations on getting the Derbyshire poet laureate position. I'm sure you'll be fine. Timothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11151309693458458129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-81033572201063072792012-05-04T13:56:08.351+01:002012-05-04T13:56:08.351+01:00I love these big, gnarly ash trees - icons of the ...I love these big, gnarly ash trees - icons of the Derbyshire landscape. Looking forward to the finished poem.Frances Culshawhttp://www.francesculshaw.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-62441087544768062432012-02-16T11:57:59.002+00:002012-02-16T11:57:59.002+00:00Good point Tim! you are quite tall, but methinks t...Good point Tim! you are quite tall, but methinks the camera doth exaggerate... take care, MattD P Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03207897096547555557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-91335790568191976082012-02-15T21:19:57.036+00:002012-02-15T21:19:57.036+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Timothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11151309693458458129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-20591568957774860942012-01-12T09:10:41.737+00:002012-01-12T09:10:41.737+00:00Gary, thanks very much, I know of Radio Wildfire -...Gary, thanks very much, I know of Radio Wildfire - is Dave Reeves part of it? yes, will keep you informed, and will try and make it to Lichfield on 28th feb - will you be there? cheers, MattD P Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03207897096547555557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-54184649896604206802012-01-11T22:21:07.011+00:002012-01-11T22:21:07.011+00:00Love the blog Matt.I run a poetry whats on:
I have...Love the blog Matt.I run a poetry whats on:<br />I have a monthly what’s on/listings radio programme on the Midlands online station Radio Wildfire, I co-edit the poetry reviews section of Behind the Arras and run a comprehensive midlands poetry blog in Garyswordz.Keep me informed of future events.<br />http://www.radiowildfire.com/listen/#<br />http://www.behindthearras.com/wordsandvoices.html<br />http://garylongden.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/midlands-regular-poetry-events/<br /><br />You may also like to come along to this:<br />POETRY ALIGHT AT THE SPARK Tues 28th February<br />19 Tamworth Street, Lichfield, WS13 6JP<br />The Lichfield Poets invite you to join them for a New Open Mic Event<br />at ''Lichfield's newest and most exciting venue, set in the heart of the city.''<br />Tea, coffee , alcoholic drinks and light refreshments available. Free on and off road parking nearby.Railway station in walking distance.<br />Admission free.All welcome. Reading starts :7-30 to 9-45pm<br /><br />Newcomers and first time perfomers welcome,as well as veterans! Performances may be read or recited,modern or traditional styles.Or just come and listen! Sign up on the night, three minute slots, repeat slots available according to demand.Information available on the night about The Lichfield Poets, performance and publishing opportunities.<br /><br />Come and set The Spark Alight!Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00724193158344325410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-2457849470561763182011-12-06T15:43:23.671+00:002011-12-06T15:43:23.671+00:00Charlotte, yes, giant pencils rule! available from...Charlotte, yes, giant pencils rule! available from b and q, or better still from an independent woodyard - or even wood - near you. Take care, MattD P Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03207897096547555557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-38804636538631225592011-12-06T14:54:02.805+00:002011-12-06T14:54:02.805+00:00I love the giant pencil and I love Scarthin books!...I love the giant pencil and I love Scarthin books! Looking forward to seeing Gavin's documentaryCharlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02690368430761222627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-23617154160065882932011-12-06T07:37:44.126+00:002011-12-06T07:37:44.126+00:00Sally, many thanks, much appreciated. And hope foo...Sally, many thanks, much appreciated. And hope food and poem went together well. Here's to Scarthin's.D P Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03207897096547555557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-3125292728163681332011-12-05T17:44:52.527+00:002011-12-05T17:44:52.527+00:00Glad to see your exuberant poem Matt. We were ther...Glad to see your exuberant poem Matt. We were there on Saturday and I bought 2 poetry books for £3.50. It's our favourite bookshop.sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11646236927675884818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-45465063787182244602011-11-11T18:38:27.547+00:002011-11-11T18:38:27.547+00:00Congratulations Matt (sound of champagne bottle cr...Congratulations Matt (sound of champagne bottle crashing against ship's hull). Have a brilliant two years & I look forward to more 'Lorra Lorra Laureates'!Riverhttp://www.riverwolton.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-80501243562889293222011-10-03T12:39:21.303+01:002011-10-03T12:39:21.303+01:00Welcome to Derbyshire, Matt. we are looking forwa...Welcome to Derbyshire, Matt. we are looking forward to seeing what you get up to as Laureate. No doubt you will be dropping in to lots of libraries over the next two years. Look forward to working with you and hearing more of your poetry.<br /><br />Priscilla Baily<br />Reader/Audience Development OfficerPriscilla Bailynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-6250818922822112782009-12-17T23:18:51.844+00:002009-12-17T23:18:51.844+00:00Congratulations! Have a wonderful Laureateship... ...Congratulations! Have a wonderful Laureateship... and give my love to Buxton!Caroline Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05203454486693014969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-63409884880487223692009-10-07T15:21:45.245+01:002009-10-07T15:21:45.245+01:00Congratulations Annie. Have a wonderful time xxCongratulations Annie. Have a wonderful time xxRivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-17866598525409524172009-07-25T16:22:24.429+01:002009-07-25T16:22:24.429+01:00THAT NEWS WAS SO SAD, I LOST MY CAT FAGIN, (NAMED ...THAT NEWS WAS SO SAD, I LOST MY CAT FAGIN, (NAMED AFTER OLIVER) AFTER 14 YEARS.<br /><br />LOVED THE POEM, AMAZING AND TOUCHING.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-26297676957083037522009-06-17T13:38:25.992+01:002009-06-17T13:38:25.992+01:00Thanks for a great afternoon River, we had a fab t...Thanks for a great afternoon River, we had a fab time! Stuart Morrell from the Holmewood team!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08821277054602117849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-33702242978413261292009-04-29T14:00:00.000+01:002009-04-29T14:00:00.000+01:00Our learners at Holmewood.....
Kathy Boldry "I rea...Our learners at Holmewood.....<br />Kathy Boldry "I really enjoyed composing the Holmewood poem".<br />Adrian Mather "I really enjoyed myself!<br />Denise Bramley said "I enjoyed talking about Holmewood because i was born and bred here!"Lisa Duffynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-67019298027233957012009-04-14T16:44:00.000+01:002009-04-14T16:44:00.000+01:00Hi River,
Thanks for the link, very much appreciat...Hi River,<br />Thanks for the link, very much appreciated indeed! Glad to hear you've been out and about in Barnsley. It's a Tuscan hill village, remember??<br />Helen xHelen Morthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07344376571809378580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-7270310461513916302009-04-10T13:32:00.000+01:002009-04-10T13:32:00.000+01:00Hi River, it was great meeting you and I really en...Hi River, it was great meeting you and I really enjoyed your workshop. Aside for all the useful and challenging things you had us do I got some surprise benefits from your session. Here's my blogpost from http://www.barnsleywriters.blogspot.com/<BR/><BR/>I turned up for our weekly workshop last Thursday feeling a bit apprehensive because there is always an element of the unknown with visiting experts and of course River's thing is poetry- and mine isn't.<BR/><BR/>It turned out to be a great workshop. River had us challenged from the moment we got started, with a variety of short exercises that kept us writing and thinking all the time. Here are some of the things she asked us to do:<BR/><BR/>1. A piece of freewriting beginning with the words....'I remember...'<BR/><BR/>2. One life- six words. Sum up a life in six words. Here are some examples:<BR/>Big mouth, small brain - big noise. (by David)<BR/>Alpacas are not my only hobby. (by Averil)<BR/><BR/>We looked at some examples of poetry and used them as models. But -luckily for me- I didn't have to write poetry. We were free to write in prose or to push the boundaries and write outside the box.<BR/><BR/>One of the best things that came out of River's visit was the distinction between 'additive writers' and 'subtractive writers'. Now, I've always been taught that it is not good to add to your writing. So when I say to people that I am editing and my word count is growing they tend to get upset with me and say, 'But when you're editing you should be cutting back!' Or they look at me with raised eyebrows as if I'm an oddity. It's true that I do cut back. All those horrible bits of overwriting go, along with the tautology and the repetition and all the other rubbish that needs to get pruned but I might add whole scenes, or patches of dialogue, an extra kiss, etc. Because of this I've always felt as if the way I write is unwriterly. Wrong somehow.<BR/><BR/>Of course it's easy to say that you should do whatever works for you and that it is different for everyone but the belief that what I was doing wasn't 'proper' editing always lurked at the back of my mind and gave me GUILT.<BR/><BR/>What River helped me do when she explained the distinction between additive and subtractive writing is free me to be me. I shouldn't need it I know, but what can I say- it helped.<BR/><BR/>I finally have a label. I belong! I am an additive writer. That means that I start with a framework and gradually build on it.<BR/><BR/>A subtractive writer, Brian for example, starts by writing tons and tons and then cutting back everything superfluous until they're happy with the end product.<BR/><BR/>Of course this wasn't the aim of the workshop but it is a very good surprise outcome and one I will always remember. Thank you River!Vasilikihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15636190972043322874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-7786483853837726662009-01-14T11:05:00.000+00:002009-01-14T11:05:00.000+00:00Hi RiverA huge thank you from all of us who came t...Hi River<BR/><BR/>A huge thank you from all of us who came to the Longford workshop.<BR/>All of us, poetry lovers,beginners and "non-poeticals" alike,had a great time and were astonished by what we were able to write in such a short time. We're still buzzing from our evening with you. <BR/><BR/>PS Sally - I think my eldest daughtr was at youth club when you visited!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-45618241526625046872009-01-11T17:53:00.000+00:002009-01-11T17:53:00.000+00:00Hey River - I did some work at Longford with the Y...Hey River - I did some work at Longford with the Youth Club and met some nice folk there about 18mths ago. Glas to see you working there - they get v little....sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11646236927675884818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-19765328572930421842008-10-28T12:31:00.000+00:002008-10-28T12:31:00.000+00:00Thanks Christine - much appreciated. all the bestThanks Christine - much appreciated. <BR/>all the bestRiver Woltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05977750619421218274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-87629850002593980612008-10-22T08:33:00.000+01:002008-10-22T08:33:00.000+01:00Just been reading "The Purpose of your Visit" inst...Just been reading "The Purpose of your Visit" instead of doing things I ought to be doing (like getting up). Congratulations on a very moving collection of poems. Really enjoyed yesterdays entertaining and thought provoking evening at the Laureates Reading event at Buxton Library. My mum, having now seen you three times is one of your greatest fans!<BR/>Best wishes<BR/>Christine BAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7699142302866867560.post-10700345940192413132008-10-14T16:15:00.000+01:002008-10-14T16:15:00.000+01:00You sure can! Either call Smith/Doorstop on 0114 3...You sure can! Either call Smith/Doorstop on 0114 346 3038 or order through their website.River Woltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05977750619421218274noreply@blogger.com