Skip to main content

BYT: Feeling Like An Actual Proper Writer

Bright Young Things LogoOCTOBER 2010
Feeling Like An Actual Proper Writer

Thursday was a good day for me. National Poetry Day. I cooked and ate a good lunch with a fellow poet. I read some poems in books, and watched some poetry films online. I wrote some new poems on this year’s theme of home, including my current favourite: ‘Home is where the Marmite is.’ I talked about poetry with Ian Mcmillan on Radio Wales . I performed some poems with Saturday Live’s resident poet Susan Richardson in Cake Gallery in Mumbles. People bought copies of The Art of Contraception. Someone gave me a cheque. It was a GOOD day.
It has been a GOOD week, in fact. My prose poem ‘Postcard to Seattle’ has been commended in the Leaf Travel Writing & Postcard Competion, and will appear in Issue 3 of the Leaf Writers’ Magazine. I have even been booked to teach, yes TEACH, a poetry workshop in a couple of months time. I’ve also got a bit more time on my hands than has been the case for a few months, deliberately, so I can get my teeth into the novel. So I really should hop off the blog… but first let me remind you of my two gigs this week…
I am performing a couple of poems at Poems & Pints as part of BayLit festival in Cardiff on Wednesday. I am also the main feature at The Crunch, reading stories from The Art of Contraception in Swansea on Thursday. Hope to see some of you there!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

POETRY COMPETITION: The Borzello Trust Poetry Prize

Just a reminder that the Borzello Trust Prize for Poetry is open for entries until 31 January 2025. Niall and I look forward to reading your words... This year we are thrilled to open a second category of the New Welsh Writing Awards with many thanks to the generous support from The Borzello Trust. Supporting in the development of yet unpublished poets living, working or from Wales, the winner of The Borzello Trust Prize for Poetry will receive a £500 development publishing contract with Parthian Books/The Borzello Trust. Including mentorship from Susie Wild to develop a poetry collection that (following publication) will be distributed via The Borzello Trust to over 250 Welsh libraries and schools. There will be a £150 cash prize to the five highly commended entries and publication in a special anthology collection published by Parthian Books. Winner: £500 as an advance on a book development contract with Parthian Books, for publication on their poetry list, plus mentorship/developm...

Storyville Books Presents: A Pride Book Fair!

  This Saturday in Ponty! I'll be looking after the Parthian table... 10-3, come say hi Joshua Jones & Christina Thatcher are reading at 1pm ... Introducing Storyville Books' first Pride Book Fair ! We'll be welcoming LGBTQ+ writers, artists, and poets to celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusive literature and talent. Including talks and craft vendors there will be a lot to discover. All are welcome and entry is absolutely free!

PODCAST: This Place of Salt and Inspiration With Welsh poet Natalie Ann Holborow

It’s a bright, sunny morning in North Gower, and we’ve been invited down to a pulsing, tidal place: the daily walking route of poet Natalie Ann Holborow. On the salt marshes flanking the Loughor Estuary, while cockle-pickers clatter out on quad bikes, we discuss the importance of creative exploration: of getting out in nature, and out of comfort zones. We also talk about the safe places we come back to, full of familiar rhythms and memories, where we can breathe - and return to ourselves. Listen to This Place of Salt and Inspiration With Welsh poet Natalie Ann Holborow