Things seem to have changed. Or I have changed. As a poet told me recently, there is the business of writing and the work of writing. The business is the endless search for journals and opportunities, and formatting, and sending submissions. The business has somehow come into alignment. I am finding places that want my … Continue reading They come not as single spies
Poetry
Long time climbing
I have been writing poetry (I want to say 'attempting poetry' like it's mountain climbing) for approximately since I could write. This has been on and off, because, like a mountain climbing expedition, it's not every day. The mind has mountains a poet said, but poetry writing does too. Finally though, another poem I've edited … Continue reading Long time climbing
Ewasing Woger
I've been writing (secret, anonymous) erasure poetry for awhile now, but with actual, physical books. Don't worry, no valuable tome was harmed, but a few old text books, and some cheap copies of classics were rescued and put through the wringer. But it is for poetry, so it is for the greater good. Anyway, as … Continue reading Ewasing Woger
Oh the monotony
I'm hoping this type of announcement post will get extremely monotonous as I reveal a second poem has been accepted for publication (in a different journal to the first one). It turns out sending poetry and stories to publications occasionally works. It's simple but it's still true, and I have been guilty of forgetting this. … Continue reading Oh the monotony
Something old, something new
I have news. It has been a long time coming. But after writing poetry for decades, finally, after all these years I've had one poem accepted for publication. It's in Trouvaille Journal right now. If you would like to read it, here it is. It sounds dramatic, doesn't it? Decades in the making, but it's … Continue reading Something old, something new
Disrupt this writer
You know how scientific analysis sometimes requires killing what it is seeking to understand first? I feel like this at the moment about writing. As soon as I talk about it, even here, the idea, or the impulse or the work itself is killed, stone dead. Sure, we can look at the structures of the … Continue reading Disrupt this writer
Posting poetry
I'm taking part in a month long Post-it Note Poetry exercise (#PINP19) on Instagram over February (organised by @Soullyrical). I'm taking part because too often I'm a bystander. Also, after all this time, I know inspiration works better with restraints, and a bunch of discipline, rather than the panic that infinite space induces. A Post-it … Continue reading Posting poetry
Refinding my words
One of my friends asked me towards the end of last year to find my words, if I could, and use them for solace, and sense and wonder. It turns out I couldn't and for that I'm sorry. Amongst other things, I am full of other people's words and stories and books and ideas. They … Continue reading Refinding my words
Physics of Writing
The writer's Heisenberg Uncertainty Principal: You can know where the work should go, but not if it is acceptable. If acceptable, you can't know where to send it. But once sent out into the world, Aeons pass. Stars are born and die. In the space left between atoms and galaxies, Writers are meant to maintain … Continue reading Physics of Writing
Tho’ much is taken, much abides
There's little profit for idle writers, By still'd in boxes amongst much barren tabs, Match'd with wage strife, yet getting not the dole Meted through unequal laws of preoccupied politicians, Who hoard, and sleep, and debate, and know not us... Such as we cannot rest from the will to think plots and words and resumes: … Continue reading Tho’ much is taken, much abides
Writing Bec 