Not everyone likes the idea of spending a week with complete strangers learning how to be a better poet or playwright or novelist – but I’ve always enjoyed it. The surroundings are inspiring – and the food is usually good. So when…
Delighted to be at the Copthorne Hotel in Birmingham on Tuesday 20th November as part of the showcase of six commissioned writers, who had been working
In spring I was commissioned by West Midlands Readers’ Network to visit a readers’ group, talk to them about what they did and where they operated, and to write a short story based on what they’d told me. In June…
At the Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton on Friday 16th November, a performance by the poets of Offa’s Press.
Poetry inspired by places. What a brilliant idea started up by Halfmoon workshops. On Saturday 5th May I’ll be leading a walk/workshop in the hills and woods around Coalbrookdale as part of the Halfmoon programme.
This year I’m at Wenlock Poetry Festival which runs from 29th April to 1st May and features Jo Shapcott, Andrew Motion, John Hegley, Jackie Kay, Roger Garfitt and Carol Ann Duffy. So I’m in good company!
On Saturday February 5th I’ll be running a poetry workshop with Drayton Writers from 9.45 to midday. The venue is the Scout Hut on Shrewsbury Road, Market Drayton.
Dan Phelps has just produced the first CD of his own piano music. It’s called Reflections and of course comes highly recommended – ideal for helping you
If you’ve ever struggled to get to the end of the first draft of your novel or short story try the advice on: www.mywritingblog.com which I wrote for the blog of my good friend, Nick Daws. The advice is mainly to myself…
The clocks went back this weekend. I really must speak to the pawnbroker to try and get them home… I think I’ve been getting confused between fiction and reality again. What you read about in novels isn’t real. It’s made up. …
Victor Hugo apparently said that a library was ‘an act of faith.’ I’ve been thinking about libraries because I’ve been asked to open the new Shropshire Youth Bridgnorth Centre Library in Bridgnorth on Tuesday 5th October. The first library I…
Sunday 12th September. I’ve been asked to be a judge for the new Rubery Book Award. The award has been specially set up to promote independent publishing ventures, so if you know of an independently published book of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, children’s,…