Author diaries

Nearly Summer

It's nearly Summer holidays time.

Where does it go? I’ve been promising to write a new blog for ages.

I’ve actually been writing poems madly, rewriting and re sorting, until I’m reciting them in my sleep. I’m coming to the end of my Creative Writing MA and I have to submit a portfolio of work. It’s the type of work that has you hesitating over commas, and endlessly swapping lines about. You have to make a final decision and stick with it, otherwise you faff on forever.

It’s also end of term for courses I teach on, so I’m looking at other people’s poetry too, but once you’re in the swim of it all, one process helps the other. Sometimes the more pressure you are under the more productive you become.

This Easter I finished my second novel-in-poems, working title Hom, about a troubled young lad growing up in the West End of Newcastle, with a missing grandfather and secrets at the heart of the family. I’ve had one or two friends look at it and make useful comments. I’ve now got it in my ‘poet’s drawer’ as Kathleen Kenny says; leave it and come back to it with a surprise in a few month’s time. Then I’ll send it out.

Wall is still out there doing its work: I got a good (three star) review in Books for Keeps, which, I am reliably informed by Lucy Shepherd (Library Supremo and Literary Promoter at Bristol Grammar School), is a quality mag and taken seriously by all.

I find it a very good read, and got Centre for Lifelong Learning to subscribe, so I have handy copies available at work, and for my students.

Aldeburgh have asked me to come and read from Wall at the 20th Aldeburgh Festival this November, which includes a free pass to the whole festival, and a second event where I have to crit an unseen poem onstage, on the spot, by somebody famous. Ever foolhardy, I said Yes. For a fee, I’ll do anything (in the literary sense).

I’m also reading this coming Wednesday 9th July at MIMA, the new art gallery in Middlesbrough, with some radical American poets, also published by Smokestack.
I’m looking forward to it, because I’m keen to hear them read, but I’ve not been inside MIMA yet. Come along if you’re in the vicinity.

I’m still planning for a Ropes website: that is slowly moving forward. We have been booked to read and do workshops based on the Ropes at this year’s Durham Litfest and next year’s Bath Children’s Litfest. Information on these events will be posted in due course.

I placed an advert in the current Mslexia (which also carries a lovely review of The Ropes by Jasmine Irving) and was blown over by the new look. That front cover in smart black and white is very arresting. I feel Diamond Twig is in sophisticated company. Plus I noted that Val Laws won Second Prize in the Poetry competition and Kathy Towers and Fiona Ritchie Walker were both Commended Runners Up.
Well done to all of them!
They have all previously been chosen for Diamond Twig’s ‘poem of the month’. Look at the archive to check them out.

Posted by Ellen on 3 July 2008 at 01:43 PM GMT [Link]