Poetry and writing – Page 13

The Film of the Poem

Ross Sutherland’s ‘Things To Do Before You Leave Town’ (the poem, not the book) is now a short film, made by Line & A Dot.

I wanted to draw your attention to the work of the most excellent Laura Forman and Richard Clayton. In November last year I sent a message out to many of my friends, asking them whether they would prefer my debut poetry collection to be called Citizen or How To Build A City. There was about equalContinue reading “Words in the sand”

Cultural Review of 2008

Based on my limited intake, here are my top cultural victuals of 2008. Immediate thoughts: (a) I don’t read enough fiction; (b) I have no idea what’s hip in music anymore (although to be fair the wondrous Lykke Li is quite hip, I think). Oh, and with this post, a change of theme for this is yogic. BContinue reading “Cultural Review of 2008”

Guardian on Crashaw Prize

Alison Flood reports on The Crashaw Prize announcement in The Guardian. Thank you to everyone who’s sent messages of congratulations here, by email or on Facebook. Your support is most appreciated!

I have won The Crashaw Prize

I’ve been writing since I was 16 (I was going to say ‘seriously’ but ‘with intent’ is a better phrase). I am now 25, and Christmas has come early in the form of The Crashaw Prize and Salt Publishing. I am a joint winner, which means that my first full collection of poetry will be published inContinue reading “I have won The Crashaw Prize”

Popshot

Popshot, a magazine combining poetry and illustration, is worth a look. It hasn’t launched yet, but the first issue promises ‘The Wonder of the Ordinary’. They are seeking contributors – and readers.

Hasty Excise on Gists & Piths

Literary blog-place Gists & Piths has published my ‘Hasty Excise’, which is based on an earlier piece released here. The journey, seeing as you ask, is Clapham Junction to Aldgate via Waterloo. Thanks to George Ttoouli for editorial suggestions. The blog title comes, I believe, from Ezra Pound (above).

Zeppelins

One of my favourite poets, Chris McCabe, has launched his second collection Zeppelins. I haven’t read it yet, but based on reading and hearing Chris’s work over the last two years, I predict it’ll be big. I should also mention that I will be interviewing Chris right here at this is yogic for Salt’s Cyclone project.

Hoodoo Voodoo

I recommend Hoodoo Voodoo by D.S. Marriott extremely highly. It’s the best thing I’ve read this year and tops his previous collection. My review of this will be in the next Poetry London. Here’s a snippet. These poems are unexpected and often frightening documents of loss, which probe issues of black identity in stark, uncompromising language.Continue reading “Hoodoo Voodoo”

The Arrival of the Books

I’m very excited. Or, more accurately, was – now I’m just sleepy, typing this in bed whilst listening to the shipping forecast (west veering north-west but cyclonic at first in Hebrides…). Today the books I am publishing in January arrived from the printers: Ross Sutherland’s Things To Do Before You Leave Town and Tamsin Kendrick’sContinue reading “The Arrival of the Books”