Poet-detective

In the dry months after my cancer treatment, when the visitors stopped visiting and I put all the cards…

Dreaming about X

I dreamt about my friend X last night. I don’t think I normally dream about him, and don’t recall having…

Today is the last day of NaBloPoMo, that month in the year when someone decides it is a nice idea…

Dear God Do you think you could fix it so that I might have some of Martin’s playfulness, his…

As we draw to the end of NaBloPoMo, I have invited Josephine Corcoran to collaborate with me on a joint-interview.…

It wasn’t much of a day. I was in noodle-mode, sticking things into my day book, quotes and articles and…

Come to me as a heap on his bed, the Jurassic layers of his early adulthood here in Exeter abandoned…

After they left, the house went very quiet. No one really knew about the quietness but me. I played a…

If you came round for coffee these days you’d be offered decaff. Doctor’s orders, I’d say. And against my better…

What I love about autumn is the night arriving early. What I hate about autumn is the day leaving even…

One of the signs of my anxiety is when I start to look obsessively at stationery blogs. I adore NCIS.…

Dean Paul Granny § ‘What students in classrooms say is an exceptionally precious learning resource. Every time a teacher receives…

I have been thinking a lot recently about Alan Booth, my English teacher from the ages of 11 to 13.…

Fear after Raymond Carver Fear of cancer returning That phone call in the night Fear of Donald Trump Fear…

A thought occurred to me as I found myself scribbling in a notebook earlier this morning: I have no idea…

Try to Praise the Mutilated World Try to praise the mutilated world. Remember June’s long days, and wild strawberries,…

I have to be honest and say that, in the light of yesterday’s US Election result, I am tempted to…

My friend Rupert Loydell has emailed me a list of blog posts curated by Rob Mclennan on writing at the…