Pencil

I am returning to the pencil. The premise of which remark signifies consciousness that at some point I left the … More

Peter Bourke

  In 1991 we moved to a house in Brixton, south London. Of all our welcomes, that of our neighbour, … More

Living and breathing Arvon

  ‘I’ve been at the field.’ This, spoken by one of the teachers on last week’s writing residential at Totleigh … More

The Other Writer

I think I need the Other Writer much more than they need me. Off the top of my head I … More

A new poem: The Future

I am delighted to announce that Ink Sweat & Tears have published a new poem, The Future, today. With thanks … More

Giving up writing

Last week I gave up writing. For about a day. I had been given a book by one of my … More

Guest blog post: Away with the Dinosaurs, by Chrissy Williams

I am delighted to welcome Chrissy Williams to enthuse about a poet who may be unfamiliar to UK readers. – … More

Guest blog post: On moving on, by Dean Parkin

I have been sorting. I have been chucking. It’s been the recurring theme over the last eighteen months. I cleared … More

Notebook

At the start of each academic year, usually when I have known them for a week or so, I make … More

Cut-up

The book is sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by small scraps of paper. Some have whole sentences on them. … More

Tearing up the book

‘What are you doing?’ I say. ‘What does it look like?’ the book says. ‘It looks like you are tearing … More

The voice you hear when you write

Writing is about hypnotizing yourself into believing in yourself, getting some work done, then unhypnotyzing yourself and going over the … More

Guest blog post: A Mentor: Anthony Glavin, by Mark Granier

Recently, I took our 11-year old boy to see the Turners in the National Gallery of Ireland. These 31 watercolours … More

Buggering about on the internet

‘Hullo,’ says the book. ‘I thought you had gone away.’ ‘I lied,’ says the book. ‘What are you going to … More

‘I’m your new book!’

‘Hullo!’ says the book. ‘Have we been introduced?’ I say. ‘I’m your new book!’ ‘But I haven’t finished the last … More

Things people said when I had cancer

‘I am so, so sorry.’ ‘You’re going to be fine.’ ‘Fight it, you know you’re a fighter.’ ‘Are we going … More

Goodbye

Padding down the stairs to make my mid-morning coffee, I become aware of a large black bag lying in the … More

Guest blog post: Carol Emshwiller’s short stories, by Tania Hershman

“I like writing best because it’s the hardest art. There are more balls to keep in the air at a … More