The ambition thing

‘How have you been?’ says the book. ‘Fine,’ I say. ‘You?’ ‘Tired,’ says the book. ‘I’m tired.’ ‘Me too,’ I … More

Separate people?

Jack Palance: Do you know what the secret of life is? Billy Crystal: No, what? Jack Palance: This [he … More

I think I am probably in love with silence, that other world. And that I write, in some way, to … More

One of the joys of working on the Teachers as Writers project is that I get to steal. As … More

This isn’t about numbers, but my relationship with them. It isn’t about giving you a figure. (By the time you … More

On certain afternoons I am certain it has come back. A twinge in my right side, where the pain … More

I had begun the poem after work one day, on a pad of work-related notes. Get in, get out, I … More

When the Arvon student is put in posession of that creative self, which was hitherto inaccessible, two things, in particular, … More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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