Why we need to save the Poetry Business (LentBlog26)

after Mark Halliday Because of the writing days. And because The discovery will not happen on its own, unprompted, … More

Open letter: in memory of Janet Fisher

And though I only met you once, your influence on me is massive, or should that be was I don’t … More

Readers of this blog will know that I make a list at the end of each year showing the most … More

Reading Arthur W. Frank’s astonishing At the Will of the Body recently has given me pause to reflect on the relationship … More

I have not read a book in six months -Raymond Carver, ‘Drinking While Driving’ I can still remember the shock … More

I’m grateful to you, you see. I wanted to tell you. –Raymond Carver (‘For Tess’) A kind, wise man once … More

InstructorThis is the best bit; the steep glide into Milnsbridge,the tight swing under the arch before the home straight,when I’m … More

I wrote here recently about losing my ambition as a writer. In case readers are in any doubt, the stuff … More

I have been thinking a lot recently about the career trajectory of poets, including my own, whose work briefly becomes visible … More

I Am a Finn I am standing in the post office, about to mail a package back to Minnesota, to … More

I was struck by a remark of Seamus Heaney in an interview he gave some years ago now. He was … More