‘What drives you?’ ‘I’ve only just woken up!’ I say to the book. ‘Don’t care. It’s morning. Work to be … More
Tag: Being a Writer
Needing to be liked
‘You know what your main problem is,’ the book says. ‘Needing to be liked.’ ‘That’s a good thing, isn’t it?’ … More
What we talk about when we talk about writing
The more I talk about writing with students, teachers, colleagues and other writers, the less I am sure that we … More
Interview with the book
‘Aren’t you going get the phone?’ I say. ‘It won’t be for me.’ With a little groan the book … More
The vision thing
Here is how it happens. The vision is, sub specie aeternitatis, a set of mental relationships, a coherent series of … More
The risk of failure
‘What do you think?’ I say to the book. It has held on to my poem for a week, and … More
The safety net of approval
Even though it is sweltering, the book is wearing its dinner jacket. Its legs are stretched out, feet on my … More
The book is fifty blog posts old
The adventures of the book have now clocked up fifty blog posts. Here is a list of all of them, … More
But I’m a poet
The book is in its gardening clothes. ‘I’m going out,’ it says. ‘You’ve let the lawn go again.’ ‘You can’t … More
What a waste
‘I don’t know if I can do this any more.’ ‘Do what?’ the book says. ‘This.’ ‘Sit around waiting for … More
Addicted to the news
‘Listening to the cricket again?’ says the book. ‘I think I’ll join you.’ ‘What do you mean, ‘again’?’ I say. … More
The next book
‘That thing you mentioned the other day,’ the book says. ‘Is it true?’ ‘What thing?’ I say. ‘About there being … More
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
Lifesaving Poems: Tania Hershman’s ‘By Any Other Name’
By Any Other Name First, he called her My Little Aubergine as if she was … More
On silence, by Jorie Graham
I think I am probably in love with silence, that other world. And that I write, in some way, to … More
Guest blog post: Alice Major by Katherine Venn
I am delighted to welcome Katherine Venn to continue our series on overlooked poets. Alice Major Alice Major, decorated author … More
My stats
This isn’t about numbers, but my relationship with them. It isn’t about giving you a figure. (By the time you … More
Slow Weather -a new poem
I am delighted to have Slow Weather, a new poem published at London Grip New Poetry