Pencil

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

Kenneth Koch on the New York poets

  Being together so much and talking so much and writing poems and showing them to each other so much … More

Guest blog post: Andrew Waterhouse and the seventh syllable, by Helena Nelson

I am delighted to welcome Helena Nelson to continue our series on overlooked poets.   Andrew Waterhouse and the Seventh … More

Peter Bourke

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

Laskey

Some writers influence you through the pull of their imagination on your work, opening up new worlds as you read … 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

Giving up writing

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

Fairnie

I met Fairnie somewhere round the back of Richard Nicholson (or was it Rupert Loydell?) sometime in the very early … More

Notebook

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

Deck shoes

I am not sure why I started wearing deck shoes. I am no sailor -I have been on a sailing … 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

Lifesaving Poems: Kenneth Rexroth’s ‘The Advantages of Learning’

  The Advantages of Learning I am a man with no ambitions And few friends, wholly incapable Of making a … More

Guest blog post: In praise of Joan Mitchell, by Tamar Yoseloff

Joan Mitchell looks to be the only artist of her generation, man or woman, who produced a big, abstract, painterly … More

An interview with Poetry Spotlight

This is the opening question and answer to an interview with Paul Clyne of Poetry Spotlight, published today. With thanks … 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