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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We walked into the brunt light, towards the hospital. The air was dry, February-cold. Traffic was going about its business. … More

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

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

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

One of the great functions of art is to help … More

I know I am hardly the first to draw parallels between running and writing. But, for what it is worth, … More

The Fear of Poetry In this moment when we face horizons and conflicts wider than ever before, we want our … More

Along with colleagues from the Arvon Foundation, The Open University and University of Exeter I have just begun … More

Dear Ant Well done for making it to the end of another year and the start of a new one. … More

This blog would be nothing without its readers. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, made a comment or a … More