Open letter to Ted Hughes (LentBlog27)

Dear Ted Hughes You probably won’t remember me. I wrote to you before, in the summer of 1998. I did … More

Craving silence

‘So I was thinking,’ the book says. ‘Going anywhere nice for Christmas?’ ’Do you want a lift somewhere?’ I say. … More

I went home the other day. I mean home-home, where I was born, and where my parents still live. … More

In support of crowdfunding our new anthology of poems, No One You Know, with Unbound, Sue Dymoke and I are … More

‘I’m tired.’ ‘You said,’ says the book. ‘No, I mean, I’m tired. Of my handwriting.’ ‘What’s wrong with it? It’s … More

‘Did you hear?’ says the book. ‘Ted Hughes’s brother has died.’ ‘I did see that, yes,’ I say. ’95, though. … More

‘I’ve been out,’ says the book. ‘So I see,’ I say. The book is dressed in a pith helmet and … More

Recently I have featured prose writing by various writers, reshaping them in the form of found poems. Annie Dillard on … More

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

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

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

‘It’s even true of Ted Hughes.’ I look across at the book, whose head is now slumped on my desk, … More

‘Are you going to do one?’ ‘Who let you in?’ ‘Are you?’ The book has its feet up on my … More

There is a certain jubilation and truancy at the heart of an inspiration […a] liberation and abundance which is the … More

Teachers’ words should not be ‘How to write’ but ‘How to try to say what you really mean’ – which … More

‘There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as … More

That CK Williams has died. More than two weeks ago! One of my heroes. This is the first thing I … More

Writing my way through bereavement I don’t approve of death. I’m with Edna St Vincent Millay: I am not … More

I have been moving. Not moving house, moving within it. Stuff has come with me, some of it has vanished … More

As I have said before, there wasn’t a plan. Which does not mean I don’t feel the luckiest man alive … More