Last call for my January workshop
Plus February at Trowbridge Stanza and some recommended links
Last week I fastened my doors against the bitterly cold weather and retreated indoors with a pile of poetry books and my notepad. I was putting the finishing touches to my poetry workshop plans, reading through my extensive poetry library and deciding on a few more poems to bring into my workshop at The Make Space on Saturday, 27 January. I was particularly thinking about poems that write the seasons, choosing poems that might sit well together and which might inspire someone to write. This is my favourite part of preparing for a workshop, since it’s time devoted entirely to poetry, and I’m looking forward to running the workshop next week and reading how different writers respond to my writing exercises and prompts.
Poetry workshops are where I developed my writing and where I learned about a wide range of poets and poetry styles. I’ve been lucky enough to have been taught by some amazing writers over the years and I like to think that I’ve stolen the best bits of advice from each and woven them into my own workshops. This year marks the tenth anniversary of my first solo-authored publication The Misplaced House, published by the small press tall-lighthouse, and I would never have achieved this ambition, and published three more poetry books, it hadn’t been for my time in many different workshops. And all of this leads me to say that there are still a couple of spaces available on my January workshop, in case anyone is interested in attending. More details on my website or please email me (josephinecorcoran13 at gmail dot com) with any questions.
Trowbridge Stanza in February
On Saturday 3 February, 2-4pm at Drawing Projects UK, Trowbridge Stanza will be joined by Karen Downs-Barton and Jeff Phelps, two fabulous award-winning poets who will read from their work and take part in an audience Q&A. There will also be poems from the audience so please bring a poem to read if you’re coming to the event. Everyone is welcome. Tickets are bookable at DPUK’s website, as usual (the link will be added soon). Here’s some information about both poets:
Karen Downs-Barton is a working-class, neurodiverse poet from the Romani community. Her first pamphlet, Didicoy, won the Poetry Business 2022 International Book and Pamphlet Competition and was the Poetry Book Society Pamphlet Choice for summer 2023. Karen is a creative writing doctoral candidate and poetry tutor at King's College, London. Her thesis explores identity formation through experimental and multilingual poetics as an opposition to essentialised historical tropes. Karen gained a special commendation in the AUB prize (2023), is the winner of the Cosmo Davenport-Hines poetry competition (2021) and Silver Award winner in the Creative Future Competition (2022) for work exploring the experiences of diaspora and Romani children growing up in the state childcare system, outsider languages. She has been translated into Russian, Spanish and Farsi. Her work is widely anthologised and can be viewed in Wagtail: The Romani Women's Anthology; The North; Rattle; Ink, Sweat and Tears; Tears in the Fence; Night Picnic Journal; The High Window; Alyss; The Otolith; The Fem Review; Riggwelter; The Goose; The Curly Mind; Persian Sugar in English Tea; amongst others.
Jeff Phelps is a poet, novelist and editor. His poems have appeared in Stand, The Rialto, London Magazine and elsewhere. He won second prize in the Stand open poetry competition with the narrative poem ‘River Passage’ about the River Severn which he has performed with backing piano music with his son, the musician Dan Phelps. Jeff co-edited The Poetry of Shropshire (Offa’s Press) and was a judge in the Rubery Prize for Independent authors. His novels Painter Man and Box of Tricks were published by Tindal Street Press. His poetry collections Wolverhampton Madonna and Falling and Flying are published by Offa’s Press. He lives in Melksham.
Some Recommended Links
Earlier in January, members of Trowbridge Stanza met to talk about their poetry plans for the year and shared some of the websites, blogs and online groups they’ve found helpful in their poetry journey. I’m sharing links that have been sent to me below. You might also like to see the Trowbridge Stanza Facebook page (set up by Nina Parmenter) where people also post interesting links.
Janet recommended this post about keeping notebooks and Cathy Rentzenbrink’s website about writing memoire.
Nick sent news of Arvon’s 5-day writing challenge (starts 22 January) and Silver Street Poetry (a monthly Friday morning reading series in Bristol - opportunities to read at their open-mic).
Frances sent these recommendations: Kim Moore and Clare Shaw’s January Writing Hours 2024 (daily, on Zoom); Jo Bells' Poetic Licence - on Patreon."The Poetic Licence is a slow poetry community, based around a monthly prompt from its creator, UK poet Jo Bell." ; The Rebecca Swift Foundation - organises the Women Poets' Prize and hosts the Women Poets' Network; and for those who want prompts for reading and want to take part in a reading challenge, The 52 Book Club.
We also spoke about poetry translation and here are some links I’ve found helpful. The Poetry Translation Centre website (online translation workshops just announced); Modern Poetry in Translation website (sometimes offers free online translation workshops, as well as free access to poetry archive).
Apologies if I’ve missed any other links that were sent to me! Best wishes to all. In spite of the cold weather, I *think* I’ve noticed the days growing a little longer…
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