Documenting the life of a community poet
I’m delighted to be judging the Oriel Davies Open Writing Competition along with the lovely and talented Chris Kinsey. Closing date 4th November. If you’ve read Rebel Sun you’ll know I’ve had a slight obsession with writing about water (dŵr) for some time so I’m really looking forward to reading the submissions!
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When I think about why we create it seems like an insanity. Producing any form of literature must be the most futile existence: the months and years of work and craft that go into writing a novel or poetry collection can feel as if your intestines are being forcibly removed and piled onto a plate […]
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We’re still between vans at the moment so I’ve been relying on public transport when workshopping. The train is always the best option for getting to Cardiff or Swansea from Wrexham and the direct line is pretty efficient but along the coast the service is a bit threadbare (literally some of the seats are falling […]
Read MoreI’ve had a number of interesting discussions recently about Welsh art in the context of how it’s perceived by, and in relation to, England. One of the points made was that there are so many artists (across all disciplines) who are well respected in Wales yet nobody has heard of, or is interested in, […]
Read MoreI’ve been wary of hurtling down mountains on the bike (an Orange5 Diva Pro) since getting a bit too feisty and badly wrenching my shoulder on the uplift at Cwmdown a couple of years ago. Since then I’ve found the sprint triathlon’s swim, bike, run more appealing – until this month.
Read MoreHow can we create meaning in our lives and art in a society unwilling or unable to avert the coming ecological catastrophe? Can connecting with our community alleviate this profound sense of loss and grief, offering purpose and a deep rootedness?
Read MoreI’ve been blogging recently about working as a Writer, Community Arts Practitioner & Educator (in Y Gogs) and received a number of supportive and positive replies. The latest blog, a radical proposal for community arts and education also received a largely positive response but there was one element to the proposal that seemed to cause contention […]
Read MoreI haven’t yet found the courage to brave the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (except as a punter) so I’ve come to accept August is a quiet time in my calendar. Outside of writing, the freelance work is tied up with schools or projects in the community, but with many people on holiday this month my schedule […]
Read MoreMy good friend Jane Wolfe passed away last week. I met her through my mum when I was 11 and she was 41. She taught me to play killer scrabble and introduced me to a whole world of authors: Ursula Le Guin, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Terry Pratchett, Melanie Rawn, Robin Hobb, Guy Gavriel Kay, Julian […]
Read MoreYears ago I met multi-lingual concrete poet Peter Meilleur (Childe Roland) at his home in Llangollen and it had a profound affect on my work. Up until that point I wrote satirical, witty, political slam-style poems. I won the Bangor Poetry Slam in 2008 with a poem called Armchair Anarchy, but the genre was beginning to […]
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