I\u2019ve been a proper worker bee so far this year, and what an adventure it\u2019s been!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since restrictions have eased, I\u2019ve been out and about, offering workshops in a number of different settings. National Poetry Day<\/a> was celebrated at Charles Kingsley\u2019s School<\/a> in Hampshire, where children delved into their imaginations to describe their fantasy \u2018dream day\u2019, whilst older ones focused upon communicating climate issues through the medium of eco-poetry, inspired by Julia Donaldson\u2019s Tiddler.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I spent a wonderful afternoon at Reading\u2019s Red Balloon Centre<\/a>, chatting about being a poet and encouraging students to have a go at a few exercises. We had lots of fun, and I was astonished by the poetry which came forth from the session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More recently, my poetry wingman Zannah Kearns and I led a workshop on performance poetry with undergraduates at the University of Reading<\/a>. What a lovely group, and how willing they were to have a go (even when I asked them to project bits of Shakespeare with their arms in the air\u2026) We concluded the session with a staged open mic and were flabbergasted by the talent exhibited. What a treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m hungry for more opportunities, so if you\u2019re keen to arrange a talk, tutorial or workshop for a class, group or business, then do get in touch.<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Performances<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Zoom has been a blessing to us poetry lot, and I am so thankful that despite the chaos of the last two years, our community has put its best foot forward and branched out, using every tool available to keep sharing our lovely words. I\u2019ve made some great friends who I\u2019ve never even met(!), and their support has made all the difference. It was such a joy reading at Poets, Prattlers & Pandemonialists <\/a>alongside the great Kevin Higgins, and I\u2019m looking forward to supporting TS Eliot Prize nominee, Dan Sluman at Cheltenham Poetry Festival<\/a> later this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Course<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I was thrilled to be offered a place on the PG Cert \u2018Teaching Creative Writing<\/a> at Cambridge\u2019s Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)<\/a>. The reading has been intense, but my brain has soaked up so much in a short time. I\u2019ve met some truly wonderful people, and I\u2019ve even found that writing an assignment can be (dare I say it) enjoyable \u2013 providing the subject matter is right! Three long weekends spent at Madingley Hall (pictured) in Cambridge, being catered for and generally spoilt has been incredible too. I\u2019ll be applying all I learn to my workshop offering, and I\u2019m already bursting with ideas to get people writing and discovering the poetic voice within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n