For National Poetry Day this year I visited 90 children in Year 3 (3 groups of 30!) at Rhiwbeina Primary School. We had a wonderful time talking about being a poet and writing 'Long Thin poems' together, inspired by this prompt from Micheal Rosen. We talking about what makes something special, made 'word ponds', wrote long thin poems, edited them, and then performed some aloud. A fabulous morning.
Cardiff Writers' Circle have asked me to adjudicate and host their 2024 Poetry Competition. Following a 'hint and tips' session for poetry competitions that I ran for members, closing date for entries is 12 February, with an in person prize giving 11 March.
I'm excited to read the entries, and looking forward to a fun evening in March. This prize is possible due to the support of Literature Wales.
The super poet Karen Pierce Gonzalez from Folk Heart Press has invited me to be the featured poet a North Bay Poetics online session, talking about prose poetry, process, and I'll be reading a few poems too. There is an open mic section and two fellow Welsh poets will be joining, Lesley James @feetpetite, and Kath Hill. Really looking forward to it.
On Tuesday 31 January I've been invited to give a poetry workshop to each of the three Year 4 classes. They have already been learning about acrostic poetry, rhyme, personification and alliteration, this year and last - so I will need to be on the ball!
I will be introducing and exploring the haibun form with them - an interesting joining of prose and structured poetry.
Their topic this term is 'My Rhiwbeina' - so we will be writing about a favourite place, using all the senses.
Saturday 22th October 2022
As part of Cardiff Writers Circle 75th celebrations, I ran a 'Getting into Print' in person workshop at Cardiff Central Library, supported by Literature Wales. It was a successful afternoon, with productive discussions around 'literary citizenship', editing and publishing.