The making of a poem – Robert Frost Quotes for Writers (and people who like quotes)
Like a piece of ice on a hot stove the poem must ride on its own melting. A poem may be worked over once it is in being, but may … Continue reading
Stevie Smith explains why she didn’t write when she was happy – Quotes for Writers (and people who like quotes)
Why does my Muse only speak when she is unhappy? She does not, I only listen when I am unhappy When I am happy I live and despise writing For … Continue reading
What Are Poets Good For?
It’s true that they are not much good at earning a living from writing alone. But they don’t seem to be bad at being presidents, although to be honest I … Continue reading
Music and narrative in Flash Fiction – TANIA HERSHMAN Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes)
(Flash fiction) is a form that balances on the flimsy boundary between short story and poem. For me, a flash story must feel like it is on the side of … Continue reading
Glastonbury wants poets and spoken word performers…
I love doing live readings…would that count, do you think? And would my sons at last recognise that I am, after all, seriously cool? * Glastonbury’s Poetry & Words area … Continue reading
Why poetry is essential – Audre Lorde Quotes for Writers (and people who like quotes)
Poetry forms the quality of light within which we predicate our hopes and dreams toward survival and change, first made into language, then into idea, then into more tangible action … Continue reading
Four Counties Poetry Competition – work here, live here, study here, be born here and you qualify…
For the very first time Rottingdean Writers’ Group is running a competition specially designed for poets connected to London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The judge is John McCullough, academic and … Continue reading
If you can read you can write – not so says Richard Hugo, even if you have a Phd — Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes)
Scholars seem to assume that if you can read you can write. It’s sad to see someone with a fresh Ph.D. coast for a few years, understandably after such a … Continue reading
Tomorrow – the launch of a very special book
DANCING WITH WORDS – the Brighton charity anthology in aid of Martlets Hospice – will be launched at 7pm on Saturday September 20th at the Amnesty Bookshop in the heart … Continue reading
Vita Sackville-West on what we lose if we don’t write — Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes)
It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly of the moment? For the moment … Continue reading
William Faulkner on what a writer would sacrifice for a good poem — Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes)
The artist’s only responsibility is his art. He will be completely ruthless if he is a good one…. If a writer has to rob his mother, he will not hesitate: … Continue reading
The clock is ticking….only four days left to enter this international writing competition
The August 31st writing competition deadline for Hysteria 2014 is approaching fast. Some writers need the adrenaline of a closing date hovering above their computer to kickstart their writing…. but if … Continue reading
poetry makes the private world public…Allen Ginsberg Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes)
Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It’s that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that’s what the … Continue reading
I’m not a poet, but I’ve read enough bad poetry to recognise what poets shouldn’t do…
I’m not a poet. In fact, one of the exercises in my guide to creative writing* is called the I-don’t-want-to-wrie-a-poem poetry exercise. The fact that I’m not a poet makes … Continue reading
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 