I found myself in conversation with another editor recently and realised that despite being a published poet herself, she didn’t send work out to magazines. I asked why. ‘Well, apart from the one I edit, none of them are any good.’ We both laughed at this and I managed to not indignantly exclaim Hold on, what about PBLJ?! It was …
Be where the people are by Jemilea Wisdom-Baako
I step into boardrooms unsure of myself, the lanyard around my neck has a cute photo I took at the reception desk with my name; and title – Founder of Writerz and Scribez CIC. What does it mean to create something, to take it out of your mind and imagination and turn it into a living, breathing thing? My arts …
How to find your community when you don’t know anyone by Christy Ku
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Yet another guest speaker at our school gives this ‘advice’ to our teenage ears. They hurriedly mention their first job/internship came from their aunt/neighbour/family friend but hey, if they could do it we could too. “Make sure you really work your contacts! Knock on doors! The worst thing they can do …
Build Your Own Residency by Jo Bell
For many poets, paid time to be in residence at a particular location or organisation is the ultimate dream job. Time to think and write new things, or to build new ways of working with others – no wonder Jo is familiar with the question “So, how did you get this residency?“ It’s a question I’ve been asked each time …
Shameless Self-Promotion by Hollie McNish
When a young poet in one of our focus groups said she didn’t know how to promote her own work without feel embarrassed and ashamed, we knew we had to find someone to offer encouragement – and who better than Hollie McNish
Subsidising the Habit: Freelancing for Poets by Claire Collison
Claire Collison was a winner of the very first Women Poets’ Prize, and is a freelance educator and facilitator. Claire specialises in using art and place to generate creativity, including for The Photographers’ Gallery, Kettle’s Yard, and the Government Art Collection. We asked her to reflect on how poets might live as freelancers…