Welcome to our Resource Library. You can filter these posts by using the following sub categories: CRAFT | GRAFT | SUSTAIN | THE KNOWLEDGE

Build Your Own Residency by Jo Bell

Degna Stone Graft, Library, The Knowledge

vintage blueprint showing drawings of strange shaped 3-d objects in cross-hatched white pencil, and ornate copperplate annotations in white ink

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 …

Roots and Routes by Kat François

Degna Stone Library, Sustain

trees routes grow in a network of straight lines, following the cracks between herring-bone paving bricks

We continue our series of essays On Being A Woman Poet with performance artist Kat François’ reflections on her journey towards a life in poetry, the inspirational people and essential spoken word communities that showed her the way… I went to an all-girls inner-city secondary school and many of my teachers tried to steer us towards service careers, such as …

Welcome! What do you need?

Degna Stone Library, The Knowledge

poets-resource-library-welcome

All the articles, resources and links you’ll find in our online library fit under the headings ‘Craft’, ‘Graft’, ‘The Knowledge’ and ‘Sustain’ – it’s just our way to focus on different aspects of life as a woman poet. You might find them all useful, or be drawn to one aspect over another at any one time.

Shameless Self-Promotion by Hollie McNish

Degna Stone Graft, Library

Peacock showing full feather display

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

Degna Stone Graft, Library

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…

The Alchemy of Language by Penelope Shuttle

Degna Stone Craft, Library, Sustain

The-Alchemy-of-Language

Penelope Shuttle’s thirteenth poetry collection Lyonnesse was published by Bloodaxe in June 2021, fifty-three years after her first. We asked her to share some thoughts about what keeps a creative career alive throughout a lifetime.