‘Still’. One small word. One diverse collection of many words – Chelley McLear, Poetry in Motion Co-ordinator. This is the tag-line to the second poetry anthology – entitled Still, and inspired by the same theme – which has just been published by the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) and funded by the Arts Council Northern Ireland. It is a collection that I am […]

I recently wrote a review of a collection of what I consider to be brilliantly constructed short stories (I’ll provide a link to it when it’s published) and it’s got me to thinking again of my own approach to writing in this genre. The short story requires a clear voice from the outset – it, […]

One of the great things about going along to writing workshops is that it gives the opportunity to meet fellow writers, and this week, I have decided to share something about the work of one of the members of my recent peace poetry workshop experience. Originally from Sicily, Antonio Chisari is now living in Derry and […]

‘The English sonnet has the simplest and most flexible pattern of all sonnets…’ So began the third and final week of my peace poetry workshop in Derry, which saw us take on the sonnet and free verse to inspire our submissions for the project. As it turns out, most of the poems I write are in […]

In terms of writing over the past week, it’s been all go with poetry and journalism, so I’ve decided to reflect on the second of three peace poetry workshops at the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry. Last week saw a visit from the project director, Leon Litvack of Queen’s University, who dropped in to see how things were panning out […]

In times of trouble or despair, people – and not just regular writers – often turn to poetry as a means of expressing their emotions. Also, in times of sublime happiness. Many people probably read or received a Valentine’s poem this year in some shape or form – in a card or otherwise. So, while […]

‘…if you are trying to tell a story simply… or get an idea or a picture out of your mind and into someone else’s mind then it needs to be a lot more simple, a lot less cluttered. In fact, a lot more like the way you speak… Don’t be content with other people’s words, […]

When you’re striving to do whatever it is you’re passionate about, be it writing, music, dancing – you name it – you always want to be the best you can be, but what happens if you’re only ever mediocre? It’s an interesting point for thought, flagged up by the recent film about a struggling folk singer who, despite his […]

When you write, how do you choose your location – and I don’t just mean the choice between the background chatter of a coffee shop or the secluded quietness of a study – I mean, how do you decide on where to set your story and find a sense of place? With the deadline looming […]

Every once in a while you meet someone whose work impacts upon you so much, you just have to spread the word. At the turn of the New Year, a post from the writer, Damian Gorman, caught my attention on Facebook. He gave a glowing review of a Belfast-based singer/songwriter who had just produced her third […]