Birthday Month

Hello and happy November. This is my monthly-ish newsletter for me to tell everything I'm up to, to anyone who'll listen. If you make it to the end of the email I also like to include a few writing opportunities I have spotted recently. I'd love to connect with you so please do follow me on my social media platforms as we journey life together.

This month includes my birthday which is lovely because in my experience people tend to smile at you more on the anniversary of the day you were born and I'm here for that!

Yorkshire Health and Wellbeing Festival

On Saturday 4th November I was blessed to be able to attend the Yorkshire Health and Wellbeing Festival (CIC). The organisers, Jodi and David, asked me to open the festival with a couple of poems and it was an honour to do so. Reading "I'm Fine" my 2019 poem shortlisted by National Poetry Day and "Health and Wellbeing" written specifically for the festival, I really enjoyed sharing my words with a new audience and meeting so many new people. It was a wonderful day with dozens of stalls offering various ways of creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I spent the day talking to people about writing for wellbeing, what a wonderfully cathartic process it is, and how it has been for me personally. The lovely guys from Andy's Man Club asked me to read 'I'm Fine' again in the afternoon so they could film it for their socials. Quite a few people signed up for my newsletter so if you are one of them then you are most welcome here - scroll down for more!

Writing for Me

'Writing for Me' is an online writing for wellbeing course I'll be facilitating Nov-Dec. The course is a wonderful way to help stay mentally healthy, particularly in the busy run-up to Christmas! Join me?

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The Book

After three years of writing my memoir/poetry collection "I'm a Poet and I Didn't Even Realise" - what I have realised is that the format is just not working for me. It demands too much time and as a result, much of it is now out of date and needs re-writing and it was certainly becoming a chore rather than a joy. As part of this awakening, I have also realised that a lot of my early poetry was just pants!

So with that in mind, I've decided to pull together a collection of my best pieces from now and then and publish that with no expectation or explanation - which as anyone who knows me will know, I find incredibly hard. I'll keep you posted but I already have most of the poems selected (and a title), I just need to compile them. I'll hopefully be announcing this next month so if you're thinking of unsubscribing - give it another month eh?

Collaborations

I have news that has been on the down-low for a while but I am getting closer to the point where I will be able to share it with you all and I am super excited. What I can say is it involves working with the National Literacy Trust again which makes my heart leap.

Exploring New Ground

Yes, I'm a poet but I am also a copywriter and a speechwriter, in fact, I'll write just about anything for money (or chocolate) but what I've always wanted to do and never been quite confident to do is write a play! So when I saw an opportunity from Freedom Studios for a ten-week playwriting course, I submitted an application. I'm pleased to announce that I have been selected for one of the limited number of places. I can't wait to get started!

Funding Bids

I've recently applied for funding (yes again) to help me develop a project with a very specific group of people next year and I am praying that I get it. It will be a while before I find out but, if it is accepted, it will be a busy start to the year after Christmas. If I'm unsuccessful, I know God has other plans for me - super excited for 2024!

Writing Opportunities

​New Writing North - A Writing Chance​
​Cosmic Daffodil Journal - The Seven Deadly Sins​
​Graeae - Crips With Chips​
​BBC Children's Writing Competition - 500 Words (Warning closing date Fri 10th November)
​Spare Parts Lit Mag - ARTificial​

The End -

Don't forget to connect with me on all the usual platforms and thanks for sticking it out to the end - love you guys!