We’re almost ten days into 2021 and currently, I’m drafting 3-4 poems a day. This would appear, on casual investigation, to be both unsustainable and frankly ridiculous, when nothing is further from the truth. The source of all this creative fervour isn’t a change in diet or some wonderful exercise programme. It’s 9-10am in front of a screen, being inspired by the creative forces behind the Kendal Poetry Festival.
For me and about 150 other poets, The Writing Hours [Resolution/Revolution] is granting permission for us, as writers, to intentionally take time for ourselves every day in order to be stimulated and encouraged by reading other people’s work and participating in group activities. There is no formal structure, no workshops or feedback. It is just us, a pen or a screen, and wherever the mood pushes Kim and Clare to go.
It is also useful to know that an outstanding, emerging poet such as Hannah is also gaining so much from what’s being given, freely and often with a great deal of honesty and earnestness. It’s not just the facilitators who you’ll learn from, too. I’ve picked up countless nuggets of useful information from the chat room, and there’s already a Facebook group for those people who want to share their work to an understanding audience.
I’ll be honest, I’m being very selective on what gets shared. The work being generated personally is in my mind so good, that some of it has already been submitted to other places. One particular poem I would go so far as to say is the best narrative piece I’ve ever written, and as a result is now forming the foundation of the first serious sci-fi sub to a specialist magazine.
One of the two poems in the new Podcast also came from these sessions last week.
It is still possible to get tickets for Week Two onwards (use this link) and if you have a few spare pennies lying about it would not be hyperbole to state this is a fantastic way to start your day, not simply in the right mindset but with the benefit of a group of like-minded individuals to work and support you. If you’d have told me I’d be in a room of 150 people every day, starting my year like this a year ago, I’d have not believed you.
I’m already working out how to keep the momentum going once this all ends on February 1st.
The Internet of Words 