2022 and all that

Well, 2022 brought a number of changes which impacted on what I write here. I have been submitting a new novel for consideration. But primarily, I have been writing a lot of prose-poetry. This has led me to the new outlet for my writing of Spoken Word.

What is Spoken Word?

Spoken word is when you perform any piece of writing to a group of people. It is often poetry but can be a story, monologue, or something else. It is quite flexible as to format.

Due to writing a lot of prose-poetry and sharing at my favourite writing group, I was encouraged to attend a Spoken Word night. I went along, sat, watched, then thought: I want to set up one of those. And where better than my favourite bookshop in my local area. So far they have been going well and I have been exposed to some great fresh writing that excites me and always leaves me thinking. Such a variety is on offer. All unique voices that should be heard.

Children love Spoken Word and enjoy writing poetry so it is a great thing to do for World Book Week. Why not start by enjoying watching some Michael Rosen, Benjamin Zephaniah, John Hegley, Kate Tempest, or Anthony Joseph?

As well as Spoken Word, I have been plotting and writing another one. I have changed my approach and audience for it. I’m venturing somewhere new. It is challenging and exciting. I’m trying to apply some of the approaches I use for my prose-poetry to the novel writing. I’m not sure it will work. Only time can tell.

What have you been doing?

STORY: The Breakdown

The driver looked at Colin with a hopeful face.
‘Can you fix it?’
Colin looked down at the engine and scratched his head. There was a maze of pipes, wires, and tubes of liquid. This really wasn’t his area of expertise.
‘It’s just that it’s new and I borrowed it from dad. I can’t take it back broken,’ the driver pleaded.
‘I’m not sure I’m the right person.’
‘Pleassee. You just got to help.’
Colin felt pity for the young driver. He had been in that situation once. Maybe there was something he could do. It was a long shot.
‘Have you tried switching it off and on again?’
The driver perked up, leant over his dash, and flicked a switch. The engine died to a silence. Then he flicked the switch again. Lights came on. There was a gentle rumble as it sprung into life.
‘It worked! Oh thank you. I knew you were the person to ask.’
The driver hopped into his seat, wound up the window and gave cheerful wave.
Colin stood back by his IT van as the driver and machine flew into the sky.

Book Launch

 

dfw-sf-wb-cover-small
To promote the launch of my book 
Wishbone Billy the marvellous people at Big green Bookshop, Brampton Park Road, Wood Green, London will be hosting my book launch.

The event will be taking place on Sunday 16th July from 3pm to 5pm.

You are all welcome to come join me and have some nibbles and drink while listening to part of the book. I will even answer questions if you have any.

Look forward to seeing you there.

big green book shop

 

POEM: Teacher says…

Image by Midnight Frog

Teacher says
my writing is not very good
But I dream of slaying serpents
with a dappled sword of light

Teacher says
I should use more connectives
But I search the fathoms of Hades
for the last souls of the unforgiven

Teacher says
it would be better with subordinate clauses
But I dance with moonlight maidens
on an ocean of stardust from Mars

Teacher says
my work lacks imagination
But I journey home, sword broken
and the beast of burden victorious

This poem came about because I was getting increasingly concerned with the emphasis on acquiring the knowledge of grammar, spelling and handwriting skills or rules. Often, it seemed writing in schools was becoming an exercise to tick off a rule that was learnt rather than a focus on the quality of the writing.

POEM: Daddies Soljers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can touch the sky

On my daddies soljors

I can soar and fly

On my daddies soljors

Taller than everyone

On my daddies soljors

I kiss the sun

On my daddies soljors

Hair touches clouds

On my daddies soljors

Noisy and loud

On my daddies soljors

Journey over soon

On my daddies soljors

Not reached the moon

On my daddies soljors

I WANNA BE

ON MY DADDIES SOLJORS!

POEM: Word Doodle

Words flutter
dance and jump
leaving magic trails
or distorted traces
but I don’t write
I just doodle with words
an idea unfinished
a thought half-remembered
half-finished
a torrent of vocabulary
tumbling and crashing
fighting to be noticed
but I don’t write
I just doodle with words
a tale incomplete
distracted characters
in incomplete worlds
aimlessly wandering
a canvas waiting
the final brush
perhaps painting-by-numbers
is my thing?
I don’t write
I just doodle
words

POEM: CHOCOLATE

 

Little Brother entered house
said he found
some chocolate
delicious chocolate
covered from head to foot
in sticky brown
beautiful chocolate
heavenly chocolate
licked his fingers
one to ten
melted chocolate
that sweet chocolate
a dreadful smell around
just like a dog pen
nothing like chocolate
it wasn’t chocolate!