For fellow poets out there, may I recommend Beth's substack - full of reflections on the art of writing and her sources of inspiration bethbrooke.substack.com?r=1tirk3&utm... @bethbpoet.bsky.social #poetry

I wonder if the publication in question feels there is enough of a hook now.............

Here's the first of our shortlisted poets, Tom McLaughlin, reading from his poem, Molly house. We'll be posting films of each of our five shortlisters over the coming days and, after due trademark dithering, our final choice will be announced on 13th May. So watch this space! www.ditheringchaps.com

We are delighted to announce that we've chosen Tom McLaughlin's stunning debut collection, In Rooms of Falling Rain, to publish later this year. We can't wait to work with this exciting and talented poet! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here's the last of our shortlisted poets, Marie Macri, reading from her poem, Proof he was here. We'd love to know what you think! We will be announcing our final choice on Wednesday. www.ditheringchaps.com

@ditheringchaps.bsky.social have made a great film of me reading from my shortlisted pamphlet Songs of Other Names. Please give a re-share if you'd like to read the whole thing in print 🙏🏼❤️ It's decision time next week!

Here's the next of our shortlisted poets, @victoriaspires.bsky.social , reading from her poem, The Skulker. We'll be posting films of each of our five shortlisters and, after due trademark dithering, we'll announce our final choice on 13th May. Stay tuned! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here's another of our shortlisted poets, Hilary McDaniel, reading from her poem, A Hoosier Sonnet Definition. We have two more films of shortlisted poets to post. Our final choice will be announced on 13th May, so watch this space! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here's another of our shortlisted poets, Hilary McDaniel, reading from her poem, A Hoosier Sonnet Definition. We have two more films of shortlisted poets to post. Our final choice will be announced on 13th May, so watch this space! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here's the first of our shortlisted poets, Tom McLaughlin, reading from his poem, Molly house. We'll be posting films of each of our five shortlisters over the coming days and, after due trademark dithering, our final choice will be announced on 13th May. So watch this space! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here is our top five - one of these poets will be published by us, later this year ... To be honest, we'd love to publish them all - we have a tough job on our hands! www.ditheringchaps.com

What wonderful news. I am keeping my fingers crossed for my ambitious, curious, somewhat feral set of poems 🤞🏼 Thank you @ditheringchaps.bsky.social & congratulations to the other shortlisted poets ❤️

Here is our top five - one of these poets will be published by us, later this year ... To be honest, we'd love to publish them all - we have a tough job on our hands! www.ditheringchaps.com

We're so proud to announce our April 2026 longlist. We would be proud to publish any one of these poets. Now we really dither - trying to cut 20 down to just 5 ... our shortlist will be announced this time next week. Here's wishing us (and our longlisted poets) luck! #poetry

Submissions duly logged and read. Now time to make our longlist decisions... #DitheringChaps #poetry

Submissions duly logged and read. Now time to make our longlist decisions... #DitheringChaps #poetry

We love pi day, but World Poetry Day is our favourite!

We love pi day, but World Poetry Day is our favourite!

Submissions window - twenty days to go...

Submissions window - twenty days to go...

Where will your poems end up...? #DitheringChaps www.ditheringchaps.com/submissions

Where will your poems end up...? #DitheringChaps www.ditheringchaps.com/submissions

Our end of March cut-off is looming. We'd love to read your submission! #poetry #poetrysubmissions #DitheringChaps

Our end of March cut-off is looming. We'd love to read your submission! #poetry #poetrysubmissions #DitheringChaps

It's always nice to be appreciated...

It's always nice to be appreciated...

Dithering Chaps is proud to devote one of our annual publication slots to the work of poets who have yet to publish a full poetry collection. We’re thrilled to announce our 2025 choices: BRIDGETTE JAMES, an emerging poet with a striking, intimate voice and LEANNE MODEN, poet, performer, storyteller.

Delighted to learn that our Lead Editor DG Herring's poem, 'The Deal With Alkestis', has been accepted by @thebrokenspine.co.uk for their The Havisham Steps: Modern Gothic Poetry anthology. The proofs promise he's in very good, if edgy, company. Props to Alan Parry & team! thebrokenspine.co.uk

Today's shortlisted poet is @sarahcrowe.bsky.social. Here she is reading from Ode to My Left Breast, an elegant crown of sonnets, the form of which she has deftly adapted to her theme of deconstruction/reconstruction. Watch out for more of our videos and tell us who we should choose

Today's shortlisted poet is @sarahcrowe.bsky.social. Here she is reading from Ode to My Left Breast, an elegant crown of sonnets, the form of which she has deftly adapted to her theme of deconstruction/reconstruction. Watch out for more of our videos and tell us who we should choose

Sharing this review of my book by @alexandrelefebvre.bsky.social again because, in addition to saying lovely things about Herald of a Restless World, it is a really excellent article about Bergson lareviewofbooks.org/article/when...

Also: really decent production values from @ditheringchaps.bsky.social. Good quality paper, and each poem/illustration properly honoured with space to breathe on the page.

Have a collection ready to publish? Send us a sample of your work! You could be on our next shortlist in April and be in print by the end of the year... (See our recent posts for clips from our current shortlist.) www.ditheringchaps.com/submissions #poetry #submissions

Have a collection ready to publish? Send us a sample of your work! You could be on our next shortlist in April and be in print by the end of the year... (See our recent posts for clips from our current shortlist.) www.ditheringchaps.com/submissions #poetry #submissions

Third up is kerry rawlinson, reading from her poem, 'bath, in translation', from her collection, 'fluid dynamics'. This collection interrogates "the various forms physical liquids take, as well as exploring other modes and expressions of fluidity."NB kerry appears twice on our shortlist! Impressive!

Third up is kerry rawlinson, reading from her poem, 'bath, in translation', from her collection, 'fluid dynamics'. This collection interrogates "the various forms physical liquids take, as well as exploring other modes and expressions of fluidity."NB kerry appears twice on our shortlist! Impressive!

Second up from our shortlist is Bridgette James, reading from Baby Blues, a poem in her collection, Gestating Creatures. When he read Bridgette's submission, our lead editor, David Herring wrote, "I'm convinced that I'm in the presence of an authentic and original voice." Three more poets to come!

Second up from our shortlist is Bridgette James, reading from Baby Blues, a poem in her collection, Gestating Creatures. When he read Bridgette's submission, our lead editor, David Herring wrote, "I'm convinced that I'm in the presence of an authentic and original voice." Three more poets to come!

The Ice Sonnets by Christopher James (past winner of the National Poetry and Bridport Prizes)... out now... from Dithering Chaps i.m. Frank Hurley from Shackleton's Endurance... www.ditheringchaps.com/the-ice-sonn... #OblongStockingFillers

Our first shortlisted poet is Leanne Moden, reading part of her fascinating work, The Vernal Equinox, which is an anagram poem - it only uses letters from the title! It comes from Leanne's collection, Ophelia of the Bathtub. Four more videos to go - let us know what you think! www.ditheringchaps.com

Our first shortlisted poet is Leanne Moden, reading part of her fascinating work, The Vernal Equinox, which is an anagram poem - it only uses letters from the title! It comes from Leanne's collection, Ophelia of the Bathtub. Four more videos to go - let us know what you think! www.ditheringchaps.com

What's in a name...?

This is where the real dithering begins...!

This is where the real dithering begins...!

What's in a name...?

A bunch of new people followed me recently so I must remind you that I wrote a biography of Henri Bergson called Herald of a Restless World. I wrote it with my HANDS and BRAIN and I'm very proud of it. John Banville called it “The most intellectually stimulating book I read this year” (last year).

The Ice Sonnets by Christopher James (past winner of the National Poetry and Bridport Prizes)... out now... from Dithering Chaps i.m. Frank Hurley from Shackleton's Endurance... www.ditheringchaps.com/the-ice-sonn... #OblongStockingFillers

The Ice Sonnets by Christopher James (past winner of the National Poetry and Bridport Prizes)... out now... from Dithering Chaps www.ditheringchaps.com/the-ice-sonn... #OblongStockingFillers

The Ice Sonnets by Christopher James (past winner of the National Poetry and Bridport Prizes)... out now... from Dithering Chaps www.ditheringchaps.com/the-ice-sonn... #OblongStockingFillers