Great to have @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social at Poetry and pints on Sunday!!

I’m delighted too! Such an honour to be amongst such great writers!!

One of the best things about festivals, is meeting other writers. Wanted to write about Louise’s visit to Wales with her ‘benching’ project. We met at Tranås Fringe last summer. nation.cymru/culture/swed...

@marcellenewbold.bsky.social doing lots of great things!!

This week’s Friday Poem is ‘Whisper It’ by @emilycotterill.bsky.social from her collection ‘Significant Wow’ www.serenbooks.com/2025/02/frid...

Tonight at 7pm: www.broradio.fm

Exciting news! A free-to-attend summer school in September in Oxford on fantasy with publishers, authors and experts, generously sponsored by Bloomsbury. All the details here: fantasyliteratureschool.web.ox.ac.uk/home

So delighted to be in amongst such amazing writers in the new. Thank you @poetrywales.bsky.social

Take this week-long Digital Detox to unplug on a fully catered retreat led by a certified yoga practitioner and find space to disconnect from the online and reconnect with your writing in a tranquil, supportive, and safe environment. Please share :)

new from @lucentdreaming.bsky.social ming 'Beyond/Tu Hwnt' Anthology of Welsh Deaf and Disabled Writers 📖 sample to peek inside and share www.jellybooks.com/cloud_reader...

Handwritten note with @newwelshreview.bsky.social. What a totally lovely touch.

The Heroines Anthology is open for submissions of poems & short fiction on the theme of witches, witch trials, medicine women, mystics, herbalists, spells, enchantments, shapeshifters, familiars, covens, hags, crones and sabbats. Deadline June 2025 Please share :) www.writingtheheroine.com

The Open University/Institute of English Studies are delivering a series of 3 Seminars on Creative Writing and Neurodivergence Tue 18 Feb 2025 to Tue 4 Mar 2025. The seminars are free, but booking is essential. Details in the link. Please share :)

The beautiful London Library offers emerging writers one year’s free membership including masterclasses, networking opportunities, peer support, access to all the Library’s resources and publication in an anthology. Details below. Please share :) www.londonlibrary.co.uk/about-us/ll-...

Beginning to research Welsh standing stones, and stone circles for a collaboration project with some fantastic artists. Makes my brain very excited!

This is the loveliest of books. Welsh and English versions of each story, and gorgeous, bright, inviting illustrations. Great for schools!

Thanks to @mslexia.bsky.social for their ‘Agent Extravaganza’!!

Two weeks left to enter your poems to the @poetrywales.bsky.social Award 2025. Worldwide submissions are open until 17 February 2025. poetrywales.co.uk/award/?fbcli...

@brokenspinearts.bsky.social lift to the sky is @marcellenewbold.bsky.social - great poet and also supportive of the poetry community.

In person tickets for @cheltpoetfest.bsky.social are now live. Thanks to @annasaund.bsky.social & team for organising another great programme. I'm on Sat 17th May with Barry Hollow and Shakquille. Tickets for all events here:https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cheltenhampoetryfestival?eventref=May25

Reading lots of pitches @mslexia.bsky.social YA/ children’s agent event, and I’ve learnt loads! Will be redrafting mine as a result.. and changing the title of the book. I didn’t realise what I’d be drawn to. Great event. Good luck everyone for tomorrow when the agents come looking.

To reflect changes to AQA GCSE English Lang P2 for 2026 onwards, here’s a folder of 10 specimen papers. Help yourself and please re-post to reach a wider audience. Thanks 😊 #teamenglish www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/egpxh...

Writing for pleasure for KS3: write about your favourite thing and bring it to life with sounds- alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance, rhythm. Write something you couldn’t have written last year.

Catch up on First Draft- the radio show for writers: player.autopod.xyz/806193

📖 From gothic chills to festive warmth, your story belongs in our global hardcover anthology. Submit March 1–April 30. Details: shorturl.at/e3Qwr #SootAndBoots #Festive #ShortFiction #SubmissionWindow

First Draft- the radio show for writers is tonight at 7pm GMT on Bro Radio. Writing for well-being with Taylor Edmonds, writing long fiction with Dr Alan Bilton and loads of poetry tips from Matthew MC Smith. Enjoy!! www.broradio.fm

Writers: still time to listen to First Draft with some great writing tips: player.autopod.xyz/752436

A new #StarterPack of writers, well worth following, who are also seeking an agent. If you want to be included, then like, share, follow, ask in the chat, and I'll include you. And to writers/readers in general, please share so we can include more fine talents here #booksky #writing #writers #agents

Year 7: writing for pleasure: Choose a painting, write a story first inspired by the painting and then write a poem inspired by both story and artwork. Can you use enjambment like Alex Wharton does in ‘Quiet Things’?

Happy St Dwynwen’s Day 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿♥️

Now six days to go--get in!! bsky.app/profile/bris...

Creative Writing Feedback: I’m a fan of Gallery Critique: adapt the sheet on this webpage to fit your session. Used it on poetry drafts 2 then gave space to draft again. Lovely chance to draft, reflect and celebrate. classteaching.wordpress.com/2015/06/04/g...

Need to get reading in preparation for the author talks @laugharneweekend.bsky.social.

Basic agent query letter complete - now research to be done! Interesting how many types of writing go into the whole package- makes me think about that with my teacher hat on…

My new notebook from my friend. Ready to go and start my ‘liminal spaces’ writing.

I’m currently in this process for my novel, so hoping this will help: www.steppingintostories.org/event-detail...

Flash and short story writers, get in! The prize is open for entries until the end of the month, and everyone on the shortlist is published in our beautiful anthology! Please share! bsky.app/profile/bris...

I’ve lived here for years and never once have I heard an owl. Until this morning. Then the commute home was the darkest of fog. A strangeness. A story calling..

Enjoyed interviewing Dr Alan Bilton this evening about long fiction for this month’s ’First Draft’ radio show for writers on Bro Radio. Out on 30th January.

'Artventure' travel is set to be a growing travel trend for 2025, with 27% of UK staycationers choosing destinations for their arts and culture, and two Welsh landscapes have been named in a list of the top 5 inspirations for artists

Working on my letters to agents today for my Welsh/Swedish Middle Grade novel (think magic, forest, myths). I’ve done lots of research, drafts and now need to make my letter pop! Any advice always welcome.

I really love this poem by Taylor Edmond’s in @modronmagazine.bsky.social . modronmagazine.com/a-poem-by-ta... It’s not only a fantastic poem, but is a great teaching resource. Taylor is also superb workshop facilitator . @brokenspinearts.bsky.social

Are you #PoetsOfBlueSky ready for another online reading? Let's get a bunch of you #PoemsAbout folk in a virtual space reading. Happy to host another like the one I held for @brokenspinearts.bsky.social just before Christmas. Thoughts? #PoemsAbout monthly zooms?

It's a tough time to be a debut book creator. If you are a *debut* #KidLit author, illustrator, or author/illus with a new book, pls reply with ONE post that incl. your book cover, author/illustrator names, launch date, LINK to where people can find more info etc. Pls help boost? #KidLit #EduSky

Today, 1-4 p.m. UK time, is Submission (Im)possible, a Zoom room for writers to work on their submissions, from researching agents and publishers to writing cover letters to actually pressing Submit! Come join us! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/submission...

Love the mix of painting and paragraph here.

Looking forward to facilitating this two-part #poetry workshop later this month. It's for anyone who wants to write new #poems to kick-start the new year, details below.

"Cliché of Liberty".