🆕️ 𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞 This week's edition of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐛 contains craft notes and insights for my poem that was recently Highly Commended in The Caterpillar Poetry Prize. It's free for everybody to read, so have a butcher's 🐛

🆕 𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞 This week's edition of 𝟑𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 features England's semi-final heartbreak, plus the unsavoury scenes that followed at Trafalgar Square. Elsewhere in the week commencing 24 June 1996... 30yearsofhurt.substack.com/p/penalty-he... 🎶📰⚽️

🆕️ 𝟑𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 This week's edition features some Major Beef, England's masterclass over the Dutch, and a seismic divorce settlement in Windsor! 30yearsofhurt.substack.com/p/major-beef...

Congratulations to @anniellewe.bsky.social on winning this year's Caterpillar Poetry Prize! I'm buzzing to have been Highly Commended alongside her.

🆕️ 𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞 The latest edition of 𝟑𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 sees the launch of Euro '96 (and my first ever football game), an intensifying debate around "Heroin Chic" in the fashion world, a record-breaking single from The Fugees, doubts over the Dome, and some incredible photos from the YEP archives.

This week's edition of 𝟑𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 features multiple scandals, a Royal divorce, the long-awaited return of The Doctor, and mismatched fortunes for the Foxes and the Eagles. Read it now and subscribe at 👇🏻 30yearsofhurt.substack.com/p/the-doctor...

A pair of lush Sunday morning writing workshops coming up from @mlferg.bsky.social, with all proceeds donated to Papyrus — a young person's suicide prevention charity. £12.50 each or both for £20. They'll sell fast! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writing-fo...

Me and Dad at the football on Sunday. #lufc's final home game of the season, and what felt like the end of an era, with redevelopment already underway. The more time that passes, the more this place means to us. If it were merely sport, none of us would bother. Where you come to truly feel alive 🤍🦚

I'm over the moon to be on hosting duties for this one 🙌🏻

Big thanks to @mattabbottpoet.com whose latest substack is about facilitating poetry for wellbeing, taking inspiration from our schools project, Steph's Poetry Space. Matt picks out some favourite poems & offers great ideas for exercises to do around them mattabbottpoet.substack.com/p/poetry-for...

My latest post on Substack is free for everybody to read and features some poetry writing exercises based around wellbeing ✍️🏻

Eyup! I recorded this for TikTok, but I thought I'd may as well share it on here. This is one of my favourite poetry writing exercises. It's targeted at teens upwards. If you have a go, I'd love to see some of your favourite lines in the comments ✍️🏻

Nice to see this news piece about our recent eco-poetry project with poets @mattabbottpoet.com & Cassandra Parkin, schools in Rotherham and green engineering firm AESSEAL! www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/...

🆕️ 𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞 Essay #8 in my monthly series on writing and publishing a poetry collection. This time, I talk through the process of submitting your manuscript to prospective publishers: a crucial milestone!

A massive bag full of books at New Pudsey station can only mean one thing... school visit in London!! 🚇➡️ Wimbledon Park Primary School

🆕️ 𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞 I thought it'd be useful to provide a 'behind the curtains' glimpse at the editorial journey behind my new poem. It's tricky to go into too much detail with your general editorial process because every poem is so different, so hopefully, this post will be of some use.

We're thrilled to announce our latest issue, Magma 94 'Remix' is now published! Editors @cloudscholar.bsky.social, Lola Oh and ‪@williekinard.com said the poems they received "astounded, challenged, and delighted us" Get your hands on a copy here: magmapoetry.com/archive/magm...

Huge thanks to @magmapoetry.bsky.social for publishing this poem in their latest issue — 'Magma 94: The Remix'. I've been submitting to lit mags, journals, etc., since the beginning of autumn 2023, and this was my first acceptance.

🆕️ 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 • A few thoughts from 🇲🇨 & 🇫🇷. • Viewing your poetry through an international lens. • Adapting your poetry (or not) for audiences who aren't local. • 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬: bespoke prompts in response to three Hugo Williams poems. mattabbottpoet.substack.com/p/hugo-willi...

Loved this! Some cracking lines in there. Also, my son loved the session you did at his school. It got a rare two thumbs up (this is the highest possible praise).

Performing my poem 'Lost, Somewhere Between' at Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds back in February. 🎥 by Natasha Dobson (NJD Photography)

Well done to all the young poets who wowed us with their poems on climate change at today's Imagining a Greener Future poetry showcase in Rotherham! Thank you to project partner AESSEAL, the 5 local schools who took part, host @mattabbottpoet.com & #FoyleYoungPoet and guest reader Nathan Graham.

Off to see @bunnymen.com in Leeds for my old man's 65th! I fell in love with these through Donnie Darko, way back in 6th Form. Can't wait 🎶

FWIW, many #lufc are fans deeply ashamed by the last night's booing. I totally get "We are Leeds, we are vile" as a deeply entrenched anti-establishment mindset, and I do believe Pep using the drinks break for a team talk fuelled the majority of boos, but it's still shameful. Not a good look at all.

Check out our latest Substack post for listen back links for our Jan & Feb episodes, plus content related to our round-ups and recommendations! roaring20sradio.substack.com/p/episodes-5...

🆕️ My latest post on Substack is a mix of career development, cultural exchange, and general thoughts at the close of 2025. It's free for everybody to read, so please share it if you like it! mattabbottpoet.substack.com/p/discoverie...

Last night saw the celebration event for the second instalment of the Mayor’s Script Diversity Programme through Screen Yorkshire. I was buzzing to be a part of the cohort, which included 10 writers who are all established outside of screenwriting.

Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on 6 Dec Matt Abbott is performing as part of Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on Saturday 6 December 2025.

This week's essay is a candid insight into how you might approach the crossroads of a poem's first draft stage. Because, more often than not, first drafts aren't under-polished — they're under𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥. 💷 £5 per month for weekly long-form posts.

This week's essay continues my series on the process of publishing a poetry collection, right through from conception to post-publication. 💭 How do you graduate from the daydream phase to giving your collection a tangible presence in your life? 🛑 What should you avoid at this stage?

This is a potent and fascinating post from @leedsista.com. I knew it would be, given DC's abundant talent for writing about such complex themes and characters as Clarke Carlisle. But still, it's due a virtual round of applause 👏🏻 CW: mentions of suicide www.leedsista.com/clarke-carli...

𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏 𝙀𝙋𝙄𝙎𝙊𝘿𝙀 🔜 We're back on Soho Radio this Monday from 2-4pm, when we'll be joined live in the studio by Iona Lee! Tune in at sohoradio.com or via DAB. Two hours of art, culture, books, poetry, and activism. Co-presented by @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com

Lads I've been scouring D:Ream's discography and I can't find a single track called 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦.

I didn't think it was possible to despise Margaret Hodge any more than I already did, but there you go.

I've been listening to it all week, and so have you. As poets, what are the main takeaways from @thelilyallen.bsky.social's new album?

This week's essay ✍️🏻

Can't wait to be on co-hosting duties for this one! Tickets are on sale now for £8/6 ✌🏻

This week's essay looks at various ways we need to adapt as freelance poets.

𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙉 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆 🎧 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨, 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙎𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠! Episode 55 is now available to listen back in full on the Soho Radio Mixcloud site! You can find the link in our brand-new Substack newsletter, which also includes links from our round-ups... open.substack.com/pub/roaring2...

📚❤️ This Thursday 16th October: 6pm - 7pm. Poetry Pharmacy, Oxford Street. Readings and book signings, FREE entry. See you down there! Thank you lovelies @canongate.co.uk Xx www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/with-love-...

The 2nd in my monthly essay series on publishing a poetry collection, plus a shift in approach for The Day Job.

Seamus Heaney had a poem published for the first time on Saturday. I've devised a three-part exercise in response ✍️🏻

Everybody knows how different 11 year olds are from 16 year olds, but this post looks at the incremental changes through the year groups.

This approach entered my poetry writing process out of necessity in 2017 and has remained ever since.

Some writing prompts responding to an Inua Ellams poem ✍️🏻

I'm no @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com and nor will I try to be, but here are some tips I've picked up over the last decade or so.

Are you visiting a school for #NationalPoetryDay and in need of a few ideas on this year's theme? Here are some exercises I've designed for upper KS2/lower KS3.

📻 𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗜𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 📡 Tune into Soho Radio from 2-4pm as we're joined live in the studio by superstar guest Sukie Smith! Ep54 will include our usual round-ups and features, plus a perfect playlist to kick-start your week. Hosts: @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com

Hello. My latest Substack post is one I've been looking forward to writing for a while...

every time there's political violence discourse i think about how jo cox was assassinated in broad daylight by a fascist who shouted "britain first" as he shot her, and now nine years later her party is dedicating every moment in power to placating the ideology of her murderer