30 July 2010

I had the good fortune to be part of a poetry masterclass (misstressclass?) this week, run by Canterbury Laureate, Patience Agbabi. The theme was food, and twenty three hot poets (it was a warm day - but interesting how many connotations that phrase has) were treated to Patience's guidance through memories of eating something that was linked with 'the first time', or indicated a change, an epiphany for us. We have been invited to submit any poems arising from the workshop to the laureate's anthology.I do like Patience's style, both of performance of her poetry, and in delivering training. I have just about forgiven her for not teaching me poetry at the University of Kent. She was due to return from maternity leave and teach a poetry module, and decided not to come back at all.

Meanwhile I am planning my own workshop, though I am not sure I could call it a masterclass. Never been clear on the difference between a class and a masterclass - maybe you can charge more for a masterclass. I decided to limit it to six places, and I am delighted that the places have been snapped up fast. The theme is 'I remember', and is aimed to stimulate writing for poets, fiction and non-fiction writers using memories.

I'm also enjoying my new mentoring role with Helen Aveling, helping her edit and develop her novel, The Last Robot, which is an interesting combination of Sci-Fi and school story. I have only once had a go at writing genre fiction, as part of a course, so it's great for me to be brought into the world of this novel. Everything has to work within the terms of the created world, so Helen has created family trees, timelines, and is now in the process of writing legends attached to the world of the novel.

The next Canterbury Tells event is on 8 August, 6.30 pm, at the Jolly Sailor, Northgate, Canterbury. This event will be hosted by Whitstable Women Writers with speical guest Caroline Gilfillan. There is also an open mic for poets, and any unpublished poems read at the open mic are eligible for consideration for the Laureate anthology.

There are a couple of new links on the Favourites page, for the Writers' Hub, Whitstable Women Writers, and link to a list of poetry book publishers available on the Poetry Library website.

16 July 2010

I have recently started mentoring Helen Aveling, who is writing a novel called The Last Robot. There is some info about Helen and a link to her website on the Favourites page.

13 July 2010

I was pleased to receive an email telling me that I have been shortlisted for Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year. The winners will be announced at an event on 7 October 2010. All shortlisted poems will be published in a booklet. Canterbury is the place to be for writers at present, with several events running as part of the Canterbury Laureate scheme. I recently went to an evening on how to get short stories 'out there', including tips on web-publishing and entering competitions. The next event is a poetry masterclass with Canterbury laureate, Patience Agbabi. This will be held on 26 July, 3-5 p.m. at Deco 5 in Whitstable. There is also the latest Canterbury Tells event this coming Sunday, 18 July, featuring poet Federico Federici and an open mic session. The same poet will also be visiting Faversham Library 19 July, and there will be a workshop and open mic for poets following his reading. More details on the events and readings page.

I was amused to discover that the link I had to the Tales of the Decongested website actually led to a page about nasal decongestion. The link will be corrected shortly in other places on this website.

Wood Words, my version of fridge poetry but on bits of wood, was very successful at the Artists in the Woods event. Children were all too willing to get stuck in; adults were more reluctant but many had a go. Some of the results are here.

Poems on the theme of childhood are requested for an anthology in aid of Children in Need. Poems can be up to 40 lines, and may be published or unpublished. Send to submissions@wordaid.org.uk by 17 July. (This date has been extended from the previous deadline of 10 July.) Please add your name and address at the bottom of each poem.

30 June 2010

Apologies for the short break in transmission; I was unable to access the site for a couple of weeks. Website creation is all a mystery to me - I just write and leave the technical stuff to those that know. 

My Bridport Prize entry, 'More Katharine than Audrey', has been sent off via the interweb, which doesn't take away that sick feeling I have when I submit a piece of writing. At least it only takes a couple of clicks rather than the printing, putting in an envelope and taking to the postbox, every stage of which causes me to feel sick. Oh, the joys of writing! Feeling a bit exhausted after all the rewrites, and reluctant to work on the other stories in the collection.

I am now based in a new writing room, newly converted from a near-derelict workshop at the end of the garden. It's lovely, and at present has no phone or internet access. This should make me more productive, but there are many ways to avoid getting on with it, like deciding where to put books and reorganising the desk. Not to mention staring out the window at the orchard and listening to the birdsong.

Busy making my version of fridge poetry for Artists in the Woods this Sunday. I have called it Wood Words, since all the words are written on pieces of wood, and are to do with the woods. The event is at Oare Gunpowder Works, Bysing Wood Road, Faversham, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, Sunday 4 July.

8 June 2010

I have been thinking about tone and the dangers of sarcasm, using a scenario from Father Ted as an example. Read all about it on the Reviews/Memoir page.

Work continues on a story that I am intending to submit for the Bridport prize. The problem I am having is about subtelty versus exposition: I want to expose a secret gradually, and don't want the reveal to be too heavy-handed. The reader has to 'get it', but not have it thrown in their face. The other problem I have is in story and plot. I tend to write without an idea of where I'm going, starting from a character in a certain situation. But there has to be the conflict, crisis, resolution format, otherwise described as a series of battles. I think I've cracked it, after inserting another scene, which had originally been a summary of action, and changing one of the things that happens, which allows the reveal to be spoken by the character in one sentence. I only have till the end of the month to send it off, so best get cracking.

It's strange how writing fiction can raise memories of people and scenes long forgotten. Only last week I was writing about leaving home, and the favourite uncle who transported me and my luggage to the Halls of Residence at Thames Polytechnic, driving all the way from Acton to Epsom to collect me, then on to S E London. He was one of the few people we knew that had a car, and he would sometimes turn up either in his Mini, or the lorry he drove for a living, to take me and my siblings for a 'spin'. I hadn't seen him in some 18 years. The news came yesterday that he has died, my memory of him arising in his last days. Bless you, Uncle Martin, wherever you are. I hope your heaven has the country music that you loved.

I have been thinking about tone and the dangers of sarcasm, using a scenario from Father Ted as an example. Read all about it on the Reviews/Memoir page.

2 June 2010

I am just coming to after a wonderful writers' retreat at the Arvon centre, Totleigh Barton, Devon. Twelve writers were beavering away all week under the guidance of tutors Julia Bell and Martina Evans. Away from the internet, mobiles, TV and radio it was so easy to just write, with lunch magically appearing on the table (courtesy of centre directors Olly and Claire), and evening meals prepared by teams of writers. How wonderful to be in the company of people who understand this writing lark and consider it important.

The next Canterbury Tells event is on June 13, 6.30 pm at the Jolly Sailor, Northgate, Canterbury. You are invited to read poems and fiction on the themes of land and Belonging.

Poems on the theme of childhood are requested for an anthology in aid of Children in Need. Poems can be up to 40 lines, and may be published or unpublished. Send to submissions@wordaid.org.uk by 10 July. Please add your name, address and email at the bottom of each poem.

The second Artists in the Woods event will take place on Sunday 4 July at Oare Gunpowder Works near Faversham, 10.00 - 4.00. Last year's event was highly successful, featuring visual artists, sculptors, musicians and wandering poets (including me!)

20 May 2010

Greetings after a couple of weeks absence. This website has moved to a new host, and it is taking me a while to get used to how it works (new-fangled technology!) I am promised that it will be looking even better soon. In the meantime, I am going on a writers' retreat, to the Arvon Centre in Totleigh Barton, Devon. I'd put in a link, but I don't know how to do it yet! Hope I will come back with my story collection mostly edited and a new story on the way. Ta ra till then.

4 May 2010

I am pleased to announce that www.medwaymaria.co.uk has been nominated as a recommended site by the Poetry Kit. Jim Bennett writes:

' I am pleased to tell you that after review your site has been listed at
Poetry Kit, as a good example of a blog containing material of interest to
poets...

Please keep up the good work.   Your site will be eligible to be listed as
an recommended site in our monthly newsletter at some point over the next
few months.'

3 May 2010

I have been at the Sweeps Festival, Rochester this weekend, and saw my favourite band Bellowhead on Saturday night. They are supporters of Folk Against Fascism. This was started as a reaction to the BNP embracing folk music as their own.

To quote from the Folk against Fascism website:
'The British National Party’s manifesto encourages its members to insinuate themselves into the folk and traditional customs of Britain. This involves the appropriation of British folk music and culture as a means of spreading its peculiar brand of racism and intolerance... The BNP want to take our music, want to twist it into something it isn’t; something exclusive, not inclusive. We must not let them. Folk Against Fascism is a way to demonstrate our anger at the way the BNP wants to remodel folk music in its own narrowminded image.
The BNP’s Activists and Organisers Handbook encourages its members to get involved in the folk scene; Folk Against Fascism aims to make such infiltration impossible, with support coming from all sections of the folk community.'

You can subscribe to Folk against Fascism in all the usual modern ways, including Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

I also met up with Chris Rumsey from Stairway to Vinyl records. Chris bought some of my vinyl records a couple of years ago, and spent ages looking through my collection, telling me all sorts of interesting things about them. For instance, I didn't know that my copy of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is a first pressing (and not for sale to anyone, I might add). I last saw Chris a year ago, yet he remembered the album I'd bought then and several details about it. ( A Gryphon album, bought as a gift for my brother, for singing and playing at our wedding). In these days of the Internet, people like Chris are rare treasures. Don't bother Googling Stairway To Vinyl; you won't find it.

29 April 2010

Thanks to all who attended and participated in 'Best Words (and Music)' at Teynham library last Saturday. There were 25 people packed into our little library, and seven local poets read at the open mic session. A review is on the Reviews/Memoir page

I am reworking a poem that has been troubling me on and off for over a year. I think I've cracked it now, on the 26th or so draft. Who was it that said 'A poem is never finished, only abandonned'? I expect I'll visit it again. But as I'm aiming to send it off to the Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year competition, a version will have to be printed and in the post by 15 May.

Looking forward to the Sweeps Festival in Rochester this weekend, and seeing my favourite band, Bellowhead.

21 April 2010

Another reminder of our event this Saturday, Best Words (and Music) at Teynham library.

Thanks to Luigi Marchini, David Nettleingham, Chris Hobday and Gary Studley for the poetry event at Faversham library last night. The event marked the launch of two pamphlets by Conversation Paperpress, and included a workshop and open mic. The workshop presented us with headlines from the news, including dubious stories from the internet. Even those who think they are not writers joined in; it goes to show that we all have it in us when faced with 20 minutes of silence, an idea and a pen and paper. I chose the story about financial incentives being proposed  for organ donation, including funeral costs being paid. I was brave enough to read my draft at the open mic, called 'Advert for the newly dead'.

Cinnamon Press have a spring sale, with a mystery fiction or poetry book at just £2.99 each, or 5 books for £10. Cinnamon run a number of competitions and events throughout the year, including writing schools. 

Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year is open to entries up until 15 May, entry £5 per poem.

Canterbury Tells is meeting this Sunday, 25 April, at the Jolly Sailor, Northgate, Canterbury, 6.30 pm. This is a new venue for Canterbury Tells and the Canterbury Poets monthly reading and open mic. Canterbury Tells is part of the Canterbury Laureate Scheme.

12 April 2010

All this election talk has brought up a memory of the time I met Jonathan King when he stood for the Epsom and Ewell by-election in 1978. The man, who was later jailed for sexually assaulting teenage boys, was then best known as a pop star and music impresario. Read 'Voting for Jonathan King' on the Reviews/Memoir page.

The Best Words (and Music) event at Teynham library is now less then a fortnight away, on 24 April. Before that there is Dr Sunday's creative salon, 18 April in Whitstable, and the launch of two publications from Conversation Paperpress at Faversham library on 20 April. More about these events on the Events/Readings page.

If you want to go further afield, the Trevor/Bowen Summer School is on from April 30th to May 2nd in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. I have an interest, as William Trevor was born in Mitchelstown, as was my father, and in the same year. The legacy of Elizabeth Bowen is also preserved: an Anglo-Irish writer, she lived at Bowen's Court, Kilderorry, a few miles out of Mitchelstown, and was buried at Farahy cemetery. I have another engagement that weekend, but wish I could be there too.

5 April 2010

Just back from a short visit to Mitchelstown, Co Cork - my late father's hometown, which I first visited 3 years ago. There is some spectacular scenery in the Knockmealdown mountains, which you can see as you walk through the town, and a drive into the mountains was the high point (no pun intended) of the trip. I caught up with some cousins, and found everyone in the town very friendly. We were fortunate to arrive on the day of the launch of the Trevor Bowen literary festival, to be held at the end of this month and beginning of May. The festival celebrates two local writers: William Trevor who was born in Mitchelstown, and Elizabeth Bowen, whose family owned an estate, Bowen's Court, in nearby Kildorrery. The launch was a lively affair. I had brought along a few copies of my pamphlets to give away, and found people insisting on buying them, and asking me to sign them. I felt like a minor celebrity.

Liam Cusack arranged a visit to Farahy cemetery, where Elizabeth Bowen is buried and the family chapel still stands. The house itself was sold in 1959 and later bulldozed by the new owner to avoid paying rates. It had fallen into disrepair by that stage, and the third floor had in fact never been reachable by a staircase, only by ladder. The land where the house stood is desolate and filled with piles of rubble; the chapel could also be better maintained. There are photos of the house in the adjoining schoolroom, but these are becoming tinged by mildew; a lovely old pump organ in the chapel is falling to pieces and covered in cobwebs.

Bowen returned to England in her later years, to Hythe in Kent, but returned to be buried alongside her husband in 1973.

Bowen wrote beautifully, but did not receive the acclaim she was due in her lifetime. She died penniless. Older local people remember her fondly: my father's cousin know a woman who was a cook at Bowen's Court for some 40 years, and loved working there; others were bemused by Bowen's serial adultery, including with fellow writer Sean O'Faolain. Our visit to Farahy cemetery was very moving; how sad that a great writer's heritage is lost and in decline. The festival is keeping her work alive, however. For more details see the site of the Trevor Bowen summer school.

25 March 2010

Fresh from seeing my brother Jamie McCarthy play violin with the Hidden Cameras at Hoxton Bar and Kitchen last night, I have posted a review on the website of The Word magazine. I may be too old for standing-up gigs in crowded rooms, but great to see a band with such energy. Read the review here.

It's good to try other kinds of writing: it's a while since I've written a music review, and it's so much easier and quicker than poetry and fiction. I've been working early mornings, editing my story collection As Long As It Takes, starting with the first story, which I wrote 4 years ago. Strange, looking back on old work: the first story was not too bad, minor editing only; the second needed rewrites and expanding. So up before six and at my desk before the Folk Bloke awakes; as much a sign of chronic insomnia as a willingness to write. I do get disgruntled and slightly mad if I'm not writing enough. Another sign is that I start getting weirdly inventive and spouting verbal witty rhymes, sometimes filthy and not publishable on this site. Then I suddenly come to, and say to my husband (aka the Folk Bloke), 'I'm not writing enough, am I?'

Talking of Folk Bloke, his band Acoustic Architects have an new CD and a rather wonderful film on You Tube, both CD and film recorded and produced by Anton French at Public Convenience Records. Watch it here.

The latest edition of the Frogmore Papers arrived in the post this morning, with my story 'Cold Salt Water' published within its newly-expanded pages. This journal is always a treat, and now there is more of it to enjoy. They are also starting an online journal, morphrog. More details on the Events/Readings page.

13 March 2010

Dry spell over (see previous entry). I had my nails done today, for the very first time, and a poem is in progress about the experience and the lovely Alison, who did my nails. Funny how the smallest thing can spark inspiration.

I had an interesting exchange with the editor of small poetry press. I emailed with a question about submissions, and this was met with a rather snotty reply. Instead of responding with indignation, I sent her a supportive email by return, detecting stress rather than malice in the editor's email to me. An appreciative email from her arrived shortly after, but I wonder how many people have been put off by her negative approach to her potential authors. My quest continues to get a book or pamphlet published with an ISBN; however, the attractions of self-publishing are not to be sniffed at. Even this stressed publisher admits that most sales are made by poets at their own events and readings, rather than directly from the publisher.

Another rejection slip arrived today, my third attempt to be published in Smiths Knoll poetry magazine.  I have to conclude that, though they always give me positive feedback, the editor just doesn't like my poems enough. Some of these rejections are interesting in their wording: alongside the standard printed rejection slip, 'an enjoyable batch, a deft villanelle..'; and from another publisher 'you are a highly accomplished poet but not radical enough for us...'

There is news of the Medway Writers' Rendezvous on the Events/Readings page.

12 March 2010

I am having a bit of a dry spell for writing after a very productive period. I was heartened to hear Patience Agbabi say that she goes through long spells without writing, and it tends to be a project that gets her writing again; she is reworking some of the Canterbury Tales as part of her Canterbury Laureateship. It was good to hear that some writers don't write all the time. Many of the inspirational books about writing prescribe their own particular brand of writing therapy, usually that you must write every day. Do you know what? You can find your own way of working!

I have posted some of the positive comments I have received on the About Maria page, to keep the self-belief going until writing finds me again.

I am getting through this by going through complete work, filing and grouping poems for submission, sending some off, and researching publishers for my story collection. Sometimes during these spells, it doesn't help to go to readings and events. It can make me feel like these writers have 'made it', and I never will. Going to see a production of the Rime of The Ancient Mariner at the South Bank Centre was great therapy, though. Featuring Lemn Sissay as the Mariner, music by Bellowhead and a choir of local children, it was an experience rather than a reading. And I bought a copy of Coleridge's poems, including the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which is a poem I wasn't too familiar with before.

Warming up for the Best Words (and Music) event at Teynham library on April 24. Teynham News have given us a good write-up, featuring poems by Gillian Moyes, Kate Fox, Alison McNaught and myself. Several poets have contacted me about reading at the open mic session. It should be a great event.

There is news of poetry events at Cuxton and Strood libraries on the Events/Readings page. Jamie McKendrick is at Strood Library, Monday 12th April 2010, 7.30pm. Maureen Norris is reading at Cuxton Library on March 20th, 2.15-3.30.

2 March 2010

What great response to my article on using 'I remember' as a writing prompt. See Reviews/Memoir page. It seems the exercise is used in various forms, and many creative writing teachers have passed the idea around on photocopied sheets, unsure of its provenance. Philip Kane tells me that it appears in Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way and in Natalie Goldberg's books. He also informs me that Joe Brainard's book I Remember is available after all; I thought it was out of print and rare. I have ordered a copy, and look forward to reading it.

I have also been receiving wonderful 'I remember' lists from people who claim that they are not writers, plus poems, thoughts for the day etc. I hope to have a page on this site for some of these.

Emboldened by recent successes in competitions, I have started writing to literary agents re my short story collection, As Long As It Takes. I am the proud owner of one rejection letter, which states that the agency doesn't deal with short story collections. Time and again I read that no-one reads short story collections: I do! My best route is applying directly to publishers that do believe that short stories have an audience. It's not about money; I'm not expecting big sales, just hoping that someone will read them.

Short notice, I know, but Patience Agbabi is reading at the University of Kent this evening: Aphra Theatre, Grimond Building at 6 p.m.

22 February 2010

I have been working with a writing exercise using 'I remember' as a prompt, and using my husband, Bob, as a guinea pig for the exercise, to see how it might work in a creative writing class. The exercise was suggested by Siri Hutvedt in her excellent new book The Shaking Woman Or A History Of My Nerves. Read more here.  This is also posted on the Reviews/Memoir page, which also has some archived pieces.

Poets from the Teynham-based 'Best Words, Best Order' poetry class will be reading at Teynham Library on 24 April, 11.00 am. They will be supported by music from Rachel Bradley, Bob Carling and Stephen Morris. More details here

Please look at the Events/Readings page for the next Coffee and Corks poetry event and Dr Thursday, which is on this week.

11 February 2010

I am pleased to be the recipient of a Swale Arts Bursary Award of £100. This is for runner-up, the winner being Geoff Reed. Congratulations, Geoff. I was unable to attend the awards evening, so did not have a chance to meet the other entrants, or to read from my work. I am glad to be spared the ordeal of having my photo taken, which usually requires anesthetic, and I never like the results.

5 February 2010

The editor of the Frogmore Papers, Jeremy Page, has kindly agreed that I can publish 'Cold Salt Water' on this website in advance of its publication in The Frogmore Papers 75, March 2010, So here it is: 'Cold Salt Water'.

 

I was interested to read an article in the Guardian by Rachel Cusk: 'Can creative writing be taught.' There are two things that I found interesting. First, that we have an openness towards writing and creativity as children that gets lost or subsumed as we grow older. Creative writing classes can help us recover that state, relearn it. Second, the suggestion that writing workshops can be brutal, where work gets ripped apart along with the confidence of the writer. I have been in workshops where just that has happened; I have been in workshops that have been positively critical and supportive, and have helped the participants move on in their work, or feel confident in maintaining their position on their work in the face of criticism. More thoughts on the Reviews/Memoir page...

2 February 2010

I was delighted to receive first prize in the Save As Writers' prose awards on Sunday. This was for my story 'Cold Salt Water': part of the collection I have been working on for 4 years. I won't post the story on here just yet, as it is due to be published in the Frogmore Papers in March. Congratulations to the other winners and shortlisted writers.

The next poetry event at Coffee and Corks is on Valentine's day, Feb 14. 

Please come along and support me and other local writers at the Swale Arts Bursary Awards evening this Sat, 6 Feb, at Sheppey Little Theatre. The award (£700) will be going to a creative writer living and working in Swale. More details on the Events/Readings page.

31 January 2010

CPQ10 is now available to read online (or to download in basic pdf) at:

http://conversationpoetry.co.uk/downloads

The first issue of the new decade sees poetry from Ali Abdolrezaei, Colin Campbell Robinson, Jenna Cardinale, Tiziano Fratus, Nicky Gould, Mohammed Hashas, Rona Laycock, Maria McCarthy, Michael Mirolla, Kate Robinson, Jacob Russell, Karin Slater and Ian Stephen.

***

Submissions are now welcome for both a special African edition of the magazine (CPQ11) and the next open editions (CPQ12 & 13).

Enjoy!

David Nettleingham

28 January 2010

I have just completed the final edit of a story, which I have been working on for several months. Feeling a bit exhausted and unwilling to start something new, so the adding to this website makes me feel like I am at least writing something! Truth is, I always think that I am not writing enough; my journal, when I read back, has loads of entries beating myself up for not writing enough, whereas the journal itself fills up each week.

Margaret Atwood offers tips for writers' block in last Saturday's Guardian Review. Amongst these is to eat some chocolate: 'not too much; must be dark (60% cocoa or more), shade grown, organic.' I'm all for following Margaret Atwood's advice.

The new Creative Writing Tuesday Readings 'menu' is available now. These take place in Darwin College at the University of Kent. This term's offerings include Canterbury Laureate, Patience Agbabi, and Scarlett Thomas, author of The End of Mr Y and PopCo. The first reading is by China Mieville on 2 February.

The fabulous Dr Thursday's Medicine Show has begun its monthly surgery in Whitstable at the Coach and Horses. A literary and creative salon where you, the patient, make creative conversation with the other salonniers. Make your next appointment with the Doctor on Thursday 25 February 2010, 8pm. 'The Doctor was most impressed with the quality of patients who attended his January Salon. Next month, expect brilliant conversation with other local artists and dance like no one's watching between chats with the magnificent
DJ Moogaloo.'

THE TREE OF LIFE: A CREATIVE RESPONSE TO ILLNESS
Chatham Library Saturday 27 March 2010 at 2pm

A group of people affected by long term illness and various medical conditions, have been meeting to work creatively with their illnesses at Sunlight since April 2009. Their work tells stories of health, ill-health, diagnosis and acceptance and sharing moments of deep,
meditational silence and healing.

Some of the group will reading an extract from their work, and some
artwork will be displayed in the library. More information about the
group can be found on their webpage http://www.themomentisnow.org.uk

The event is free but please contact Chatham library to book your place
on 01634 337799 or chatham.library@medway.gov.uk

These events and more are on the Events/Readings page.

There is an update on the Chronic Fatigue page.

21 January 2010

There is news of several events on the Events/readings page: talks and readings by Tom Hart Dyke and Kazuo Ishiguro, arts events in Swale, Medway and Canterbury. 

Two events where I can be seen and heard: the Save As Writers' Awards, 31 January, and the Swale Arts Bursary Awards on 6 Feb. I am a contender for each of these. Just like a beauty contest, the winners will not be revealed until the evening of the event. More details on Events/readings.

12 January 2010

Just back from working on a story edit at Teynham branch library. Warmth and human company, plus away from the distractions of home = one story on its final edit. The librarian even made me and another 'regular' a cup of fruit tea, but said not to tell anyone as they'll all want tea.

The Save As awards, due to take place last Sunday, were postponed due to bad weather. They will now take place on Sunday 31st January, same time and venue (see Events/readings page).

5 January 2010

Happy new year to all of you! The weekly stats I receive for visits to this website show that up to 250 people a week visit it. I suspect some of these are spammers, as there has been a rise in emails from people claiming to be from banks that I don't have accounts with  - but to those of you that are reading this out of interest, thanks. To the spammers: I please disregard the happy new year greeting at the top of this paragraph.

There is a new poem by Gillian Moyes on the Poems and Stories page. Gillian was a student on the Best Words poetry course that I led last year. She also appears in Mirror Writing, a new collection by the Common Room Poets.

Canterbury Poets have their next event at Coffee and Corks, Palace St, Canterbury this Sunday, 10 January. It includes the Save As Writers' Competition Awards and guest poet Patricia Debney. More details on the Events/Readings page. There is also news of a series of films to be shown at the Avenue Theatre, Sittingbourne, which are part of the Swale Film Festival.

14 December 2009

There are poems by members of the Best Words poetry course on the Poems and Stories page: Dusk by Kate Fox, Beware the Word Thief by Alison McNaught and Strange Fruits by me. All were written during the course in response to writing exercises. Enjoy!

13 December 2009

I am in a revision and editing phase at present, and have noticed how important it is to have a space between drafts. I just can't see faults or gain fresh ideas when I am too close to the work. Sometimes I put aside drafts for as much as six months or a year before returning to them - for both poems and short stories.

I was interested to hear the finalists of the National Short Story Competition commenting on their process. One said that she liked short stories because she could write one within a week; the winner, Kate Clanchy, took six months to finish her story. There was also a comment that short stories are like narrative poetry: every word counts. Kate Clanchy is best known as a poet, and her winning story is only the third she has written. I can identify with this, as the poetry came before the short fiction when I started writing. I have tried starting novels, but the poetry-like close attention to getting the best words in short-fiction writing appeal to me, and would be very difficult to achieve in a novel.

The easiest writing, for me, is review-writing and the writing for radio that I did for the Radio 4 Home Truths programme a couple of years ago. I was given a two-week deadline to come up with a five minute column, including the opportunity to edit and rewrite according to the programme producer's suggestions (a truly valuable experience). If the programme had not come to an end, I would have been a regular columnist, but the two broadcasts I made were a great experience. And the only writing work I have had for which I was paid! Instead, I follow the tortuous route of writing poetry and short stories, sticking them in envelopes and sending them off to magazines.

This evening's Poetry event (due to be held at Orange St) has been moved to Coffee and Corks, Palace St, Canterbury. See the link below for details of the programme.

I now have poems from two course members from the Best Words class: I shall post them before Christmas.

Ther is a new entry on my Chronic Fatigue page, on GPs and benefits.

25 November 2009

The Best Words, Best Order poetry course, which I have been leading, ended this week. Lovely group, producing high quality work, and most respectful and insightful of other people's poems in the two workshops we had. Some of them have recently enjoyed success: Alison McNaught has had four poems published in Quadrant, an Australian magazine, and has won a competition with a poem she worked on during the course; Gillian Moyes read at the launch of Mirror Writing, an anthology by the Common Room Poets; and Val Tyler has published a pamphlet called The Mystery of Oare Woods.  I am hoping to publish some of the poems written during the course on this website.

The next Orange St poetry event, on 13 December, features poets from the Conversation Paperpress publication, State of the Nation.

10 November 2009

On the effects of criticism and rejection

All writers who dare to send their work off for publication must become steeled to the rejection letter. A while ago, I received a rejection email, which included a critique of one of the poems I'd sent, referring to its 'bagginess' and 'cliches', and that I should try not to 'bore the reader'. Although I didn't accept all the comments (the use of cliches was deliberate, as that is how one of the characters of the poem would speak), I did feel wounded by the comments. I had not expected a commentary, as rejections are usually standard wording, or come with some kind of encouragement. This was a published poet and magazine editor making these comments, and I wondered whether she was correct in her criticism,  that the poem I was rather pleased with was not so good after all. It overshadowed the publication of another of my poems in a different magazine, which arrived on the same day as this email.

I therefore read with interest a Guardian review of a poetry collection which the critical poet/editor has co-edited. The reviewer refers to the 'irritating baggy generalisations' and 'tired cliches' of the editorial, and that the poems in the collection are left to 'fight free' of the poor editorial. Interesting use of words - 'baggy', 'cliches'. I now feel better about the comments in the rejection email and am enjoying a little gloat. I hope that the poet/editor takes the reviewers comments on board, and realises now the effect of her harsh words.

Two poetry events coming up: Poems of War and Peace at Our Lady of Carmel Hall, Tanner St, Faversham, Saturday 14 November at 7.30. More details on the Events and readings page. Then the launch of Mirror Writing, an anthology by the Common room poets, at the University of Kent on 17 November.

29 October 2009

I have been working on a long short story and, after several months of noodling with it, showed the first few pages to a couple of writing friends, Heidi and Naomi. It's slightly scary, the first reveal. Will they say it's incomprehensible nonsense? Good feedback from H and N: having struggled with the opening, Heidi immediately noticed where I should be starting the story - halfway down the first page. I should have known - it's always halfway down the first page! I've posted a little of the story on the  Poems & Stories page.

I've been looking at the East Kent Live Lit website, which has great links to many other websites and writers' resources, as well as news of events in the East Kent area. An event tomorrow, 30 October, includes a performance by Katherine May: 7.30 at Waterstone's Rose Lane Canterbury.

My Best Words, Best Order poetry course continues in November with three longer workshops. The course is closed to new members. Please contact me if you are interested in further courses.

15 October 2009

I have recovered from my Poetry Day experience with the children from Teynham Primary School. They were delightful, if lively. It was interesting that the younger ones responded better to my 'What is a poem?' question at the start of the session. It seemed that the 9 and 10 year-olds didn't want to admit that they might like poetry, or even know what a poem was. Nonetheless, I won them over, armed with Roger McGough, Brain Patten, some shakers to demonstrate rhythm, and a couple of poems I had written especially for them. Several of them chose to write poems starting with 'Wouldn't it be funny if  I didn't have ...' (a tummy/ bones etc), and a couple of boys wrote some poems together. The poems are on display at Teynham library.

Upcoming events - Swale Celebration of Cultures on October 31 includes a creative writing workshop at Sittingbourne Library from 10.00 to 12.00. Other events will be held at the Wyvern Hall and on Sittingbourne High St. For more information go to www.diversityhouse.org.uk

The Canterbury laureate squad are holding Write on Time, a day long writing workshop on the streets on Canterbury, on 24 October.  Also, as part of the Canterbury Festival, Katherine May will be performing extracts from her book, Burning Out, on 30 October.

Some of you will know that I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I recently 'celebrated' 10 years of the illness with a nice lie-down. (Good to keep a sense of humour about a condition that limits my life more than some people might realise). There is some recent research that suggests that the syndrome may be linked to a virus. I am receiving this information cautiously, but it could be a huge breakthrough towards diagnosis and treatment.  Some of my thoughts will appear on the Chronic Fatigue page shortly.

1 October 2009

A few exciting events coming up this month. Meet the Canterbury Laureate Squad in the Blue Hut on Tankerton slopes this Saturday, 12.30 onwards; the first of the University of Kent's  Creative Writing readings for the new term, featuring Marliyn Hacker, on 6th October; Orange St Poetry event on Sunday 11th with guest poet Maggie Harris. And for November, Medway libraries are holding some crime writing events, featuring Anne Perry. Look on the events and readings page for more details.

As for my own work, I am planning a surprising, multi-arts approach to looking at repetition in poetry for my next class. Think Ralph McTell, think Andy Warhol, think poetry!  Also, thanks to those who have suggested ideas for what to do with 26 Year 1s and 28 Year 5s from Teynham Primary School on Poetry Day. Hoping the Year 1s will go home to tell their mums what onomatopoeia means. Tea time could be noisy...

27 September 2009

Update on Poetry Day 2009. I shall be working with children from Teynham Primary School on the morning of 8th October at Teynham Library. It's the first time I've worked with young children, so it should be fun. Hope to get the Year 5s writing or rhyming verbally. Not sure what to do with the Year 1 children. All I do know is that I shall need a lie down afterwards!

25 September 2009

Fresh from celebrating my 50th birthday, it's back to the writing routine (well, maybe tomorrow...). My poetry course resumes on 28th with two new course members. There is one place left, so please contact me over the weekend if you are interested. There isn't a direct email link on this website (to prevent spam), but my contact details are available on the Best Words pdf (link in the entry below).

I went to Ireland as my birthday treat, and reconnected with Jim Parker, an old schoolfriend of my father's who I first met when researching family history in 2007. He insisted that we stay with him and treated us like family. Now 80 years old, he cooked for six of us on Sunday night, refusing any help with preparing the meal, and entertained us with stories all weekend. There is a marked contrast between the lives of the two men - my father, Jim McCarthy, and Jim Parker. They lost touch when they were 18 or so. There is something to be written about this, I feel.

There are details of the Swale Arts Bursary on the events and readings page. £700 is available for a creative writer living and working in Swale.

15 September 2009

The Best Words, Best Order poetry course is now underway; my first experience of teaching creative writing. Finding poems to illustrate certain aspects of writing poetry, creating exercises for class and homework, and hearing students' work is getting my own creative juices flowing. I am encouraging the students to look at everything with a poet's eye, especially the ordinary that would normally go unnoticed. Each session has some info and discussion on theory (illustrated by poems), writing exercises and sharing of participants' work. There will be the chance to workshop poems and for individual tutorials later in the course.  The course is taking a one-week break to allow for my 50th birthday trip to Ireland, and resuming on 28 September. Please look at the Best Words, Best Order link for details of how to join. It's not too late!

A reminder of the Save As prose and poetry competitions Details on http://www.saveaswriters.co.uk/.

The Canterbury festival gets underway soon. There are a few poetry events, including a reading by poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy on 28 October and some events held by the new Canterbury laureate, Patience Agbabi. Details at www.canterburyfestival.co.uk

27 Aug 2009

I am busy planning the poetry course I'm leading this autumn Best Words, Best Order. Five participants so far, and space for three more. There's so much I want to tell them, and must remember not to overwhelm them with my enthusiasm for poetry. I was taught by Sarah Wardle some years ago. Her love of poetry really came through, and she gave us pages and pages of poems each week to study, as if she just couldn't stop choosing ones that she really wanted us to read. I am trying to confine myself to just three a week, to illustrate an aspect of poetry that course members can work on in their own writing.

I received a copy of 14 magazine this week, with one of my poems in: 'Our Father'. It's a great, small format publication, publishing only poems of  fourteen lines. Many of these small magazines receive no funding, relying on subscriptions. 14 costs £6 for two issues: less than the price of many glossy magazines. And it fits snugly into a handbag or a larger pocket!

This year's Save As prose and poetry competitions have been launched. More details on the Events and Readings page and on the Save As website http://www.saveaswriters.co.uk/.

12 Aug 2009

I was saddened to learn of the death of my friend, John Trelawny.

John Trelawny and I were 'colleagues on the long MA road', as he wrote at the front of my copy of his book, 'The Islanders'. John took the MA in Creative Writing at the University of Kent, 2005-2007, and was somewhat the father of our group. I most appreciated his wonderful plummy voice and his witty emails. He professed not to know much about, or like, contemporary poetry; I asked if he would look over some of mine, and he said 'Oh, I won't have anything to say, don't really understand poetry'. John, however, was no mean poet himself, published in the 'Night Train' anthologies at the University of Kent, and in the online poetry magazine, 'Conversation'.

John was most concerned when my email account was spammed, and all my contacts were sent an email saying I was stranded in Nigeria, and could they send me money. That afternoon was chaos, with phone calls and texts from friends. John's call was most welcome. He just wanted to know if I was all right, and offered me some tips about how to access my account (the password had been changed). He also had some choice names for the perpetrators.

I was very pleased that there were four of his 'colleagues on the long MA road' at the memorial service. We were all impressed by how 'up' his family was, and delighted to meet the children and grandchildren that we had only known as 'Daughter No. 1' etc.

I will miss you, John.

There is a photo of John and I at a reading in Tonbridge - at the bottom of the Events and Readings page.

5 Aug 2009

I have posted a new poem, 'Night Watch', on the Poems and Stories page. I shall post some of my story collection, As Long as it Takes, soon. Perhaps extracts to leave you wanting more!

There is news of my writing course, Best Words, Best Order, the Orange St Poetry event this Sunday, 12 Aug, and the launch of Katherine May's new book on the Events/readings page.

25 July 2009

July has been a great month for outdoor events (though I won't mention the thunderstorm during the open-air Shakespeare at Mount Ephraim - I may never know how Twelfth Night ends). Artists in The Woods at Oare Gunpowder Works was a great success. The first event if its kind, it featured sculptors, painters, musicians and poets setting up wherever they chose and 'doing their stuff'. Once I got over the embarrassment of asking people if they would like to hear a poem, it was really enjoyable. They had 400 visitors to the woods that day, as compared to the usual 100 on a Sunday.

I also read a few poems at the Fibbers picnic at Stelling Minnis last weekend: an event for some of the musicians who go to the monthly Folk in the Barn get-togethers. Debs Earl puts together a great programme of folk events around the Canterbury area. See www.folkinthebarn.co.uk

I am moving on with my short story collection, As Long as it Takes, currently working on a story about a woman who loses touch with her family in Ireland after an argument, and ends up in an asylum, in a ward with women typhoid carriers, This started with a family story about a cousin of my father's, and then a BBC report last year about women typhoid carriers who were locked away in Long Grove Hospital in Epsom, in the days before antibiotics, when they were a threat to public health. They were never released. I have been writing as soon as I wake, getting into the frame of mind of my character. Just 3 pages of an A5 notebook every morning.

My next project is a Creative Writing Course in Teynham in the Autumn. I hope to get some of the local poets together at the Polka Dot Art Centre in the village. The course is called 'Best Words, Best Order' : Coleridge's definition of poetry.

22 June 2009

A busy weekend of readings - the event at Teynham library was very successful, with 18 people snuggled into quite a small - shall we say intimate - space. Many came prepared with their own poems to read at the open session, all well read and warmly received. One of those events that leaves you with a fuzzy glow. There is an interest in a writing class in the village - more info to follow.

I am itching to lead and teach. I attended a course a couple of weeks ago, and had the embarrassment of being asked to get up and explain about mind maps and writing, since 'Maria could run this course better than I can.' Maybe I had been chipping in too much, but it did smack of the teacher calling up the clever dick to the front of the class.

Magma Poetry are calling for submissions for their next issue. read more at www.magmapoetry.com

The Guardian are inviting readers to contribute to their annual summer fiction issue. Unpublished stories of up to 2,000 words can be submitted. The winning story will be published alongside others by established authors. Go to guardian.co.uk/shortstories for conditions

I have resumed my old habit of early morning writing. I was coming up with all sorts of excuses to avoid writing. These included planning to write, making a note that I should make a plan to write (planning to plan to write), and so on. So, a notebook by the bed and three pages before breakfast. It may be drivel, but it is writing. Usually by the third page something has come through that may be usable.

I have added to the Chronic Fatigue page, as I do from time to time. Please have a look.

16 June 2009

A review of one of my poems, 'Story', on Heidi Colthup's blogspot
www. farmyard-tales-chickenlady.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-first-poetry-review.html

Also, listen to this - a daily bedtime story on www.miettecast.com The latest is from James Joyce.

15 June 2009

I have had a right arty week, attending an exhibition at Canterbury College featuring the work of my friend Sioux Peto and other final year students. Sioux makes sculptures out of plastic bottles, drinks cans and other found objects. her piece, Party Time, hangs from the ceiling in the corridors of the college.It's just like Christmas, with garlands and the like. There is a link to some photos of the exhibition on the events and readings page, in amongst the Swale Arts news. 

I also met with friends from my former MA class to talk writing and workshop some poems and stories. So good to meet with people who understand this obsession with notebook, pencil and laptop.

Thursday was a reading by Patricia Debney in Gillingham. Wonderful prose poems from her collection 'How to be a Dragonfly', plus a chance for local poets to read from their own work.

The week ended with a poetry day school at the University of Kent with John Whitworth. Much of it was about rhyming, metered poetry and wordplay. Good to meet some other poets, even though we were competing with two music stages outside the seminar room, as the students celebrated with an Arts Fest. I woke up during the night after and wrote a poem, so something must have got through!

Please check out the events and readings page for upcoming events in Swale, and don't forget the readings this weekend at Teynham library Love is all you need... and Orange St, Canterbury, on Sunday at 6.00 pm.

5 June 2009

Happy 5th June! I have just remembered that my eldest daughter, Laura, loved 5th June when she was little - not for any significance due to birthdays or the like, but just because it sounds good when you say it out loud. It has to be said as 'Fifth of June'. Try it!

A new date for your diaries - I shall be reading with As Long as it Takes writers at the Poetry evening on 21st June, 6.00 p.m. at Orange St Music Club, Canterbury. This is the day after my reading at Teynham library, 20th June at 11.00 a.m. Both events have an open mic for poets.

Medway libraries are holding a series of writing workshops over the next week, including What's Your Story? tomorrow at Chatham library, using family stories as a starting point for writing, and a poetry workshop at Strood library on the afternoon of 11 June plus a reading and open mic in the evening at Gillingham library by Patricia Debney. Patricia was the first Canterbury laureate. A bit like being a former US President, she gets to keep the title! I don't know if that's true, by the way. For details of the workshops and readings, go to www.medway.gov.uk/libraries

28 May 2009

Back from Venice and ready to write! Of course, I brought a notebook with me, so there may be some poems and stories under 'forthcoming attractions'.

There are a few poetry events coming up, including workshops at the University of Kent and one in Canterbury on the 13th and 20th June respectively. Details on the Events and Readings page.

Bob Carling and I will be performing Love is all you need... at Teynham library on 20th June, poems, stories and music on the theme of love, with an open mic session for poets.

We are also taking part in Artists in the Woods on 12th July, a multi-arts event at Oare Gunpowder Works, Faversham. This is an amazing place, a former gunpowder works that blew up in the early 20th century and has now been reclaimed by nature. The event runs from 10.00 - 4.00, and will include impromptu performances by  Swale writers and musicans plus visual artists at work. There will be refreshments, but you are welcome to bring a picnic. Guided walks and talks will also take place throughout the day. Any Swale-based artists interested in taking part should contact Karen West on 01795 841723. More publicity is to follow.

There is a new posting on the Chronic Fatigue page, Special Assistance, or 'Isn't being disabled brilliant?' This details my adventures in getting special assistance on my honeymoon (ooh er!) and at events.

10 May 2009

First entry for a while as I have been busy preparing for my wedding to my Folk Bloke, Bob Carling, which took place yesterday at the Archbishops Palace in Maidstone. A creative event featuring poetry by Carol Ann Duffy and Pablo Neruda, music from my daughter Rachel Bradley, brother Jamie McCarthy and Rachel's partner Stephe Morris, plus an all-star cast of musicians at the reception. Including me on tambourine and backing vocals for Fisherman's Blues, the Waterboys song. It has been a lifelong ambition of mine to sing backing vocals in a sparkly dress - my wish has been fulfilled.

I have been working on an eve of wedding story set in the '70s, and hope to finish this when I return from honeymoon in Venice. My story collection and is approaching completion - next the task of approaching publishers. In the meantime, one of my stories, Cold Salt Water, has been accepted for publication by the Frogmore Papers, though it won't be seen in print until March 2010.

The events and readings page will be updated soon - off to honeymoon in Venice shortly...

16 April 2009

News of an event at Faversham library on 28th April at 7.00 pm - the launch of the Save As Writers' Group anthology, Between the Lines. There will also be an open mic for poets, and a short workshop.

Also, advance notice of my next reading, Love is all you need... This will be held at Teynham Library, 20th June at 11.00. The event is free, there will be refreshments, music from Bob Carling, and an open session for poets. I believe this is the first event of this kind at Teynham library, and hopefully the first of many.

2 April 2009

I attended the last of the Creative Writing readings at the University of Kent this week, a reading by Marina Warner, which included a story about a mermaid. Interesting for a friend and myself who are lapsed members of Medway Mermaids women's writing group - we are strictly dry land now, but who knows when our fins might regrow, given the right circumstances. My favourite reading of the series was by Brian Dillon who read from his memoir In the Dark room: a Journey in Memory. Not only was the content deeply fascinating - as much a meditation on memory as a memoir - but the man himself is witty, learned and self-effacing. The book is currently out of print, but can be found through sites such as Amazon and abebooks.

The Spring edition of Conversation Quarterly is now online and available to download (for free as usual) at http://conversationpoetry.co.uk
My poem 'Car on a country footpath' appears in this edition. More details of all contributors on the events/readings page.

Good news about the Poetry Editors' Day (as mentioned in the previous entry) - this has been repackaged and moved to Waterstone's, Rose Lane, Canterbury, now running on 19th April, with a workshop at 2.00pm and a reading later that afternoon. More details on the events and readings page.

There are also some new additions to the Favourites page - some great opportunities for online publishing and workshopping. Thanks to Heidi Colthup for this information.http://farmyardtales-chickenlady.blogspot.com/

23 March 2009

Thanks to all who attended the event at the Polka Dot Art Centre on Saturday. The event was a mixture of poetry and music - the first of its kind at the gallery - to tie in with the Spring Art Fair, displaying work by local artists. What a lovely audience in the fab setting of the gallery. Sioux and Colin from Polka Dot hope to have some future music and poetry events, so watch this space.

My next reading is at Teynham library on 20th June at 11.00. Bob Carling, my partner and soon-to-be husband, will be performing music at this event. He has lost his name in the parish magazine advertising the event - he is now 'local poet Maria McCarthy's husband'. Oh dear!

News from June English - sadly, the Editors' Day has been cancelled. This would have been a chance to meet and workshop with editors of poetry magazines. It seems that the financial crisis is inhibiting people from spending money on such events.

New poetry on the  Poems and Stories page. These have been written since I moved to Teynham 5 months ago. It's a difficult time, getting into a new writing routine when you move house. I used to walk across the River Medway (by bridge, not on water!) and write in the cafes of Rochester. No cafes in Teynham, so I am adjusting to writing at home, though the occasional train journey seems to get the rhythms of poetry in my head. Does anyone else find this? I heard Sarah Salway -  www.sarahsalway.com -  read last week, and she said that she finds it easier to write away from her own clutter. There is something in this. How attractive the housework can seem, too, when there is writing to be done.

23 Feb 2009

Thanks to the small but appreciative audience that attended our Valentine's Day event at Faversham library. I was very pleased to meet Kate Adams and Amal Gurnham, both of whom brought along some of their own poetry, which most most impressive. We have been asked to hold another poetry and music event at Teynham library in June. But before then, I shall be taking part in an event at the Polka Dot Art Centre, London Road, Teynham on March 21st. This is from the Polka Dot News:

Saturday 21^st March
Poetry and Music from 3-5pm
Featuring classical, jazz and blues vocalist Rachel Bradley, folk singer and guitarist Bob Carling, and poetry and short fiction readings by Maria McCarthythey will be playing throughout the gallery. These  are great entertainers who have recently moved to Teynham from Medway  so lets really make them welcome. Just Turn up, tune in and enjoy

More details of the Polka Dot Vernal Equinox New Beginnings Art Fair on the Events/Readings page. There is also news of an International Women's Day event, An Editors' Day for poets, and the latest from Applehouse Poetry online workshop.

2 Feb 2009

Greetings, on a snowy day in Kent. I went to see Richard Thompson's 1000 years of music in Canterbury last night. Some surprising choices of songs to represent the last 1000 years, ranging from madrigals, to Gilbert and Sullivan, to Abba and Nelly Furtado. Highly recommended.

The next Orange St poetry event is this Sunday, 8th Feb. There are more details on the Events/Readings page. There is also news of a series of readings at the University of Kent. The next event , on 10 Feb, features Maureen Freely and Abdulrazak Gurnah.

Please also come along to my event, 'I Wouldn't Thank you for a Valentine', on 14 feb at Faversham library. Details below and on the Events/Readings page

16 Jan 2009

Lots going on in Medway and Swale during January and February. There is news of open readings and a poetry 'Sunday Service' in Rochester on the Events and Readings page.
Also, please put the following event in your diary...

‘I Wouldn’t Thank You For a Valentine’*

 

Maria McCarthy will read from her own work and selected poems by other writers

 

On Saturday 14^th February 2009

 

At 2.00 pm

 

at Faversham Library

 

Followed by an open session for poets

 

Bring along a poem to read on the theme of love (for or against!)

 

Plus music from Bob Carling

 

* From the poem by Liz Lochhead

There is also news of a new website www.reviewage.net , and a link to the latest edition of Conversation Poetry Quarterly. Again, on the events and readings page.

An interesting comment from poet Ruth Padel on Desert Island Discs this morning: 'Poets always go on about money because we don't get very much'. It brought in mind another quote. I can't recall who it's by: 'There's no money in poetry, but then there's no poetry in money.

1 Jan 2009

Canterbury Poets, Save As and Conversation Quarterly are holding their 6th event at Orange St Music Club, Canterbury on Sunday 11 January starting at 6.00pm. Click here for more details

31 Dec 2008

Greetings to you all on this, my last entry for 2008. I am of the opinion that New Year's Eve is just  the night before a new day, and that new year's resolutions are made to be broken by Jan 31st at the very latest, So I won't be getting tipsy and texting the world, so clogging up the phone networks. I shall be spending some time thinking about new projects and how to avoid the January slump. January is the time of year when I have problems writing, and consider giving it all up. Then I remember that it's only the January slump, that it happens every year, and I get writing again. Determined not to even get slightly slumpy this time.

My own plans for 2009 (apart from getting married to my lovely Folkbloke in May), are to move on with my short story collection and to send some more poems out to magazines. I am also hoping to put on a couple of events for local libraries and at the Polka Dot Centre in Teynham. There may be an (anti-) Valentine's event at Teynham library where I will be reading and inviting people to bring along love or anti-love poems. This is yet to be confirmed. I have also been asked to be guest poet at one of the Canterbury Poets events at Orange St Music Club. Date yet to be arranged.

There is news of Swale Arts events and the Mslexia Short Story Competition on the Events/readings page.

Also on the Events page is a link to a photo of my brother, Jamie McCarthy, as a violin-playing stag in the wonderful production, Brilliant, which had very good reviews in the Guardian. Great antlers, Jamie, and congrats to all the cast and lighting/stage crew.

8 Dec 2008

A reminder of the Save As poetry event this Sunday, 14 Dec at Orange St Music Club. Followed, as always by a music open mic. Poetry starts at 6.00pm, and music at about 8.30. There is also an open mic at The Smack, Whitsable, every Weds, which is well worth going to.
 I have come across this weird and wonderful site run by Barry Hutchings, of particular interest to my Medway readers http://www.banthemindreader.co.uk

3 Dec 2008

Thanks to the Stubborn Mule Orchestra guys (Gary Studley, Luigi Marchini and Chris Hobday) for their event at Faversham library last night, along with Sittingbourne and Sheppey writers. I had the chance to try out a new poem at the open mic, and to meet some local poets and poetry lovers in my new area. I was rather taken by the man wearing a cape; maybe that's what you wear to Arts events in these here parts...

The next event of note is the launch of 'Between the Lines', the Save As Writers' anthology. Save As has been meeting for some 7 years, and this is their first publication as a group. I'm hearing good things about this group, and hope to get along to a meeting in the New Year. The launch takes place at Orange St Music club, Canterbury, 14 December at 6.00 pm. Doors open at 5.30. I am told that there will also be a guest poet spot featuring Patricia Debney, Canterbury laureate, and one of my tutors at the University of Kent. Patricia first taught me on a Certificate course back in 2002, and later saw me through two modules of the MA in Creative Writing.

25 Nov 2008

Roger McGough, Hillaire Belloc and Attila the Stockbroker

Last week I had an encounter with Attila the Stockbroker, punk performance poet, at Faversham Folk Club. He's loud, he's rude, he's funny, yet strangely cuddly. His two great role models are Joe Strummer, late of the Clash, and Hillaire Belloc, late poet of cautionary  tales. He said, during the first set, that he had been inspired by the Mersey Sound: Roger McGough, Brian Patten and Adrian Henri. But his left wing views did not allow him to congratulate Roger McGough for his OBE, and he had written a poem about it.  I spoke to him during the interval about McGough and Belloc. The Mersey Sound: Penguin Modern Poets 10, was the first poetry book I bought, aged 13. I still have that copy on my bedside table. I also remembered, by heart, a Belloc poem I learnt as a child: 'Matilda, who told lies and was burnt to death'. To my delight, Attila joined me in a recitation of the poem. He remembered it better than me, but I wasn't bad considering I learnt it some 40 years ago. Hear some of Attila the Stockbroker's poems on www.myspace.com/attilastockbroker

My books now available at the Poetry Library

Copies of Learning to be English and Nothing But are now available to borrow from the Poetry Library at the South Bank Centre www.poetrylibrary.org.uk

and some comments on them from Moniza Alvi...

I sent copies of my books to Moniza Alvi, one of my favourite poets, having met her at a reading recently. She was kind enough to email me the following: "I certainly do remember 'July 1969' [the poem was shortlisted for a competition, which Moniza judged] - it was so sharp and moving. In fact so many of your poems are sharp and moving, richly suggestive with evocative details. I alighted on 'Flowerpot' in Learning to be English - a very surprising, quietly devastating poem!"

Thanks to all the visitors to this site. Numbers rising every week, and from as far afield as Australia and Canada.

Please check out the Events/Readings pages for news of Threshold: an series of intimate performances in domestic settings in East Kent.

10 Nov 2008

Heads up to the Save as and Conversation Quarterly poets for their monthly poetry event at Orange St Music Club, Canterbury. The event last night featured Canterbury poet of the year, Sue Rose, poets from the Scatterlings collective, guest poet Nancy Charley, music from Steve Antoni, and an open mic for poets. This is followed by a music open mic from 8.30pm, run by CJ and Nick. Poets are also welcome at the later event.

Please check out details of the Writers Rendezvous meeting in Rochester, the latest from Conversation Quarterly and news of the Write Now! event at Faversham library.

Please go and see the War and Peace installation at the Polka Dot Art Centre this month. It's a moving, interactive exhibition, where you are encouraged to open drawers and boxes, read letters and handle other wartime memorabilia. It is also hoped that visitors will bring their own memories and memorabilia to add to the exhibition. I brought my poem, Remembrance, along and was invited to read it.

Details on the News and Events page.

7 Nov 2008

With it being Remembrance Day soon, here is a poem I wrote after walking in on a Remembrance Day service in the Civic Centre, Strood, a couple of years ago. The two minutes silence is used so much these days, we are sometimes annoyed by the delay to our day when caught in a supermarket queue, for example, for two minutes silence. Here are my thoughts as the two minutes progressed:

Remembrance

‘Men marched on asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, bloodshod.’*

A face freezes by the porthole glass,
barred entry for two minutes,
while we, who have chanced
on the scene, are forced into the service.

Head bowed, attempting reverence
I contemplate my shoelace,
and ponder the meaning of silence –
of how it never is – and think of John Cage

and his four minutes however many seconds.
A song dances in my head.
I cannot remember the dead,
distracted by the cut of women’s skirts,

the design of a man’s glasses,
the leaflets in the lobby
and the fact that the priest
read “et” in the poem incorrectly,

the French way. Then I remember “blood-shod”,
and think of following the wagon with the dead,
and know the folly of the words, however read,
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

Maria McCarthy

* From ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ by Wilfrid Owen.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori: It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.

3 Nov 2008

Back from a lovely country walk near my new house, and thinking about the Carol Ann Duffy reading in Deal last night. It's hard not to gush when you you meet your heroes, so I tried to contain myself when I asked Carol Ann Duffy to sign my copy of Rapture. I told her that I read it when I was first in love, two years ago. 'Are you still in love?' she asked. 'Oh yes', I said. 'Long may it last,' she said', and at that point my partner, Bob, came and joined me. 'You look after her', she said to him. He then endured the journey home with me reminding him: 'Carol Ann Duffy said you have to look after me.'  Luckily he enjoyed the reading as much as I did. I was delighted to hear 'Prayer', which is one of my favourite poems, and a selection from The World's Wife.

Review in the Frogmore Papers

I was pleased to read the following review, by Alexandra Loske, in the Frogmore Papers, Issue 72:

"Nothing But by Maria McCarthy

Nothing But is a privately printed and distributed pamphlet by an author also known as a writer for BBC's Home Truths programme and, quirkily, her obsession with Led Zeppelin. On her various websites she freely admits to love watching ER and browsing charity shops, but also endearingly informs is that she 'writes in A5 spiral bound notebooks with a well-sharpened pencil'. Her sharp pencil works well in this exquisite pamphlet. Though not all poems transcend the the experimental stage that conjures up unedited scribblings in her A5 notebook, many of them have a freshness, depth and immediacy that makes a good pamphlet so enjoyable. 'Mitchelstown', her sequence of poems dealing with a journey to her father's hometown in Ireland stands out in its roundedness and consistency of imagery. Maggie Drury's woodcuts in the cover are a bonus treat."

read more about the Frogmore Papers on www.frogmorepress.co.uk

1 Nov 2008

There is news of the Your Messages creative writing project taking place in November, an exhibition at the Polka Dot Art Centre, Teynham and the next Poetry night at Orange St Music Club, Canterbury, all on the Events and Readings page.

30 October 2008

Hello again. I am back online after two weeks without internet access during my house move. The site will be updated in the next few days. In spite of the move, I have been feeding my muse by attending poetry readings by Moniza Alvi and Marianne Boruch, and I shall be going to see the wonderful Carol Ann Duffy at Deal Town Hall this weekend. I have carved my pumpkin and have my trick or treat sweets ready for any spooky callers. Happy Halloween to you all.
Maria

28 September 2008

There is a review of Claire Keegan, Anne Enright and William Trevor at the Small Wonder Short Story Festival on the reviews page.

 

12 September 2008
News of Applehouse Poetry workshop and the new Mitchelstown International Story Prize are on the Events/readings page.

The Poetry Library

Based at the South Bank Centre in London, the Saison Poetry Library houses the Arts Council Poetry Collection, and hosts an online archive of poetry magazines. I visited the library this week, and met an American poet, Jack Anderson. 'Us poets, we're shameless,' he said, as we both searched for our own poems in the library (his in book form, mine in various poetry magazines). How true... but the joy of finding your work in a library!

www.poetrylibrary.org.uk

www.poetrymagazines.org.uk

3 September 2008

There is a new piece, On Characters and Family, an the reviews/memoir page. This is aimed at writers who are fearful of using real life stories in their fiction. There is also a new poem on the Poems and Stories page, Coats, written in response to the last of my children leaving home.

27 August 2008

News of a poetry reading at Waterstone's Canterbury and of a new prose and poetry competition are on the News and Events page. I am in the process of trying to move house, so I shall post some new material on the site once I am less busy. Medwaymaria will be living in Swale in future. I shan't be changing my name though; you can take a woman out of Medway, but you can't take Medway out of the woman.

9 August 2008

A cheer went up for After the Fire at Matalan... See my poem on the Poems and stories page.

4 August 2008

Read my account of visiting the Climate Camp at Kingsnorth on the Reviews/Memoir page

31 July 2008

I was shocked, but not surprised to hear about the women who were locked away between 1910 and the late '70s because they were typhoid carriers. They were kept in Long Grove hospital, a mental asylum in Epsom, the town where I grew up. They were not mentally ill when they went in, but the prison-like conditions and isolation they suffered sent many of them mad. Some remained lucid and all too aware of how they were being kept. Many of my family members and friends worked in the asylums in Epsom, so I heard stories of people who should never have been locked away. I became used to such tales, but they never fail to sadden me. Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7528045.stm

13 July 2008

Conversation Quarterly - new edition

Issue 4 of the online poetry journal, Conversation Quarterly, is now available at http://conversationpoetry.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/conversation-summer-08.pdf 

It features the work of Canterbury and Medway poets, including my poem 'Blithe Spirits.' Submissions for the next edition are now being accepted.

 

13 July 2008

Free course for people working, or wishing to work, in the creative industries

A new venture has been launched by, amongst others, University of Kent. Some courses are free for a short while. http://www.creativebusinessproject.com/

21 June 2008

Spam, spam, spam, spam…

On 17 June my hotmail account was hacked into, and all the contacts in my address book were sent an email saying that I was stranded in Nigeria and needed them to send me £2000. The phone started ringing and texts bleeping to alert me, including a call from my ex-husband, who I rarely speak to on the phone. My first thought was ‘who’s’ died?’ Each caller thought they were the first to tell me, and whilst it was kind of them, it was exhausting trying to deal with the problem and with the phone calls.

It took me several hours to get back into my account (my password and personal details had been changed), and then there were all the reply emails to deal with: are you really stranded?; I’ve had this hoax email; this doesn’t read like you, the English is too poor.

What did it achieve? Nowhere in the email did it say where to send the money to. Several days later, I am still getting calls and mails about it, and I have changed my email address to a more secure account. It’s taking ages to transfer my addresses.

The funniest thing was my brother-in-law, who lives in Australia, phoned my sister in some distress saying Maria is stranded in Niagara, we need to send her money. Sadly, no one sent me £2000, but it’s not too late…

Swapping books with John Agard

I was really thrilled to meet the poet John Agard at the University of Kent this week. Following his performance I wanted to buy one of his books, and to give him copies of my books. He insisted that we do a straight swap, and that I sign my books for him. What a generous gesture. Thank you, John.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Agard
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth162