Truth and Confession - The final product
The Truth and Confession competition was a competition that I orchestrated on behalf of Worcestershire LitFest and Fringe, to celebrate this year's National Poetry Day (UK). The national event, which took place on October 3rd 2019, gifted poets around the country with the theme of 'Truth', so the confession element was added to make the competition a little more telling, for the braver poets out there.
However, the especially unique part of this project was that all entries were anonymous and would remain anonymous, all the way from submission to print. After receiving some wonderful entries, I judged the competition personally - so no other members of the LitFest team knew, or know, who submitted work - and I liaised with poets to put together a small print-run of the Truth and Confession pamphlet.
However, the especially unique part of this project was that all entries were anonymous and would remain anonymous, all the way from submission to print. After receiving some wonderful entries, I judged the competition personally - so no other members of the LitFest team knew, or know, who submitted work - and I liaised with poets to put together a small print-run of the Truth and Confession pamphlet.
Worcestershire LitFest and Fringe Director (one of three) Martin Driscoll was a huge help throughout the project, particularly when it came to putting together the stunning cover design that you see above. Martin and I sent emails back and forth while we decided on the fine details of how the cover could look, and Martin made that into something beautiful that provides the perfect casing for the contents of the release.
To celebrate the competition closing, and the pamphlet coming to print, we held a small launch event at The Hive, Worcester, on Friday October 4th (to avoid clashing with the other National Poetry Day events happening around the city and county at large). Attendees were invited to read poems in a pick and mix fashion and, if some of the authors were in attendance, no one was to know whether they were reading their own poem. Introduced as So-and-So, reading So-and-So poem, the entire reading process was as anonymous as it could be, and it was a delight to hear these pieces aloud.
To celebrate the competition closing, and the pamphlet coming to print, we held a small launch event at The Hive, Worcester, on Friday October 4th (to avoid clashing with the other National Poetry Day events happening around the city and county at large). Attendees were invited to read poems in a pick and mix fashion and, if some of the authors were in attendance, no one was to know whether they were reading their own poem. Introduced as So-and-So, reading So-and-So poem, the entire reading process was as anonymous as it could be, and it was a delight to hear these pieces aloud.
We advised a £2 donation for pamphlets on the night and I'm delighted to say that half of our small print-run has already gone, which was hugely encouraging to Martin and myself. There are copies available still and they will be purchasable at Worcestershire LitFest and Fringe events, such as the monthly Worcester SpeakEasy, but you're also welcome to contact me directly to arrange for a delivery or postage of a pamphlet too.
The Truth and Confession competition was my first significant project after winning the Worcestershire Poet Laureate competition, so it meant an awful lot to see the pamphlet come together and take steps into the world. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Martin for all of his help in putting the pamphlet together and, of course, to thank the poets who trusted me/us with their beautiful words.
The Truth and Confession competition was my first significant project after winning the Worcestershire Poet Laureate competition, so it meant an awful lot to see the pamphlet come together and take steps into the world. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Martin for all of his help in putting the pamphlet together and, of course, to thank the poets who trusted me/us with their beautiful words.