Credit: Jo Jeffree Photography
In June 2019, I won the competition to be Worcestershire's Poet Laureate for 2019-20.
In this role, I was expected to be a poetry ambassador for the county, visiting schools, colleges and various other institutions to perform, convene workshops and deliver otherwise commissioned works.
In the twelve months of my tenure, I was lucky enough to orchestrate open mic events, poetry competitions, and a nationwide link up of several Poets Laureate who participated in a call and response poetry chain. The results of this final project will be posted shortly.
Further information can be found on a number of Worcestershire Poet Laureate ventures by clicking the links below:
In this role, I was expected to be a poetry ambassador for the county, visiting schools, colleges and various other institutions to perform, convene workshops and deliver otherwise commissioned works.
In the twelve months of my tenure, I was lucky enough to orchestrate open mic events, poetry competitions, and a nationwide link up of several Poets Laureate who participated in a call and response poetry chain. The results of this final project will be posted shortly.
Further information can be found on a number of Worcestershire Poet Laureate ventures by clicking the links below:
- Hard Times Happen (poetry competition)
- Amnesty Poetry Competition
- Truth and Confession
Events
Please note: These events have now all taken place. However, in the interest of documenting the style and structure of events I have experience in running, this part of the page remains active.
Due to the COVID-19 situation in the United Kingdom, it's been difficult for performers to arrange for events for some time. However, given that there is only a short time of my Worcestershire Poet Laureate tenure remaining, I'll be running a number of online events in the coming weeks. All of the events are entirely free to attend and they're open to anyone around the county, country and beyond.
Saturday, May 23 - Ask me anything with Worcestershire Poet Laureate
This event is an opportunity to discuss all things writing-related, whether that be your own writing career or your desires to scoop up the Worcestershire Poet Laureate title. It's an open house for anyone who has designs on a taking their writing further, and I welcome all and anything questions around this topic.
Saturday, May 30 - Time for a cuppa? with Charley Barnes
Literary events are as much a social experience as they are an experience to share your work. Given that both work-sharing and socialising has been limited for some time now, it seems only right to have a writers' get together to discuss our work over a strong cup of tea. This is another event that's open both to writers working within Worcestershire as well as those outside of the county.
Saturday, June 6 - Editing and being edited with Charley Barnes
In this short workshop, I will discuss some of the do's and do not's of editing and self-editing. This will draw both from my own experience and from my academic background in Creative Writing. The workshop will take place through Zoom and there will be a screen-share used so participants can get some written materials and advice in front of them, as well as some open discussion around the editing process.
Sunday, June 14 - Worcestershire Poet Laureate, a farewell
Worcestershire LitFest and Fringe have had to postpone their festival for 2020. Their search for a replacement Worcestershire Poet Laureate will extend until the end of June. However, my own tenure will finish on June 14, which would have been the day for me to hand the winner's trophy to a new poet. To mark the end of my tenure with something official and celebratory, though, I'll be doing a reading - made up of some of my favourite poems that I've written throughout the year - followed by a question and answer session with audience members (or rather, Zoom attendees). This is another free event that's open to all.
In the weeks leading up to the end of my tenure, I will also be posting poetry readings to my YouTube channel, which is available here.
Due to the COVID-19 situation in the United Kingdom, it's been difficult for performers to arrange for events for some time. However, given that there is only a short time of my Worcestershire Poet Laureate tenure remaining, I'll be running a number of online events in the coming weeks. All of the events are entirely free to attend and they're open to anyone around the county, country and beyond.
Saturday, May 23 - Ask me anything with Worcestershire Poet Laureate
This event is an opportunity to discuss all things writing-related, whether that be your own writing career or your desires to scoop up the Worcestershire Poet Laureate title. It's an open house for anyone who has designs on a taking their writing further, and I welcome all and anything questions around this topic.
Saturday, May 30 - Time for a cuppa? with Charley Barnes
Literary events are as much a social experience as they are an experience to share your work. Given that both work-sharing and socialising has been limited for some time now, it seems only right to have a writers' get together to discuss our work over a strong cup of tea. This is another event that's open both to writers working within Worcestershire as well as those outside of the county.
Saturday, June 6 - Editing and being edited with Charley Barnes
In this short workshop, I will discuss some of the do's and do not's of editing and self-editing. This will draw both from my own experience and from my academic background in Creative Writing. The workshop will take place through Zoom and there will be a screen-share used so participants can get some written materials and advice in front of them, as well as some open discussion around the editing process.
Sunday, June 14 - Worcestershire Poet Laureate, a farewell
Worcestershire LitFest and Fringe have had to postpone their festival for 2020. Their search for a replacement Worcestershire Poet Laureate will extend until the end of June. However, my own tenure will finish on June 14, which would have been the day for me to hand the winner's trophy to a new poet. To mark the end of my tenure with something official and celebratory, though, I'll be doing a reading - made up of some of my favourite poems that I've written throughout the year - followed by a question and answer session with audience members (or rather, Zoom attendees). This is another free event that's open to all.
In the weeks leading up to the end of my tenure, I will also be posting poetry readings to my YouTube channel, which is available here.