INSIDE / OUTSIDE

Monday 9th April 2018

Hard to believe last Monday I was dragging a wheelie case through snow and slush; and this afternoon I was out for the first time this year in short sleeves. Still needed multiple layers and a hat upon my return to Cellar Twelve, though. Very little done besides GloPoWriMo poem, which went down rather well. I’m finding the challenge very tiring. Checking out the associated online poems and articles, resisting the urge to say Fuck It, actually engaging with the official prompts and making three pages of notes before a few hours of typing and shaping. It takes till lunchtime to sort the good from the guff. Also got a fictional vignette about ‘Sally’ who made a brief appearance in 2013’s ‘So Much for the Sunshine’. Got some good feedback from Andy Humphrey and Ben Dickinson on 90s small press magazines as well. 11.36 pm.

Tuesday 10th April 2018

Woke too early and as a result tired till teatime. Today’s poem came out well and was even shared on Facebook by Mandy Maxwell. Cheers for that. Was asked to give fifty words on the benefits of writing for wellbeing. At that precise moment I was in multiple layers of clothing including long-johns, hat and thermal dressing gown coz despite recent outdoor temperature the house is still freezing. Got the session for tomorrow planned. Hope it goes well. Hope the prompt for GloPoWriMo is good.11.26 pm.

Wednesday 11th April 2018

Got some good news from Red Squirrel Press, my publisher. More on that later. Got a couple of things written for GloPoWriMo. Even managed to say something about Writing and Wellbeing for Waddington Street Centre, as yesterday I just seized up and couldn’t compose a single line. There’s also the possibility of another block of evening sessions if I get enough interest. Tonight’s was a particularly good one. Only used about ten percent of what I’d planned and steered the session towards longer pieces of writing. Was going to come straight home afterwards but decided to go food shopping at the last minute. Saves me doing it in the morning. Been really out of sorts the last few days. Hopefully turning a corner. 11.34 pm.

Thursday 12th April 2018

Last Thursday I wanted to go out to do GloPoWriMo but it required translation of foreign language poetry and a photograph – an exercise best suited to the desktop or under the duvet. Today, when scribbling out of slumber would have been preferable, the prompt required documenting a physical journey. No matter, I walked round the block after breakfast for half an hour then keyed in my haibun (prose poem plus haiku) on the android tablet from lines written in a waterproof notebook. It’s a hell of length. Spent the remainder of my time at home preparing a big steamed veg and sausage dinner then packed a case for a few days away at Jen’s. This evening I’m going to Emily Knoll’s book event at Waddy then Henry Raby’s Vandal Raptor show at nearby TESTT Space. Gonna need a pie or something before then though. 3.55 pm.

Later: Good stuff at the Hearing Voices event from Durham University. Thanks to Emily for swapping a copy of her book for two of mine. Also cracking show from Henry Raby. Will see him onstage a few more times this year I’m sure. 11.00pm.

Friday 13th April 2018

Woke up to find that Jen had gone to work. The TV was off but my tablet was on charge. Didn’t get up till about nine. GloPoWriMo prompt wasn’t great, nor the accompanying poetry craft material – so infuriatingly long-winded. Read all of Tom Kelly’s new short story collection, ‘Behind the Wall’. The ‘Elsie’ stories were my favourites. Went out for blackcurrant cordial. Fell asleep when I got back. Jen was home around six. Had a sandwich, banana and crisps. Watched The One Show, Corrie and Eastenders then a walk up to Tesco for supplies. Jenni bought us chips. We kept some for tomorrow. Big laughs at Fawlty Towers and Have I Got News For You. Jenni is tapping away at her computer in bed. I’m just trying to sort myself out on paper. 11.23 pm.

Saturday 14th April 2018

So Britain took part in the bombing of Syria without consulting anyone. Surprise, surprise. GloPoWriMo prompt on dream interpretations. Pleased to get it done by lunchtime. Me and Jenni went to Alphabetti Theatre for Write Faster. Scripts written on the spot for actors to perform to the audience. Interesting concept. Some laughs and chats. Then solo back to Bensham. 11.18 pm.

Sunday 15th April 2018

GloPoWriMo prompted writers to produce a poem showing a villain’s more humane side. I wrote about Colonel Kurtz from Apocalypse Now. It worked okay but I spent an hour searching for suitable 70s UK TV/Radio shows he’d be able to tune into at the care home before his Sunday roast. In the end I just opted to give him some occupational therapy instead. Thanks to Jenni for the laughs and preparing our dinner. Good to have a little walk out after crap horror Mega Piranha from Asylum films. Back for some game shows and peanut butter with banana on toast followed by cherry bakewells. Pleased my case of stuff made it home without rain getting in. Cheese on toast and bacon crisps for supper. 11.15 pm.