News - September and October 2018

 Hello!

 Since my last news post, autumn has arrived in the north of England, and the weather has transformed. It is very cold, but some lovely things have brought me moments of warmth. So much has happened in my writing and creative projects, and I am looking forward to sharing it with you.

 Firstly, in terms of performance and spoken word, I was commissioned to create a special piece of writing for Manchester Literature Festival's Take Ten event, at Manchester Central Library. This was an incredible opportunity, and I really enjoyed writing and performing "On stories and snow".

 I also performed a set at (In)sane, a really nice, chilled event to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing, and I enjoyed reading at the ever-lovely feminist poetry night Stirred.

 In terms of the written word, GASP, the anthology of the New North Poets, was released. Four of my poems featured: "Blood ghazal", "León", "Pilot" and "Missing Leo", and our mentor, Clare Pollard, wrote a lovely introduction, praising the "conjuring of place" in my work.

 The year of mentoring following my Northern Writers' Awards win was so important to me as a writer, and this anthology was a way of celebrating our progress as New North Poets. I am very proud of it.

 I have also had poems published by other brilliant publications: "Things that can fly" appeared in Culture Matters, "Things that make me happy" in Scrittura Magazine, "Dogteeth" in Severine, "Dragon" in The Poetry Village and "An L-shaped room" in Here Comes Everyone.

 My prose also had a chance to shine, with my short story "Australia" published in The Lampeter Review, and my flash fiction piece "The time of harps" in Visual Verse.

 I enjoyed another year as a Digital Reporter for Manchester Literature Festival, reviewing two very powerful events. Firstly, I listened to Michael Morpurgo's words on the environment and conservation at Manchester Cathedral.

 I then visited the Whitworth Art Gallery to hear Rommi Smith and Dave Evans responding to the exhibition "Bodies of Colour" through the media of spoken word and piano, respectively. Issues tackled included sexism, homophobia and racism, but there was also a strong sense of hope.

 As usual, I curated the Word Life section of Now Then Manchester, and really enjoyed putting together two very different issues - September's had the more serious theme of "Messages", while October's was more fun, with poems surrounding "Animals".

 That being said, a quite solemn poem of mine, "Requiem", about whales, featured in October's issue. I hope you enjoy both months' sets of writing.

 I took part in a fun Writing Squad workshop with Stevie Ronnie on making books and presenting written work in new ways, and have enjoyed my continued participation in spoken word group Young Identity.

 I have also been chosen as a Digital Reporter at HOME, Manchester, which is very exciting! I look forward to a year of masterclasses and opportunities.

 Thanks for following my creative journey, and watch this space to see where it goes next.

 Liz x

News - July and August 2018

 Hello!

 This has been an eventful summer, which began with me graduating from the University of Manchester with my Integrated Professional Masters in Languages!

 Since then I have been doing a lot of projects in and out of Manchester, with a sort of culmination being Manchester Pride, where I performed my poetry at Tell It Like It Is, and enjoyed a wonderful weekend of celebration.

 I have done a few other spoken word events: I performed at Stirred and Bad Language in Manchester, Open Mic Poetry at the Old Courts in Wigan, and the launch of Issue 4 of Coast to Coast to Coast in Liverpool.

 An exciting piece of news is that I was shortlisted for the Creative Future Literary Awards, which is very encouraging.

 I have also had some poetry published: "Blue butterflies" in Celebrating Change, "Kiwi fruit" in Strix, "What you are made of" in Coast to Coast to Coast, "Hesitation" in Siblíní Journal, and "Bed Island" and "A door opened" in Confluence Magazine. 

 Additionally, my fiction piece "Sweets on Neptune" appeared in Visual Verse.

 July's issue of Now Then Manchester's Word Life page was an LGBTQ+ showcase, which I am very proud of putting together. It included my poem "Raspberries", along with lovely work from other writers. August's issue had the theme of "Heroes".

 Foxglove Journal is also full of new poetry and fiction, with a Summer Writing Week currently taking place.

 The last couple of months have been busy, and at times tiring, but I feel I have achieved a lot. I am looking forward to the next stage of my life, and will definitely make room for writing and creativity in it.

 Thanks to everyone who has supported me.

 Liz x

News - May and June 2018

 Hello!

 Well, to say the last couple of months have been hectic is an understatement. However, I succeeded in submitting all of my essays and translations, got my degree (an Integrated Professional Masters in Languages, in French and Spanish) and will be graduating this month!

 I have also been working on my writing and other creative projects, and some exciting things have happened, with more on the horizon. 

 I was shortlisted for The Poetry Business's 2017/18 New Poets Prize, and shortlisted in two categories for the 2018 Students' Union Awards: Best Article (for the piece I wrote for The Mancunion about how I founded Foxglove Journal), and Best Placard.

 I have had poetry published in The Open Mouse ("Urania"), The Cardiff Review ("Before breakfast"), Now Then ("Oranges" and "Sara") and Irisi ("How you arrived", "Scattered", "Portrait" and "Lucy"). 

 I was part of Open Mind Manchester's Mind Full of Art project to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing; my poem "Soap" appeared in the exhibition and the anthology.

 I have continued to edit the Word Life section of Now Then Manchester; May's issue had the theme of "Friendship" and June's the theme of "Nature".

 I have added some posts to my travel blog, Neither Here Nor There, so feel free to have a read and share my adventures in Galicia. Foxglove Journal is also going strong; have a look if you fancy some poetry and prose.

 I am now looking forward to a summer of creativity - I have work coming up in Strix, The Lampeter Review, Coast to Coast to Coast, Novelty, Marble Poetry, Confingo, Far Off Places, the Young Identity Anthology and the New North Poets Anthology. I hope to do some poetry readings, too.

 Thanks for reading, and following my writing journey.

 Liz x

News - March and April 2018

 Hello!

 March and April were slightly surreal months this year, starting very cold and ending very warm. In Manchester we seemed to switch overnight from snow and ice to sun and blossoms.

 I worked hard towards my degree and celebrated my twenty-fourth birthday and Earth Day. I tried new baking and film clubs, enjoyed the LGBT Foundation's Sugar and Spice Festival, and I feel I grew a lot. I also saw some writing milestones and achievements.

 I performed at Verbose, a monthly spoken word night in Manchester, and read some of my poems at the Women on Top event at the LGBT Foundation. My poem "Soap" was featured in Open Mind Manchester's Mind Full of Art exhibition and anthology.

 I won Second Prize in Manchester Global Health Society's 2018 Global Health Poetry Competition, and read my poem, "Perpignan sestina", at the awards ceremony. My article "What I learnt from starting a literary journal" was nominated for the Mancunion's Article of the Year.

 I took part in my second residential at Highgreen Arts in Northumberland, part of my prize for being chosen as a New North Poet at the 2017 Northern Writers' Awards. I was mentored by Clare Pollard and did a workshop with Antony Dunn, and overall, it was a lovely weekend.

 I reviewed Niall Horan at the 02 Apollo for The Mancunion and Peter Bognanni's novel Things I'm Seeing Without You for Cuckoo Review. I continue to curate Word Life: March's issue had the theme of "Hope" and April's the theme of "Travel", with the latter featuring my poem "In Cambridge".

 My flash piece "Maybe/Things to work on" was published in Visual Verse, and I had a poem accepted by the beautiful hand-stitched journal Coast to Coast to Coast. I reached 100,000 page views on my travel blog, Neither here nor there.

 With summer on its way, hopefully there are even more exciting times to come.

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

News - January and February 2018

 Hello!

 So far for me 2018 has been incredibly busy. I've been working towards finishing my degree and my dissertation, training for my first 10 kilometre run and, of course, writing poetry and stories. I have seen some major milestones, which I am looking forward to sharing with you now.

 In January I went to London to take part in a poetry reading with the other four New North Poets. We read at the Poetry Society's Poetry Café, alongside our mentor, Clare Pollard, and Caroline Bird. Caroline is one of my favourite poets and this was a huge honour, especially when she remembered and referenced specific details of my poems when talking to me later. 

 We attended the TS Eliot Prize Readings and mingled with poets and publishers afterwards. It was great to speak to Andrew McMillan again and to see many other famous faces. We also took part in the Awards workshop with Malika Booker, who told us more about the nominated poets. Overall, it was a very inspiring weekend.

 I continue to enjoy curating Now Then Manchester's Word Life page: January's issue was unthemed, and February's had the theme of "Love". I hope you enjoy them.

 I had a flash fiction piece, "Fall", published in Litro, and two poems, "Ávila" and "Maybe Cygnus" published in Selcouth Station. I also reviewed Annabel Pitcher's "The Last Days of Archie Maxwell" for Cuckoo Review.

 January and February were two intense months, but I feel that I learnt and achieved a great deal. Thanks for keeping up with my news and supporting my writing.

 Liz x

News - September and October 2017

 Hello!

 I am back from my year in France and Spain and am getting stuck into my Masters. It is lovely being back in Manchester - I can review local gigs for The Mancunion and be a Digital Reporter for Manchester Literature Festival. I have also been involved in some creative projects around the city and with The Writing Squad.

 Firstly, I want to tell you about some publications I have been a part of. Two of my poems, "Bartók's Dance Suite and sour" and "Green Flash", were published in The Compass, and my poem "Serpentine" appeared in Planet Slop. My flash piece "Stuff and sales" was published in both Visual Verse and Creative Review.

 My poem "Anatomy" appeared in Papaya Press's What She Knew zine, and my "Things that are inexplicably similar" was chosen for the 2017 Peeking Cat Poetry Anthology. Three of my poems, "Old rain", "Eden" and "Going", were published in Introduction X: The Poetry Business Book of New Poets.

 It has also been good to see some projects I have edited for coming to fruition, such as The Rebirth Issue of Miracle Magazine, for which I was Head Poetry Editor. September's Word Life had the theme of "Family"; October's, the theme of "Memories".

 We celebrated one year of Foxglove Journal, my online venue for poetry and fiction. I am very proud of all that the Journal has achieved. I also did an interview with Peeking Cat Poetry, and have a snazzy new profile on The Writing Squad's site. I hope you enjoy learning more about my writing.

 I reviewed several books for Cuckoo Review: Tender Earth by Sita Brahmachari, Songs About Us by Chris Russell and The Secret Cooking Club: Confetti & Cake by Laurel Remington. I also wrote a piece on Indigo Girls' 1994 album Swamp Ophelia for The Mancunion.

 I reviewed Honey G and Gabrielle Aplin for The Mancunion, and Roddy Doyle for Manchester Literature Festival's Chapter and Verse Blog.

 Finally, I took part in a writing residency in Northumberland, as part of my prize for being announced as a New North Poet in the Northern Writers' Awards. It was a great weekend and the countryside was truly beautiful. I enjoyed getting to know the other four winning poets.

 So, I had a productive two months. Here's to a fun, creative winter.

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

Writing Squad profile

 Hello!

 I'm delighted to have an elegant page on the new Writing Squad website. You can find out about my achievements as a writer, and there are links to my social media and online projects.

 The Writing Squad have also shared the news about my Northern Writers' Award.

 I hope you enjoy the new site!

 Liz x