News - November and December 2018

 Hello!

Edinburgh Christmas Market

 So much has happened in the last couple of months - I started my new job and moved into my flat, which has been really exciting. Living in Manchester has allowed me to get to creative events here much more easily, and my life has been very full and fun.

 I was so happy to be chosen by HOME to be a Digital Reporter, taking part in a year-long series of workshops and opportunities. So far we have studied blogging, photography and film, and I undertook my first assignment: to review John Walter's exhibition CAPSID for HOME's website.

 I have also had some poetry published: perhaps ironically, the month I moved back to Manchester, my poem "Leaving Manchester" appeared in Visual Verse! Despite the title, however, the poem describes how I always do end up coming back. It was also a joy to see my poem "Oyster" in beautiful print journal Confingo.

 I was honoured to have two poems, "A cave" and "Finding the fish", in the last-ever issue of Far Off Places, and was invited to attend the launch in Edinburgh. I enjoyed a very special and memorable trip, exploring, performing my work and getting to know some really nice people.

 I also travelled to York, to read at the Northern Poetry Showcase and Roadshow as a winner of the Northern Writers' Awards. Although I only got to spend one evening in the city, it was great to get a taster, and I would really like to return in the future. 

 Another performance highlight was the launch of Young Identity's anthology No Disclaimers, in which I have two poems. The event was incredibly lovely, with a chance to share my work, hear my amazingly talented fellow YI members read their poems, and then chill, chat and celebrate.

 I performed at two Mancunian spoken-word nights for the first time, sharing my poems at Flim Nite (on the theme of one of my favourite films, Pan's Labyrinth) and Speak. They were very different experiences, and I learnt a lot from both. 

 Around Christmas I received the news that I had been long-listed in the Writers' HQ From LGBTQ+ With Love flash fiction competition. It kind of caught me off-guard, and was just a really nice thing to happen.

 I am still curating Word Life, and enjoying the huge range of poems and stories I am sent. November's issue had the theme of "Gifts", and December's was a Young Identity showcase, which made it extra-special for me to edit.

 I also had the chance to interview spoken-word stars Keisha Thompson, Shirley May and Frankie Blaus, and review Keisha's show Man on the Moon, for Now Then Manchester. I am still wrapping my head around Man on the Moon - Keisha moved and inspired me so much.

 2018 was certainly the year I embraced my own passion for spoken-word poetry and found the courage to perform far more often - I shared my work at least seventeen times over the year, at launches, festivals, fundraisers and spoken-word nights.

 Considering I performed maybe twice in 2017, this feels like a huge step forward for me. I am proud of myself, and thankful to those who have supported me - being part of Young Identity and The Writing Squad has certainly contributed towards my confidence.

 Overall, I had a very busy end to the year - but a productive, enjoyable and empowering one. I resolved to write more poetry in the New Year, and so far have managed a little every day. Here's to a creative and hopeful 2019.

 Thank you so much for following my writing adventures.

 Liz x

Northern Poetry Showcase and Roadshow

 Hello!

 I had an enjoyable night performing at the Northern Poetry Showcase and Roadshow at York St John University. I was invited as one of the five 2017-18 New North Poets, and read three of my poems to an attentive audience. 

 It has been a whirlwind year since I won my Northern Writers' Award. I have been mentored by Clare Pollard, attended two writing retreats , been published in GASP, and felt my poems strengthen. The Showcase was a cosy and fun way to celebrate the journey we New North Poets have been on.

 Thank you to the Poetry School, New Writing North, and everyone else who has supported my writing.

 Liz x

GASP by the New North Poets

 Hello!

 As you may know, I was announced as a New North Poet at the 2017 Northern Writers' Awards, which was one of my proudest achievements. 

 Part of the prize was working with The Poetry School, Clare Pollard and the other four fabulous winners - Jasmine, Maria, Michael and Rosa - to create an anthology. GASP is now here, and is free to read online. 

 I hope you enjoy my four poems: "Blood ghazal", "León", "Pilot" and "Missing Leo". If "León" and "Missing Leo" inspire you to learn more about my travels in Spain, check out my travel blog posts on León and Salamanca.

 Thank you to everyone who has supported my writing.

 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

Second Highgreen Arts residential

 Hello!

 As a winner of the New North Poets Prize at last year's Northern Writers' Awards, I was invited to take part in two residentials at Highgreen Arts, in rural Northumberland. The first residential was in September; the second was last week. I had a really enjoyable and memorable time there.

 Highgreen is an elegant and comfy old manor house. The five New North Poets and our mentor, Clare Pollard, spent many an hour sitting around the fire doing writing activities and discussing and reading poetry. We also had a full-day workshop with the poet Antony Dunn, which was very useful.

 I walked a lot, and found the local nature calming and inspiring. We enjoyed delicious veggie food and divine desserts - apple crumble, chocolate brownie, poached pear. We had lightning one night, which in the total darkness of the countryside was very dramatic. I would later write a poem about it.

 Overall, it was a lovely weekend in great company. I hope to do more residentials in the future.

 Liz x

New North Poets at the Poetry Café

 Hello!

 In January I was invited to London to read some of my poems at the Poetry Society's Poetry Café, with the other New North Poets - Jasmine Chatfield, Rosa Walling-Wefelmeyer, Maria Isakova-Bennett and Michael Brown -, our mentor Clare Pollard and guest performer Caroline Bird. 

 It was a wonderful experience. We also attended the T. S. Eliot readings and the lecture beforehand with Malika Booker, and overall it was an insightful and inspiring weekend. I hope to continue doing poetry readings and sharing my work.

 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

Northern Writers' Awards 2017

 Hello!

 I am extremely happy to have been announced as a winner in the New North Poets section of the Northern Writers' Awards. The ceremony, on Thursday night at Northumbria University, was a really lovely evening of food, writing and celebration.

 Receiving such a prestigious award is amazing. I'm greatly looking forward to my prize, which is a year of mentoring with The Poetry School and Clare Pollard. I'm also excited to get to know the four other poets chosen. The next year looks to be a great one for me creatively.

 Many thanks to everyone who has read and enjoyed my writing over the years, and congratulations to all of the award-winners.

 Liz x