HOME Digital Reporters and CAPSID

 Hello!

From CAPSID by John Walter

 I am very happy to have been chosen as a Digital Reporter this year by HOME, Manchester, a really cool venue where I have previously been involved in projects such as Young Identity, Young Curators and Creative Stars.

 Being a Digital Reporter means having monthly masterclasses, and so far we have studied blogging and photography. In the New Year we will be looking at film. I am enjoying the project so far, and looking forward to what is to come.

 My first assignment as a Digital Reporter was to review John Walter's CAPSID for HOME's website. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this fascinating and different art exhibition.

 Liz x

Students' Union Awards 2018

 Hello!

 You may remember my article "What I learnt from starting a literary journal", which I wrote for The Mancunion. In it, I tell the story of how I founded and developed Foxglove Journal, and I encourage readers to follow their own dreams.

 I am very happy that the article was shortlisted for Best Article, in the Media Awards section of the 2018 Students' Union Awards.

 I was also shortlisted for Best Placard in the Communities Awards section, with the placard I made for the Reclaim the Night march. You can see its two sides above. It sadly disappeared after the march - if you have any idea where it could be, please let me know.

 Congratulations to everyone who was shortlisted or a winner at the Awards. For me this was a great way to celebrate my six years of studying at the University of Manchester, writing for The Mancunion and taking part in community projects.

 Thanks to everyone who has supported my writing, art and other creative missions. I am very excited to see what the future will hold.

 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

The Mancunion - Indigo Girls: Swamp Ophelia

 Hello!

 My write-up of Indigo Girls' 1994 album Swamp Ophelia has been published in The Mancunion, both in print and online.

 I also reviewed their earlier Rites of Passage earlier this year, so feel free to have a look at that, too.

 I hope you enjoy my reviews.

 Liz x

News - November 2016

 Hello!

 It is time for my November news update. This was a busy month for me, what with university exams, presentations, coursework and just navigating day-to-day life as a student in France. However, I also celebrated some creative achievements and projects.

 Firstly, I had several pieces published: my short story "Fives" in Visual Verse, my poems "Snowlands" and "Last light" in Now Then Manchester, my poem "As the darkness fell" in Amaryllis Poetry and my poem "My hair" in Germ Magazine.

 Secondly, I wrote an article for The Mancunion on "How to get published in literary journals". I hope you find it useful!

 Thirdly, my travel blog, Neither Here Nor There, is doing really well and is close to reaching 50,000 page views! I'm thankful to everyone who has followed my adventures in France, Spain and beyond. If you're not a regular reader of my blog, do consider paying it a visit to enjoy stories, photos and the occasional video of my time abroad.

 Finally, my online literary magazine Foxglove Journal celebrated one month of existence. In that time I've had the pleasure of showcasing some beautiful and powerful pieces of work. If you're a writer, we'd love to hear from you - check out our submission guidelines.

 Be sure to give The Writing Squad's latest newsletter a look - I'm in it a few times, along with some great writers and friends.

 Here's to a creative December!

 Thanks for reading,

 Liz x

How to get published in literary journals

 Hello!

Severine, where my poem "Trailing Jasmine" was published. And a cat

 Just letting you know that for The Mancunion Books Section, I have written a guide to getting your creative writing published!

 It outlines the different stages of the literary submission process - choosing your work, formatting it and sending it out - as well as some tips and tricks that might give you the edge over the competition.

 I hope you find my advice useful. Please consider sending some poetry or fiction to my own new magazine, Foxglove Journal!

 Liz x

Ride

 Hello!

 My review of Ride by Lisa Glass has been published on Cuckoo Review! I hope you enjoy learning about this surfing novel.

 Liz x

Why I'm doing a second year abroad

 Hello!

 I have written an article for Third Year Abroad about my rather complicated degree, the IPML (Integrated Professional Masters in Languages), and also about how I made the decision to do an extra year abroad.

 I hope you enjoy it, and that if you're facing a similar choice you find it helpful.

 Liz x

Interview with Maggie Stiefvater

 Hello!

Photo by Stephen Voss

 I'm very happy to announce that my interview with YA star Maggie Stiefvater has been published in The Mancunion! I speak to her about reading, writing, music, mythology, art and the publishing industry.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x

Lydia

 Hello!

 My review of Lydia by Natasha Farrant has been published by Cuckoo Review. I hope you enjoy learning about this new take on Pride and Prejudice.

 Liz x

My year abroad as a non-drinker

 Hello!

 My article charting my experiences as a non-drinker working and studying abroad has been published on Third Year Abroad. 

 I hope you enjoy it and find it helpful.

 Liz x

Interview with Boomin

 Hello!

Just letting you know that my interview with Rory of Wigan rock group Boomin is up on my music blog. It's been a great honour talking to him about the band's influences, successes and aims for the future. 

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Remember to keep an eye on my music blog generally for posts of all types, covering many different musical genres.

 Liz x

Eden Summer

 Hello!

 Just letting you know that my review of Liz Flanagan's Eden Summer has been published on Cuckoo Review. Liz herself has described my piece on Twitter as "such a detailed and thoughtful review!"

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x

Think Twice

 Hello!

 I'm pleased to announce that my review of Sarah Mlynowski's YA novel Think Twice has been published on Cuckoo Review! I hope you enjoy it.

 Liz x

The Mancunion: YA roundup - home and away

 Hello!

 Just letting you know that my piece on recent YA books from both sides of the pond has been published by The Mancunion, both in print and online.

 It features books by Abbie Rushton, Estelle Laure, Eve Ainsworth, Diane Chamberlain, Jenny McLachlan and Becca Fitzpatrick.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x

Chosen

 Hello!

 Just letting you know that my review of Chosen by Lucy Coats has been published in Cuckoo Review.

 I hope you enjoy learning about this Ancient Egyptian tale.

 Liz x

The Mancunion - Graze vs EarlyBird

 Hello!

 My article comparing snack subscription services Graze and EarlyBird has been published in The Mancunion, both in print and online.

 I hope you enjoy reading it!

 Liz x

Top 5 Michael Haneke films

 Hello!

 Just letting you know that my article on the Top 5 Michael Haneke films has been published on Cuckoo Review. I hope you enjoy it - let me know if you agree with my picks.

 Liz x

Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den

 Hi!

 I'm pleased to announce that my review of Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den by Aimée Carter has been published on Cuckoo Review. I hope you enjoy learning about this new fantasy series.

 Liz x

Emily Sparkes and the Friendship Fiasco

 Hi! Hope you're well.

 Just letting you know that Cuckoo Review have published my review of Emily Sparkes and the Friendship Fiasco by Ruth Fitzgerald.

 I hope you enjoy learning about this sweet and fun new series.

 Liz x