One of my poems appears in the new edition of Magma. I’ll be reading at the magazine launch on Monday 8 March at The Troubadour in Old Brompton Road.
The theme for this issue is ‘Hunger’. Although it often means more work, I like submitting to magazines with a theme. Rather than trying to guess what an editor will like, based on previous issues, you can spend your time experimenting, trying to cook up an original approach to the topic – more thinking, playing and writing and less banging your head on the desk (potentially). I also think having a theme creates a more varied selection of poetry that hangs together as a whole. I’ve definitely found that in previous issues of Magma. As well as pieces written to theme, they accept poems on any topic, but a common thread runs through each magazine, making it interesting to read.
My poem, ‘Love Poem to Hunger’, is inspired by Catherine Pierce’s series of ‘love poems’ to objects, emotions and experiences in her chapbook, Animals of Habit. If you’d like to hear it, you can come to the launch, or alternatively, pick up a copy of Magma for yourself 
The Magma Launch starts at 8pm on Monday 8 March at The Troubadour, Old Brompton Road, SW5 9JA. Penelope Shuffle and Anne-Marie Fyfe will be featured, as well as other poets published in the magazine.
My second Snail Mail: Creative Letter Writing Workshop of the season took place on Saturday 31 October at Foyles, in our lovely meeting room just above Charing Cross Road. Ten enthusiastic participants wrote new letters and shared stories and thoughts about writing and communication. To give a flavour of the workshops and to celebrate the originality and creativity of the writers, I’d to share some of those new letters here. Two generous ladies have agreed to contribute… one remains anonymous. Both of their letters came from an exercise where I ask participants to list significant people, objects, places, emotions etc. and then choose one to write a letter to. The results are eclectic and exciting…
