Poet and photographer, fledgling film maker. Have now produced three theatre shows, Whistle, Dr Zeeman’s Catastrophe Machine & Shed. Shed in abayance due to Covid. Live in Norwich with wife and fellow poet Helen Ivory.
Was your creativity affected in anyway during the lockdown? Did being lockdown make you feel inspired or deflated?
I’ve had more time for writing, which has been good - lockdown has coloured much of what I’ve written, if only as sub text. I’ve also used the time to master film editing and am beginning to produce short films.
Was it therapeutic doing creative work during lockdown?
There’s been some difficult things to do will, that I’ve come to an understanding with through some of the writing. But mostly we’ve been lucky, so therapy not much required.
How did you occupy your time?
Reading and writing in the morning, or other creative activity like film editing. Afternoon’s for a little tedious admin, walking and wild/mild swimming about these parts. We’ve a lovely coastline and a terrific river I like to swim in. Plus we’re 3 minutes walk from 200 acres of beautiful woodland - as I said, we’re lucky.
What was the main thinking behind your poem submitted to Together Behind Four Walls ?
CArol Ann Duffy put a call out for Lockdown poems for her Where Are We now Project - this was the first writing I did on lockdown. IT cam from the idea of it being invisible and the idea, that some people therefore don’t believe in it. THere's some other stuff thrown in and also the question what comes next.!
What inspires most of your poems,
Small human stories.
Do you have any favourite poems, from all the poems you have written?
There’s a few - ones where I really feel I’ve managed to express something I otherwise didn’t ahve words for.
Do you remember the first poem you ever wrote or one of the first?
Unfortunately, yes.
Do you ever think of poems before going to sleep or just after waking up?
Certainly in the morning. Most days start with reading poetry and that often sparks something.
Do you hand write poems or go directly on to your computer?
Computer, although I always have a notebook, it is there only to jot down ideas when they come to me.
Do you ever give up on poems you have started?
Often.
Do you do any other creative activities?
I’m a photographer too and have begun to make short films.
Do you only focus on poetry or do you also write prose?
I’ll write prose at a push, but not if I can help it.
Do your poems ever have strong messages?
Only in the satirical sense.
How would you describe the tone of your poems?
Mostly tender and warm, often with a little humour.
If you had to write a poem about yourself, how would it start?