#WritersintheBrewery 27 May 2010 Nigel McLoughlin

On 27 May 2010, Nigel Mcloughlin http://www.nigelmcloughlin.co.uk/ an Ulster poet, now based in Cheltenham, visited Writers in the Brewery. Nigel has been short-listed for the prestigious Hennessy Award and placed in the Kavanagh Awards and The New Writer Poetry Prizes. He is Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Gloucestershire and Course Leader on the MA in Creative & Critical Writing, as well as being editor of Iota magazine. http://www.iotamagazine.co.uk/ . In this role, Nigel said that contributors’ poems are judged anonymously so that content stands on merit, not on the writer’s reputation. He talked about his life and read from his works, including his recently published collection Chora. He read poems about Ulster, homelife, wildlife, music and observations. It was a witty, warm, moving and compassionate collection that I enjoyed very much.

After the interval, I read my short story "The Love Rat" about Cupid appearing as a rat to bring love to two lonely people.

My Related Postings

Writers at the Brewery April 2010
Jenny Jones at #WritersintheBrewery 25 March 2010
Cherry Gilchrist at #WritesInTheBrewery
Sue Chad at Writers in the Brewery 28 Jan 2010
Writers in the Brewery Nov and Dec 2009 review
Writers in the Brewery Writer's workshop

Writers at the Brewery April 2010

On 29 April 2010, Writers in the Brewery welcomed some of Swindon’s BlueGate Poets http://www.bluegatepoets.com/. They are a poetry group which aims to advance the enjoyment and development of reading, writing and listening to poetry by encouraging local talent and voices at every level. The group’s founders are local poets, who, collectively, have years of experience of organising and running poetry groups, workshops and participating in the Swindon Festival of Literature. The group takes its name from the blue gate at the Richard Jeffries house, where it meets. Richard Jeffries http://www.richardjefferiessociety.co.uk/ was a famous writer and naturalist living in Coates near Swindon.

It was an enjoyable evening with this warm and friendly group, who presented their work with great enthusiasm and chatted about their poetry to a disappointingly small audience. We did clash with the final pre-election leaders’ debate but I’m glad I attended the brewery instead. I especially remember a great little poem about a seahorse and a very effective sestina but many of their works struck a chord.

After the interval, I brought the tone down with my nonsense poem about the sad demise of a gardening gourmet.

My Related Postings

Jenny Jones at #WritersintheBrewery 25 March 2010
Cherry Gilchrist at #WritesInTheBrewery
Sue Chad at Writers in the Brewery 28 Jan 2010
Writers in the Brewery Nov and Dec 2009 review
Writers in the Brewery Writer's workshop