Well once again it’s been a while since I popped over but getting around on one leg takes its toll. I have however been very busy writing poems for my MA Poetry portfolio which is due near the end of May. We won’t talk about the essay that has to go with it. The poems are of mixed variety, from dark to light and fun. I’ve scraped the barrel and resurrected some old stuff and taken them to the next level – that began with giving them a good cull.

My poetry tutor pointed me and my fellow students to the direction of Roy Marshall’s blog and what he has to say about drafting a poem. Excellent information, why not take a look for yourself. You can find it here. https://roymarshall.wordpress.com/2015/04/18/drafting/

On a different front, have you ever tried changing a king sized bed on one leg? Well today I did exactly that and apart from a small amount of help to fit the corners of the sheet in the far side I managed quite well. That includes wrestling with the quilt and cover, hard enough when fully able but I wasn’t going to be beaten. It would have made for a great video as when not hopping I was rolling around on the bed to get to all areas.

Three more days for my appointment at the hospital fracture clinic and I’m hoping the consultant will give me the okay to start back on two legs fully weight bearing.  I’ll know a lot more after the visit. I’m missing uni with all my creative peers and getting out and about with my friends at home. I’m even missing housework!

It was poetry theory yesterday at uni which was very interesting but I do find it quite heavy at times. However, I loved it when we looked at what the poems mean. We looked at T S Eliot, Gertrude Stein and Hilda Doolittle (HD). What do you think of the above poets, are they to your taste? T S Eliot’s writing is something that doesn’t seem to go out of date, loved Gertrude Stein, only just getting to know her work and HD – well I think my writing style could be very similar to hers.
How about you? What do you prefer – Theory or Craft. Who is your favourite contemporary poet?

What a beautiful Tuesday morning. The sky is blue and the sun is peeping through.

Apart from writing, my other love is music. This afternoon I have my first piano lesson after a three month break. I’ve bought some new music to try and inspire me to move away from my pen and paper to hit the keys. With recommendation I’ve purchased Mendelssohn’s Song without Words as well as treating myself to Etudes by Philip Glass. None of these are going to be a breeze, I can tell you that. This means that today amongst the theory reading of Walter Benjamin’s, Modernism, and Poetry and Grammar by Gertrude Stein, trying to add words to George,  House of Grace sequel, somehow this morning I must fit in at least half an hour to spend on the piano. I love my piano but I love my writing more. Are you ever torn between two arts?

Another great creative writing session at uni on Friday. One of the things we discussed is what different poets have to say from the Bloodaxe, Strong Words. In particular what drew me in was an extract from Robert Graves where he states, ‘The outward ear is easily deceived.’ What he appears to be saying is that even if poetry is bad or fraudulent but read with a beautiful voice, the ear would be deceived to think it was good. What is your theory on that? Do you agree? By the same cloth how do you feel about a really good piece of poetry being read out aloud by an inexperienced reader? Would it still sound good? Food for thought. I’d love to hear what you think.

Following the theory side of things in class, we moved on to the craft workshop, my favourite part. We read out our own poems and then offered each other critique. The group has a diverse range of age but everyone fits in well. Lots of homework to be completed this week including writing a poem that can be read horizontally or vertical. Quite a challenge.

Hi Friends and Followers

Sorry I’ve not been around the last few days but the extra travelling up and down to Brighton has rather drained me.

I wanted to tell you about my first week’s classes at uni. Thursday was theory day, a day I was dreading. However, I had no need, the seminar was informative and stimulating, so much so that the time just ran away. We discussed ‘What is a poem?’ And in particular whether this sculpture, God, was indeed a poem or not. Take a look and let me know your views.

http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/261000

On Friday a small group of us read out a contemporary poem from a living poet. I chose Aristotle by Billy Collins. Having only discovered his poetry a couple of weeks ago, I have to say that I’m well and truly hooked. We then read out our own poems and gave critique.

Just not enough time for these wonderful sessions, a day would be too short. Only the one this week on Friday which will be theory and craft combined.

Somehow I managed to miss this article on House of Grace. It went live with Ink Pantry Publishing on Monday 16^th February, 2015. If you haven’t already seen it, take a look now.

http://inkpantry.com/blog/writing-grace-debut-novel-patricia-m-osborne/

I look forward to hearing your views on ‘What is a poem,’ and in particular the Baroness’s poem, God.

Morning fellow writers and followers. Today I thought we would talk about stationery. That is in so much that I have a terrible fetish for the stuff. When people ask me what I’d like for a Christmas or birthday gift, my answer is always the same. Notebooks and pens please. My lovely late mother would get cross (in a nice way) and say things like ‘I’m not just buying you that.’ And I would say, ‘Why not? It’s what I like.’ A similar thing happened a couple of weeks ago, because I am approaching a big numbered birthday, one of my sister’s said that the family would like to club together to buy me something special. My answer, ‘A nice pen please, that I can keep.’ She was shocked, ‘that’s not very much.’ But you can get some lovely pens and what better to remind oneself of a special birthday and family, than something you can keep and use every day.

How many of you share this fetish? Novelist, Isabel Ashdown does. In fact it was after reading her article on her blog that prompted me to bring this subject up to day. Here’s a link to her article. Enjoy.

http://isabelashdown.com/2011/02/28/notebooks-pens-and-pop-up-pencils-one-writers-stationery-addiction/

Hi Everyone

Welcome to my website and blog. A big thank you goes to my eldest son for all his help and patience in its construction. We’re still in the process of adding bits and bobs so bear with us.

You’ll be able to find links to articles and competitions on creative writing and a blog on every day stuff. It will also keep you posted on the progress of House of Grace and my uni studies.

Talking of uni, the new semester begins this week. On Thursday and Friday, I start a new module Poetry: Theory and Craft. Thursday, Theory and craft on Friday. Both have small groups and should be very informative. I can’t wait.

This week’s reading is the introduction from Jon Cook’s Poetry in Theory and a chapter on Tristan Tzara. And the Friday session is ‘choose a contemporary poem from a living poet.’ On the other side of the coin ‘take a poem that I’ve written for critique.’ It all sounds great fun.

What is House of Grace? Well House of Grace is my debut novel which is now with a publisher for consideration to publish. It’s a historical fiction family saga starting in 1950, a fair amount is set in Bolton where I spent some of my early years, although I was actually born in Liverpool. The story starts with Grace at sixteen, she has ambitions to be a dress designer. The novel shows her journey through sadness and joy, poverty and wealth. I hope you enjoy it. Stay posted for news of publication.

This park entrance in Queen’s Park Bolton has quite an impact on Grace. Click on the link below to see what you think.

Queens Park Bolton Images