Where the hecky thump has January gone?! Wow that was a quick month and I suspect February will go by in even more of a whirl just by the current state of my diary.
I'm pleased to report that the 'good' out-weighed the 'bad' this month regarding updates.
The Good -
* Eventually got the courage up to order my new phone and since it arrived I've hardly put it down. My new toy until the novelty wears off!
* The Brass Book Project with poet Stevie Ronnie and Easington Writers is underway. I've been a member of Easington Writers since it started. We've taken part in a number of exciting and unique projects.
* Progressing nicely with ARC New Writer's Special. This is a special night the ARC in Stockton are putting on for myself and 5 other graduates from Teesside Uni to showcase work from the Writing Into Dramatic Space Module run by Andy Willoughby.
* Durham County Council are very keen on my proposal for the Writing Walk and at this moment in time is being scheduled into their Summer Programme!
* Middlesbrough Council are interested in another walking project that I have devised. We are currently in discussions with a view to holding this particular event in the Summer.
* The Advanced Writers Course I attend at Middlesbrough with Bob Beagrie and Andy Willoughby will be holding an event in May at the Library where myself and other members will have a chance to showcase the work written during the course, which runs until March 5th.
* My first real job as a 'proper poet' is slowly underway. I've not had a chance to work in the school yet but I now have some dates in the diary and attended a group session last week.
* And finally, I attended my first 2 debut readings of 2012. The first at Middlesbrough for Live Lit Charity Poetry Night and the second up at Take Ten, Newcastle. This was also my first time performing at Newcastle. I was extremely nervous but it appears I did pretty okay. (That's me being slightly modest! I've actually been invited back to perform there again in April I impressed that much!).
The Bad -
* I was unsuccessful in my application to attend the Red Nile Factory Night at Roker, Sunderland. (Although I received some useful feedback for next time I apply for a similar project)
* I did not win the Holland Press Poetry Comp I entered before Christmas.
* And I was unsuccessful with my application for My Events 2012 (although this lead led (?!) to the talks with Middlesbrough Council so - bonus!)
The Ugly....Well okay, not the Ugly so much as the Unknown!!
* Still waiting to hear back from 2 competitions entered.
* Still waiting to hear about another writing post that I have recently applied for.
There are loads more competitions to enter and so much writing to be getting on with to keep me out of mischief. Events planned for this Month (some I'll be reading at, others just watching) include:
- Above the Parapet, Wesgarth Social Club, Southfield Road, Middlesbrough on Thursday 2nd Feb
- Launch of Beautiful Scruffiness Magazine at The Sun Inn, Stockton on Friday 3rd Feb
- The Old Cinema Launderette, Durham on Satursday 4th Feb
- ARC New Writers Special Wednesday 8th Feb
- Rachael H Dixon's Book Launch, Hazelwell Centre, Haswell, Saturday 18th Feb
I will then be taking a well deserved break before it all starts again in March!
