Whence Write Out Loud, and Whither?
Posted on Friday 30th November 2007 5:41 pm
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Nicola's comments have prompted me to write this, partly in recognition of her contribution to furthering open-floor poetry in Bolton, partly to plead for your help in continuing the work.
Write Out Loud was established in 2003 to encourage anyone who has a mind to, to write poetry and share it by reading it ‘out loud’ in friendly groups.
It all started with John Jelly leading a group of people reading their favourite poems in Bolton's Man and Scythe pub (see my poem on the subject). Dave Morgan called me and told me to 'bring your poems'. I don't write poetry, I said. But I brought them anyway, read one, quivering and got the bug.
Nicola took over from John and moved it to one very odd pub and then the Sweet Green, in a tiny back room. Then Dave and I picked it up and ran - well, walked - with it.
Paul joined us and we now hold monthly events in several towns (Bolton, Middleton, Wigan, Sale, Hebden Bridge) with groups of 25-40 people, and irregular events in various places - not least in France - and encourage the establishment of others indirectly, through our newsletters, website and our encouragement. We have grown from that small group meeting in a pub back room to become the hub of what seems, increasingly, to be a UK-wide creative community, one that focuses on the people rather than the poetry, increasingly crossing age, ethnic, class, gender and other boundaries.
Poetry is often considered an exclusive preserve; we try to make it inclusive for all, regardless of background or circumstances. Thousands write but dare not admit it, feeling that our culture does not encourage ‘people like them’ to express themselves through poetry. They may write in extremis: bereavement, ill-health, etc. Our supportive ethos encourages them to take risks and gain confidence - a ‘safe’ environment to ‘come out’ as poets as they read nervously for the first time. In academic circles, a ‘poet’ is someone who is published. We consider sharing one’s work in public to be equally legitimate; and many go on to become published poets.
Having enjoyed reading and listening, our writers grow and develop, make friends and become part of a community. They are supported by www.writeoutloud.net, which has grown to 900-1000 visitors daily. Users discuss recent nights, post poems for feedback, join in discussions - there are now 20,000 words in the wonderful, fascinating, heated discussion on What is Poetry? - support each other or see where else they might read or listen on what has become the UK’s most comprehensive poetry ‘gig guide’.
Our approach is different from most of the growing ‘open-mic poetry’ scene, as we focus not on ‘guest’ poets, but on ordinary men and women being able to enjoy creative self-expression.
Where some groups try to create careers for young poets, we think that the chance to share with a group of friends or soon-to-be-friends is a delicious antidote to the passivity of modern, media-led lives.
We have had a small, hard-won grant from the Arts Council and have become a Creative Partner of Bolton University. We have partnerships with lots of other organisations, principally Cartwheel Arts, Wigan Words Festival, Gujarati Writers' Guild UK, Compagnie Gardel (France), and others.
Why do we do it?
We do it because it gives us a buzz to see everyone who steps up for the first time, overcomes their nerves, gets the sense of creative fulfilment and validation, feels enfranchised by being given a voice and being listened to attentively and for all those who have become part of the Write Out Loud community.
We do not target specific age or ethnic groupings, as has been the government’s emphasis over recent years. Yet people who come to our events for the first time are struck by the diversity, of people and poetry styles. As a (black) supporter of our work said recently: Write Out Loud is the most inclusive group in the Manchester area. It has representatives from ethnic groups, younger and older readers, male and female and feels very welcoming. It never feels like a clique.
And we want to continue to do it for the thousands of people (millions worldwide) who still scribble in secret and could benefit from sharing their stuff in an open-floor event.
Without the support of our volunteers we would be finished: John Armstrong (our financial genius and Bolton), Val cooke (Bolton), John Togher (Wigan and soon to be reviews editor), Gemma (Middleton), Sean Kavanagh (Hebden Bridge); and Paul who holds it all together. And not forgetting Dave (how could we?), who supported Write Out Loud right through its terrible infancy and drove it (via the poetry bus, too) a long way up the road.
Adrian Mealing, tour agent for poets Ian McMillan, Roger McGough and Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, kindly wrote this to us, unsolicited:
Write Out Loud is one of the liveliest, most pro-active and jumping beaniest live-lit organisations I've seen emerge from the grass roots in years.
Fancy helping us keep it that way?
In spite of Arts Council support we still need more help. We are going to hold an open consultation meeting on soon to get your views on our work and where we should take it, as well as registering interest from prospective volunteers.
Please email if you are interested: julian@writeoutloud.net or via the comments facility here.
More will be announced in the news pages.
Nicola's comments have prompted me to write this, partly in recognition of her contribution to furthering open-floor poetry in Bolton, partly to plead for your help in continuing the work.
Write Out Loud was established in 2003 to encourage anyone who has a mind to, to write poetry and share it by reading it ‘out loud’ in friendly groups.
It all started with John Jelly leading a group of people reading their favourite poems in Bolton's Man and Scythe pub (see my poem on the subject). Dave Morgan called me and told me to 'bring your poems'. I don't write poetry, I said. But I brought them anyway, read one, quivering and got the bug.
Nicola took over from John and moved it to one very odd pub and then the Sweet Green, in a tiny back room. Then Dave and I picked it up and ran - well, walked - with it.
Paul joined us and we now hold monthly events in several towns (Bolton, Middleton, Wigan, Sale, Hebden Bridge) with groups of 25-40 people, and irregular events in various places - not least in France - and encourage the establishment of others indirectly, through our newsletters, website and our encouragement. We have grown from that small group meeting in a pub back room to become the hub of what seems, increasingly, to be a UK-wide creative community, one that focuses on the people rather than the poetry, increasingly crossing age, ethnic, class, gender and other boundaries.
Poetry is often considered an exclusive preserve; we try to make it inclusive for all, regardless of background or circumstances. Thousands write but dare not admit it, feeling that our culture does not encourage ‘people like them’ to express themselves through poetry. They may write in extremis: bereavement, ill-health, etc. Our supportive ethos encourages them to take risks and gain confidence - a ‘safe’ environment to ‘come out’ as poets as they read nervously for the first time. In academic circles, a ‘poet’ is someone who is published. We consider sharing one’s work in public to be equally legitimate; and many go on to become published poets.
Having enjoyed reading and listening, our writers grow and develop, make friends and become part of a community. They are supported by www.writeoutloud.net, which has grown to 900-1000 visitors daily. Users discuss recent nights, post poems for feedback, join in discussions - there are now 20,000 words in the wonderful, fascinating, heated discussion on What is Poetry? - support each other or see where else they might read or listen on what has become the UK’s most comprehensive poetry ‘gig guide’.
Our approach is different from most of the growing ‘open-mic poetry’ scene, as we focus not on ‘guest’ poets, but on ordinary men and women being able to enjoy creative self-expression.
Where some groups try to create careers for young poets, we think that the chance to share with a group of friends or soon-to-be-friends is a delicious antidote to the passivity of modern, media-led lives.
We have had a small, hard-won grant from the Arts Council and have become a Creative Partner of Bolton University. We have partnerships with lots of other organisations, principally Cartwheel Arts, Wigan Words Festival, Gujarati Writers' Guild UK, Compagnie Gardel (France), and others.
Why do we do it?
We do it because it gives us a buzz to see everyone who steps up for the first time, overcomes their nerves, gets the sense of creative fulfilment and validation, feels enfranchised by being given a voice and being listened to attentively and for all those who have become part of the Write Out Loud community.
We do not target specific age or ethnic groupings, as has been the government’s emphasis over recent years. Yet people who come to our events for the first time are struck by the diversity, of people and poetry styles. As a (black) supporter of our work said recently: Write Out Loud is the most inclusive group in the Manchester area. It has representatives from ethnic groups, younger and older readers, male and female and feels very welcoming. It never feels like a clique.
And we want to continue to do it for the thousands of people (millions worldwide) who still scribble in secret and could benefit from sharing their stuff in an open-floor event.
Without the support of our volunteers we would be finished: John Armstrong (our financial genius and Bolton), Val cooke (Bolton), John Togher (Wigan and soon to be reviews editor), Gemma (Middleton), Sean Kavanagh (Hebden Bridge); and Paul who holds it all together. And not forgetting Dave (how could we?), who supported Write Out Loud right through its terrible infancy and drove it (via the poetry bus, too) a long way up the road.
Adrian Mealing, tour agent for poets Ian McMillan, Roger McGough and Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, kindly wrote this to us, unsolicited:
Write Out Loud is one of the liveliest, most pro-active and jumping beaniest live-lit organisations I've seen emerge from the grass roots in years.
Fancy helping us keep it that way?
In spite of Arts Council support we still need more help. We are going to hold an open consultation meeting on soon to get your views on our work and where we should take it, as well as registering interest from prospective volunteers.
Please email if you are interested: julian@writeoutloud.net or via the comments facility here.
More will be announced in the news pages.
Nabila Suriya
Thu 1st Jan 2009 01:06
Hi there
just letting you know I will be coming to the event in Sale in Jan - look forward to it