We at Write Out Loud are very pleased to announce that our Reviews Editor, Frances Spurrier, has just published her first collection, The Pilgrim’s Trail. Here Frances talks about hearing the good news, the importance of reading “reams and reams” of poetry, and how vital creative writing courses and workshops were in shaping her work.

 

"The process of publication is as hard to pin down as the process of writing itself, although the mechanics of it may be easy enough to describe. For example, submission to a magazine or publisher leads to one of two results, rejection or – Oh frabjous day!  Callooh! Callay! -  acceptance.  In my case I submitted a draft pamphlet to a competition run by the excellent Cinnamon Press. Winning was a wonderful surprise. I didn’t expect to win.

Publication is a dual process between writer and reader. There is something of an unspoken dialogue that takes place and out of that dialogue the poet hopes for a “yes, I see what you mean” response.

I have been writing poetry for about 10 years: since my children became old enough to have lives of their own; since the demands of office jobs (sadly necessary for such boring things as income) could be reduced to allow me to get to my desk for more than eight seconds at a time.  I have written a lot, but mostly – and this is the bit that not everyone remembers to do – I have read poetry.  Reams and reams of the stuff. Not just the dead white males - although I believe any writer ignores them at his or her peril - but loads of contemporary pieces, too. This is the one tip that I feel qualified to give to others. Read tons of poetry. Not to copy or plagiarise, but to learn and find your place inside the tradition.  Editing the work of others is also excellent practice.

Creative writing courses and workshops were vital in shaping my work and in helping me reach publishable standard. I cannot recommend enough the importance of finding a writing community.  I have been grateful for suggested changes and listened to advice proffered by those around me.  Finally though, editorial decisions must rest with the poet.

All writers receive rejections – I’ve had loads.   Having a collection out is a great thing but it isn’t any sort of guarantee against writers block or future rejections.  Far from it.  The responsibility gets greater. 

Poems are difficult things.  They often don’t want to be born; perhaps they too discover that this world can be a hard place.  Although the poet may be delighted by the appearance of a poem (Yes! A piece of work at last!)  it is devastating to find that the creation is not always welcomed by its intended audience.

Why not?  If I had an answer to that one I would have solved the hermeneutic secret of poetry.  Sometimes it’s to do with quality, sometimes taste, sometimes chemistry, sometimes …. value?   Poems should say something about the world that other people will find interesting, rather than merely express negativity.   We know about the isolation thing, the not-fitting-in thing, the “everything’s shite” thing.  We all live there.  Please show us a way past that.  Please show us the possibility of transcendence.   Just a bit of hope will do!

Does my work do that? I can only say that it is intended to.  Success or failure is to a large extent judged by others." 

Frances Spurrier 

 

The Pilgrim’s Trail will be launched on Monday 15 September, at the Poetry Café, in Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London, at 7pm.