We can virtually taste summer! And here’s a sample taste, in the form of the final 2 poems of the school year, from St Birinus School Poet Laureates, Ianto Cater (year 7) and Elliott World (year 8), who I’ve been mentoring this year. My thanks to both of them, for their inventive and colourful work,Continue reading “Dreaming of fast cars and barbecues …”
Tag Archives: Elaine Baker
‘We whisper to the dawn’
It’s arrived! The brand new anthology from the talented young poets at Didcot Girls’ School is finally here… “We go out for cold air, hoping there will be some/ we wait for the tiny tune of the ice cream van.” From ‘Today’ by Claire Hague This anthology brings together new poems and flash fiction, writtenContinue reading “‘We whisper to the dawn’”
A Platform for Poets: meet the Poet Laureates!
Following on from yesterday’s post about the stunning poetry being written at Didcot Girls’ School by their two young Poet Laureates, I’m chuffed to tell you that, this school year, St Birinus School has two official poets of their own to shout about! At the risk of sounding like a cracked record, I’m very muchContinue reading “A Platform for Poets: meet the Poet Laureates!”
Introducing [drum-roll]… our Poet Laureates
So today and tomorrow, I’ll be showcasing the latest work by the incredibly talented young poets, who earned the title ‘Poet Laureate’ earlier this year, in their schools. It’s a genuine privilege to be able to work closely with these writers, as part of my role as Patron of Writing at Didcot Girls’ School andContinue reading “Introducing [drum-roll]… our Poet Laureates”
I’m a writer. Do I feel inspired?
We’re now on week 3 of our Young Writers’ Mentoring programme 2018/19, which I run as part of my Patron of Writing role at Didcot Girls’ School, so it’s high time I posted an update, methinks! I guess what impressed me most at first about my new cohort of 23 year 9 and 10 students,Continue reading “I’m a writer. Do I feel inspired?”
#LetsDoThisKids 11: Proof
I can’t believe I’m nearly at the end of my 20 week mentoring journey with the wonderful young writers at Didcot Girls’ School! But it ain’t over till it’s over, and today’s session may be one of our best …why? …because today the writers will hold in their hands and feast their eyes on theirContinue reading “#LetsDoThisKids 11: Proof”
#LetsDoThisKids – 2 (Or: what I’d like to show you after one week of student workshops)
So, what does happen when we give young people a few simple writing tools and FREEDOM ? I’m excited to be able to share snippets of work that some brilliant 13 and 14 year old writers at Didcot Girls’ School have created this week. (And I should add that these are drafts produced in aContinue reading “#LetsDoThisKids – 2 (Or: what I’d like to show you after one week of student workshops)”
#Letsdothiskids – Discoveries of a school Patron of Writing
I’m reeling. I’ve just been reading the creative writing of a bunch of 11 and 12 year olds. Original, compelling, artistically adventurous writing. Here’s a flavour: I’m summer, I’m winter, I’m everything it seems. Emily W Year 7 She is a record player, playing softly as everyone dances. She smells like warm leather but onContinue reading “#Letsdothiskids – Discoveries of a school Patron of Writing”
A Happy Clearing
There has been some movement in my head. One way to describe this might be to say that, for months, I’ve been a bit like someone trying to take a stroll through a deep jungle, as if it were my local High Street. Which is, of course, impossible and ridiculous. I’ve been hacking away atContinue reading “A Happy Clearing”
Wishing I could have lingered longer
I know better these days than to pack in more than two events in one day at Ledbury Poetry Festival. I need time to bask in this chocolate-box town’s poetic tradition. Time to think. Drink coffee. And ultimately (hopefully): write. But I was entirely satisfied by my two carefully chosen events (when the brochure arrives,Continue reading “Wishing I could have lingered longer”
Elaine Baker - Poet 