Imagined Sons

is finished as of last night. I can't quite believe it. I wrote the first poem for it in 1995, but became engrossed with the manuscript as a project in February; it's occupied a great part of my consciousness since.

What does it mean for a manuscript to be finished? All the poems feel essentially done, and all demand inclusion in the manuscript. Weak poems have been weeded out. There's an order that makes sense without feeling too technical. I expect to revise and move around poems in response to feedback, but I don't anticipate drastic changes--though I'll consider anything my respondents have to say.

Matt and I went for last orders at The Dandy Lion to celebrate, and, bless him, he read the manuscript straight through while I wrote in my journal and restrained from speaking until he began.

The next stage will be to share it with a very few trusted readers for feedback while continuing to circulate the poems to magazines, which began only recently. I'll report my progress from time to time here.

Stand Up Poetry: The Bath Spa University Reading Series 2006-07

Here are the readings for the upcoming academic year. All readings are on Thursday nights beginning at 8 p.m. and convene at The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute's Duncan Room, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath. Please e-mail me (carrie dot etter at gmail dot com) if you have any questions.

12 October 2006: Gerard Woodward and Matthew Sweeney

30 November: Fiona Sampson and John Burnside

14 December: Greta Stoddart and Penelope Shuttle

11 January 2007: Annie McGann and Philip Gross

8 February: Patrick McGuinness and Peter Porter

(No March reading on account of the Bath Literature Festival)

12 April: Richard Price and Mimi Khalvati

10 May: Lucy English and Rachel Pantechnicon

14 June: Carrie Etter and Moniza Alvi

Forthcoming readings, changed dates

The reading formerly on 27 September at 7:30 p.m. will now be 28 September at 8 p.m.--As part of the Bradford on Avon Arts Festival, there will be a reading by myself and featured readers Matt Bryden, Karen Hoy, and Alan Summers, and the reading will be at The George on Woolley Street. There will also be an open mike, welcoming poems on any subject as well as acoustic music.

The reading formerly scheduled for early October will now be 16 November at 8 p.m.--As part of The George's Irish Week, there will be an Irish poetry night with readings from Irish poets as well as traditional music. The other readers include Matt Bryden (reading from Paul Muldoon), Claire Crowther (reading from Medbh McGuckian and Eavan Boland), Karen Hoy, Tim Liardet (reading from Tom French), and Alan Summers.

More interest in "Divorce"

On the 22 August 2006 post at Puisi-poesy, the author appreciatively discusses my poem, "Divorce," and the discussion is carried further in the comments. It's interesting and pleasing to have such engaged readers; I'm delighted.

Malmesbury Carnival's Poetry Platform on 31 August

My student Sue Chadd is one of the organisers for the following event.


MALMESBURY CARNIVAL
POETRY PLATFORM : A Question of Identity
Thurs Aug 31st at 7.30pm Venue Malmesbury Library

Malmesbury Writers' Circle and Malmesbury Library welcomes writers and readers to another evening in the company of local poets. Why not bring along your own or favourite verses to share with our friendly group. We are always keen to discover new writers, so don't be shy! Poems can be on any theme but this year we are devoting the first part of the evening to the National Poetry Day theme of 'Identity'. So who do you think you are? Bring along poems to prove it! Includes laughter, discussion and grey cell stimulation!

Entrance £2. Light refreshments 50p. Carnival Poetry Raffle and Book Stall. (All proceeds donated to The Carnival.)

Malmesbury Library is located in the centre of town, next to the Catholic Church. Parking is available in Cross Hayes Car Park, outside the Library (in the town square.) Post code is SN16 99BG, so you can look it up on multimap to help you find it.

All Welcome!

Best UK Independent Poetry Publisher 2006

Cast your vote now, half way down the left hand panel: http://www.saltpublishing.com/writers/writers.php .

Forthcoming Readings & Workshops

Readings

27 September, 7:30 p.m.--As part of the Bradford on Avon Arts Festival, there will be a reading on its "Mystery" theme and other poems besides. My fellow readers are Matt Bryden, Karen Hoy, and Alan Summers, and the reading will be at The George on Woolley Street. There will also be an open mike, welcoming poems on any subject.

early October--As part of The George's Irish Week, there will be an Irish poetry night with readings from Irish poets as well as traditional music. The other readers include Matt Bryden (reading from Paul Muldoon), Claire Crowther (reading from Medbh McGuckian and Eavan Boland), Karen Hoy, Tim Liardet (reading from Tom French), and Alan Summers.

31 October, 6:30 p.m.--I'll be reading in Islington at Parasol Unit with Sue Hubbard. Parasol Unit is located at 14 Wharf Road, London N1, near the Old Street and Angel tube stations.

30 November, 8 p.m.--Salisbury Poetry Cafe at the Salisbury Arts Centre

14 June 2007, 8 p.m.--I'll read with Moniza Alvi on Bath Spa University's Poetry Series at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, Queen Square, Bath.

Workshops

1 October, 10 a.m.-Noon. As part of the Bradford on Avon Arts Festival, I'll be doing twenty-minute tutorials on publishing poems in magazines; each tutorial is £10. For further details and/or to book a slot, please e-mail me (carrie [dot] etter [at] gmail [dot] com).

From 11 October, 7-9 p.m., and meeting fortnightly for five sessions in the autumn, five in the winter beginning in January, and five in the spring beginning in April, I'll be offering a course on poetic form for The Poetry School. Courses will run at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, Queen Square, Bath.

"One of my favorite things to do is dig."

My nephew Austin, pictured and quoted in today's Pantagraph.

"Divorce" as Ritual

In this commentary on one of the themes in New Writing 14, the author comments on my poem "Divorce" as about a ritual.

Poetry and Public Language Conference--Call for Papers

CALL FOR PAPERS

Poetry and Public Language

A conference on contemporary poetry

Invited speakers: Barrett Watten and Lyn Hejinian

For Watten see: www.english.wayne.edu/fac_pages/ewatten/index.html

For Hejinian see: www.epc.buffalo.edu/authors/hejinian

A conference on contemporary poetry in English, 30 March to 1 April 2007 at the University of Plymouth and with a performance at Dartington College of Arts.

The organising committee invites proposals for papers (250 words) on any aspect of Poetry and Public Language in all schools, tendencies and factions of contemporary poetry in English: on the use of public language in poetry, on poetry and ideology, and on the role poetry creates for itself in the public sphere. Proposals on the work of the invited speakers will be especially welcome.

The deadline for proposals is 30 November 2006. Send, preferably by email, to: Poetry and Public Language 2007, Sue Matheron, Faculty of Arts, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom; susan.matheron@plymouth.ac.uk

Organising committee: Tony Lopez, Anthony Caleshu, John Hall, Mark Leahy

Contact t.lopez@plymouth.ac.uk