Silence is having nothing to say and not saying it. So, over the past few months I’ve dug in quietly to write a non-fiction book that has been circling me for years. Part memoir, part writing advice learned the hard way, I hope it could turn out to be one of those books that we writers like to keep by us throughout our lives. My own favourites are Dorothea Brande’s Becoming a Writer (1934) and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. What are yours?

Meanwhile, invitations to join in poetry events keep coming – see my Events page for more. First up is an evening in Broadstairs that will be unusual and very exciting. Many thanks to Cheryl-lya Broadfoot for organising. I hope she reads some of her own poetry on the night as well as (expertly) shepherding us around. Please come if you’re in the area.