Burning Bright

I got confirmation of my PhD on 1st April and will receive the award in July.  This has been such an extraordinary few years learning to write in a new way.  For me, after being away from study for so long, the research element was very difficult and I spent much of my time on the academic study.  This was a creative writing PhD so I produced a new collection of poetry as well as the study on the early dramatic monologues of US poet Frank Bidart.  Bidart is not known as well as he should be over here.  I’ve started working on my book proposal but I’m in a muddle over what to do next.  The Viva Voce in January was a revelation.  I was able to defend my work and came through without any corrections on the poems.  The few changes for the study were not onerous and I’m still thinking about the advice of my examiners.  I have gone back to the beginning with the poems re-editing and rewriting and am some way off being happy with the manuscript.  I will try out some of the poems with an audience on Light Night (17 May) reading from ‘Insane Places’ at the Athenaeum in Liverpool 8pm – 9pm.