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Recent Projects
Lydia was part of the Hatch Podcast: Birdlife edition in which she and several other poets explored Graves Park at dusk with Jim, a fascinating local ornithologist. Lydia wrote three poems based on this experience, inspired by the song of the birds, and Jim’s stories. Near the beginning of the recording Jim says he is putting on his tie, and dons his binoculars and satchel. This is well worth a listen.
Lydia’s residency with darts (Doncaster Community Arts) at The Point has come to a close. You can read more here. She worked with Creative Directions, People Focussed Group, and Conversation Club to produce an anthology of work inspired by three excellent exhibitions. This was launched with the groups and other attendees in a sharing event at the beginning of November.
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For National Poetry Day on 3rd October 2019 Lydia was involved with Books Up North’s Dancing With Words – a collaboration for Ilkley Literature festival which brought together poets and dancers to express collaborative works on the theme of ‘Truth’. Lydia created a performance piece with the dancer Akeim Toussaint. Watch a video about the project below. There are ongoing discussions about how to expand this project in 2021.
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Competition News
Lydia’s poem Birthday – 22 was commended in Hive Young Writer’s competition 2020. Her Poems Ashlie and Electric Shadows were longlisted and shortlisted respectively in 2019.
Lydia’s pamphlet Signs We Couldn’t Read was shortlisted in the 2017/18 Poetry Business New Poets Prize.
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Current and Upcoming Projects
Lydia worked closely with a writing group as part of Stockport Cultural Champions for over 50s. They explored different ways in to writing and created a number of pieces which will be shared in the near future.
You can ask questions about organising workshops or attending upcoming events with Lydia directly, using this form.
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Lydia is currently working on creating project books with darts (Doncaster Community Arts). The first was in collaboration with Anna Bean and is based around holidays. This has just been distributed to members of Creative Directions. The project will extend until the end of the year. Lydia is is currently working on a second book with Josephine Dellow based around the all important theme of our High Street.
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If you need some writing inspiration now, click here to see some ideas on how to get started with your writing, have fun, and pass a bit of time!
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Lydia also creates blackout poetry, usually using The Metro’s horoscopes, which you can read on twitter.
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Recent Publications
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Lydia’s poem ‘Not Anywhere’ has been included in August’s Ink Sweat and Tears. In this she describes eating BBQ fish at the roller rink, and many other things which did not happen.
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Lydia’s poems ‘Douglas the Bottom Dweller’ and ‘Self Portrait with Douglas’ have been included in issue 3 of Feral magazine. This issue explores the theme of ‘body’. Douglas the fish plays a major role in these sister poems. (is there a pattern developing?)
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‘Electric Shadows’ was featured in Product Magazine. This poem grew from an interest in language; the title is a literal translation of the Mandarin for ‘movie’. Despite the poem’s Chinese origins, it follows the syllabic pattern of a Japanese Tanka. There are also a number of references to American films and TV, but no fish this time! Just food and friends…
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Lydia has also has work featured on Staying Home, a Mass Observation project, which you can explore here.
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