Interview with Gladys Mary Coles
I live by the sea in Waterloo, which is part of Crosby, which in turn is part of the borough of Sefton. As part of Sefton's imaginative 'Sefton Writes' series of events, it was possible to book half an hour with Gladys Mary Coles to discuss poetry publishing, which I did.
The Sefton brochure states “Gladys Mary Coles is one of the country's most prolific, admired and award winning poets. She runs the hugely popular Headland Press, publishing new works by contemporary poets”. She has had ten collections published, including 'Song of the Butcher Bird' in 2007, which (fortunately) I like enormously. She said she would rather be described as a poet than a publisher. Gladys also runs a Lifelong Learning poetry workshop at Liverpool University, from 12 – 2 on a Thursday (currently full).
It was a pleasure to have half an hour with her – she is lovely. She was happy for me to scribble notes with a view to putting them on Writeoutloud, which she hadn't run across but was interested to hear about.
Her advice to aspiring poets was enjoy it! Early on, enjoy the innocence of it all and meeting the people. “Discover that this is for you” - then pursue it, be passionate about it, enjoy it. You have to discover your own voice. There is a lifelong process of learning. It is important to be open to new material, not to repeat yourself, to avoid stereotypical ideas and themes. Be individual and fresh in your perceptions and language, while being aware that your own voice would shine through, and having confidence in that voice.
Gladys referred to Ursula Fanthorpe,now died, as an example of a strong, distinctive individual voice emanating from her personality. Someone who wasn't trying to write like someone else. The personality was there on the page – she wrote as she thought as she spoke. Gladys referred to Stendhal - “self is the writer”.
Detail is important. The description of detail and choice of image comes from your distinctive way of seeing and thinking. She referred to Larkin's choice of obelias out of all the plants in the park – the shape and sound of the word reflecting his melancholy outlook
Try not to get too ambitious - it can impede the poetry. There can be too much ego tied up in it and you can lose your spark. Having said that, getting published can be about who you know. Networking is important. So some ambitious people do make their way deviously and ruthlessly through the poetry world, meeting and using people who might forward their chances of being published.
If you are approaching a big publisher, you need a track record. So start with websites and magazines, and competitions and look to get published by one of the smaller presses. Be professional about how you approach publishers, making it look good and keeping records of what you sent when to who. She had other detailed advice which she passed across in a sheet which is copyright, and which she asked should not be reproduced wholesale. She herself started with pamphlets and 'chap books' (?) but soon graduated to 'books with proper spines'.
She encourages people to 'write with the will to improve'. Read as much contemporary poetry as possible. Attend readings. Affiliate to a writing group or poetry circle. A Poetry Society 'Stanza Group' is usually good – consider starting one if there isn't one near you.
She also encourages entering for competitions and mentioned Kudos run by Carol Baldock which has details of competitions and much else. [I'd not heard of it but Google has thrown up http://www.kudoswritingcompetitions.com]
I passed across some of my own stuff and she was nice about it, though it must be doubtful that that will lead to anything. I also passed across a personal choice from WOL- a favourite poem from each of 24 other denizens of the site – all stuff posted very recently. I hope no one minds, but it is in the public domain, and who knows, something may come of it.
A thoroughly enjoyable 30 minutes and a special person.
The Sefton brochure states “Gladys Mary Coles is one of the country's most prolific, admired and award winning poets. She runs the hugely popular Headland Press, publishing new works by contemporary poets”. She has had ten collections published, including 'Song of the Butcher Bird' in 2007, which (fortunately) I like enormously. She said she would rather be described as a poet than a publisher. Gladys also runs a Lifelong Learning poetry workshop at Liverpool University, from 12 – 2 on a Thursday (currently full).
It was a pleasure to have half an hour with her – she is lovely. She was happy for me to scribble notes with a view to putting them on Writeoutloud, which she hadn't run across but was interested to hear about.
Her advice to aspiring poets was enjoy it! Early on, enjoy the innocence of it all and meeting the people. “Discover that this is for you” - then pursue it, be passionate about it, enjoy it. You have to discover your own voice. There is a lifelong process of learning. It is important to be open to new material, not to repeat yourself, to avoid stereotypical ideas and themes. Be individual and fresh in your perceptions and language, while being aware that your own voice would shine through, and having confidence in that voice.
Gladys referred to Ursula Fanthorpe,now died, as an example of a strong, distinctive individual voice emanating from her personality. Someone who wasn't trying to write like someone else. The personality was there on the page – she wrote as she thought as she spoke. Gladys referred to Stendhal - “self is the writer”.
Detail is important. The description of detail and choice of image comes from your distinctive way of seeing and thinking. She referred to Larkin's choice of obelias out of all the plants in the park – the shape and sound of the word reflecting his melancholy outlook
Try not to get too ambitious - it can impede the poetry. There can be too much ego tied up in it and you can lose your spark. Having said that, getting published can be about who you know. Networking is important. So some ambitious people do make their way deviously and ruthlessly through the poetry world, meeting and using people who might forward their chances of being published.
If you are approaching a big publisher, you need a track record. So start with websites and magazines, and competitions and look to get published by one of the smaller presses. Be professional about how you approach publishers, making it look good and keeping records of what you sent when to who. She had other detailed advice which she passed across in a sheet which is copyright, and which she asked should not be reproduced wholesale. She herself started with pamphlets and 'chap books' (?) but soon graduated to 'books with proper spines'.
She encourages people to 'write with the will to improve'. Read as much contemporary poetry as possible. Attend readings. Affiliate to a writing group or poetry circle. A Poetry Society 'Stanza Group' is usually good – consider starting one if there isn't one near you.
She also encourages entering for competitions and mentioned Kudos run by Carol Baldock which has details of competitions and much else. [I'd not heard of it but Google has thrown up http://www.kudoswritingcompetitions.com]
I passed across some of my own stuff and she was nice about it, though it must be doubtful that that will lead to anything. I also passed across a personal choice from WOL- a favourite poem from each of 24 other denizens of the site – all stuff posted very recently. I hope no one minds, but it is in the public domain, and who knows, something may come of it.
A thoroughly enjoyable 30 minutes and a special person.
Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:36 pm
<Deleted User> (6603)
Hi Dave, thanks for passing on that advice.I live near you and I saw Gladys Mary today. She graciously read through some of my poems and prose and commented and passed on some tips. I then saw Alison Chisholm who gave me some guide lines on free verse and blank verse. This too, was very helpful. Unfortunately I could not get to see the new poet laureate, Carol Anne Duffy who was also at Crosby.
I think it was marvellous of Sefton Arts to arrange these oppurtunities for the local poets.I would like to thank them as the writing surgeries were free of charge.I think the organisers were Philip Wroe and Brian Wake with apologies if I left any one out.If anyone is in the Merseyside area, four female poets at Crosby Civic Hall,Sunday 15th. [tomorrow]..Gladys Mary Coles...
Mandy Coe...Pauline Wroe...Rebecca Goss...and at the same venue in the afternoon the Sefton Writing Rewards. Merseyside rocks..
I think it was marvellous of Sefton Arts to arrange these oppurtunities for the local poets.I would like to thank them as the writing surgeries were free of charge.I think the organisers were Philip Wroe and Brian Wake with apologies if I left any one out.If anyone is in the Merseyside area, four female poets at Crosby Civic Hall,Sunday 15th. [tomorrow]..Gladys Mary Coles...
Mandy Coe...Pauline Wroe...Rebecca Goss...and at the same venue in the afternoon the Sefton Writing Rewards. Merseyside rocks..
Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:29 pm
