In Conversation

photo of Sharon, she has dark hair and is smiling

The poet has to have the last word

We talk to Sharon Black, editor of Pindrop Press, about the impact of Brexit, living and writing in two languages, and what’s new with Pindrop

Lorna with short gray hair, she is wearing glasses.

Ups and Downs

In Conversation: Lorna Dowell talks about her first teachers at school, setting up Poetic Licence, and how creative expression is key to general well-being and mental health

a man sitting at a table reading a book which hides his face, also on the table is a tabby cat

I’m enjoying the anonymity while it lasts

We talk to the Poet Laureate of Twitter, Brian Bilston, about pressure to publish, how writing about politics can be a form of therapy, and why he's writing love poems now

Picture of Emma smiling with shoulder length brown hair wearing blue shirt and dungarees sitting behind a table full of books.

In Conversation: The Friday Poem talks to Emma Dai'an Wright of The Emma Press about what it's like to be a gatekeeper, increased diversity in the publishing industry, and the joy of making nice things

Photograph of a man walking by a white wall in Kabul, on the wall is an illustration of a man pushing a wheelbarrow with a large red heart shape in it

Voices in a strange land

Feature: The Friday Poem talks to Exiled Writers Ink founding director Jennifer Langer. Photograph of Kabul Street Art by Kabir Mokamel

Big Yellow letter V on a white background surrounded by an multicoloured ring that looks a bit sixties

We want everyone to feel they can come and join our poetry party!

In Conversation: Stuart Bartholomew talks to The Friday Poem

Abstract design. Blue, black and yellow triangles and squares on a black background with the text "Ignition Press" on a blue background

My general approach is to question the norm

In Conversation: The Friday Poem talks to Les Robinson about finding new poets, writing blurbs, and the usefulness (or not) of poetry reviews

black and white head and shoulders photo of Amy Wack looking directly into the camera

Literature is larger than a single set of people or the taste of one editor

In Conversation: The Friday Poem talks to Amy Wack, Poetry Editor at Seren Books, about finding new poets, funding under austerity, and what it's like to be a poetry gatekeeper

Black and white head and shoulders photo of Helena Nelson smiling into the camera against the background of a field

Poetry editors have a love/hate relationship with poetry

In Conversation: The Friday Poem talks to Helena Nelson about the future of poetry publishing, the cult of personality and where to find good poetry today