Sinead Keegan

Over the lockdown period, in addition to learning to teach university modules digitally and running a series of online workshops and live events, I've also had the pleasure of working on several fantastic projects with 26 . I first wrote with this group for the Armistice project  with the Imperial War Museums  and this time the partnership is with The Wildlife Trusts  and 56 writers were paired with 56 endangered animals to write a 100 word poem and then an essay about their plight. I was delighted to be paired with the Bilberry Bumblebee, which is a native British bumblebee and clearly has the best name of any animal ever. Ever. Tell me a better one. I dare you. (I may have become somewhat attached) It was a fantastic experience that brought me into contact with passionate staff at both the Wildlife Trusts and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust . It was a fantastic experience and you can tell from the amazing quality of the writing everyone has produced, that this wasn't j...

I'm delighted to be offering a digital found poetry workshop inspired by the Chawton House archives for their Lockdown Literary Festival. The introduction will be live on their YouTube channel at 11am (BST) tomorrow, Friday, 15th of May, and then we'll follow up with a Facebook Live event from 4-5pm (BST) on Saturday, 16th of May. It's suitable for poets of all experience levels from never written a word of poetry to confident writers. And it's all free, too! What? Crazy. I know. It's what lockdown does. Other (free) events include tours of the house, talks on Jane Austen (she used to live on the estate), and talks with authors from Joanna Trollope to Gill Hornby.  Please join in and have some fun!

In more news that I hope (continues to) explain my absence from my dearly beloved blog, I will be working with the amazing Lucy Furlong over at Seethingography in exactly 4 weeks time to celebrate National Poetry Day (UK). We will be at the Museum of Futures in Surbiton throughout the day running all sorts of fun and challenging exercises and workshops in poetry for people of all ages and experience. There is no need to be a poet, just drop in and have some fun! The theme is 'Messages' so come explore ways of sending, receiving, crafting, reflecting, refracting messages and much more. Think letters, bottles at sea, texts, subliminal messages, psychic messages, missed messages, mixed messages and whatever else comes to mind. Get the message? What: National Poetry Day Sounds scary: It's not! Fun activities that anyone can do. Plus enthusiatic writers to help you out! Where: The Museum of Futures 117 Brighton Rd Surbiton When: Thursday, 06 October 2016

The 3rd Annual Stories of SW1 Writing Competition is running again this year - yay! Our theme this year is Heroes and Heroines so we're looking for all sorts of heroic tales. Engage us, entertain us, tell us about heroic deeds attempted, achieved and failed. From superheroes with superpowers to everyday heroism - be creative! Send your best flash fiction and/ or poem to info@southwestfest.org.uk. Each writer can submit up to two (2) pieces of writing, e.g. 2 poems OR 2 flash fictions OR 1 poem and 1 flash fiction. Flash fiction must be under 500 words, poetry must be 20 lines or fewer, scripts must be 10 minutes or fewer. The entry fee is £3 for the first submission, plus £2 for additional submissions (2 = £5, 3 = £7 etc.) and is payable through PayPal via the email address info@southwestfest.org.uk You must include proof of payment with your submission. This payment is non-profit making and supports the prizes. Writing must be sent in the body of an email beca...

Today marks another publication. I'm very happy to have both a poem and two photos published today on Seethingography . It's an exciting new website that is looking for diverse ways to capture the spirit of Seething.  Seethingography is: the writing and study of  the State of Seething. Where is this magical land of summer ski competitions, gastropubs and shopping trolleys on sign posts? It's in and around Surbiton. So, come on you Kingston and KU writers (especially those of you who lived in Seething Wells!), I know you have things to say about the area. If you have anything Seething have a look at their submissions guidelines and get sending! The site is edited by the inimitable and formidable poet, Lucy Furlong , so send your best!

Delighted to be able to announce that I have two new poems in the latest edition of The Lake , which is a great digital poetry magazine. As has become woefully habitual, I am well behind in my posts here, but I will have some news coming up. Promise!

I have always had very bad luck with basil. Perhaps more honestly, I ought to say that basil plants have always had very bad luck with me, as they are the ones that end up withered and dead in my kitchen. Sometimes up to three plants in a summer. A short, British summer. Until this year. This year I bought a little basil plant at my local supermarket and I now have a great, big basil bush. So enormous is this horticultural triumph that it garners admiration from all who visit our flat and our neighbours are complaining that it's blocking their light. Unfortunately, after a good three months of delightful growth, it appears to have aphids. Boo. Hiss. Aphids are little bugs that love to feed on soft plants. They decimated my parsley this spring and although I got rid of them ages ago and they were outside then, they now appear to have migrated indoors to the most magnificent basil plant this side of the Thames. I caught them early, though, and I think I have them on their last ex...