In this latest post in my series on creative writing and care I interview poet, writer and academic Denise Saul about her brilliant book The Room Between Us Pavilion Poetry, 2022).

When I was growing up the idea of being a writer – and even more so a poet – was very much a fantasy. My dad, being practical, suggested journalism instead. ‘I can just imagine it,’ one of my university friends used to say. ‘You as a poet, living in garret, wearing a shawl and lots of hair grips.’

Last month I taught a workshop on using rules, constraint and collision in poetry writing. These approaches, I think, are part of my toolkit for times when I want to (gently) rediscover playfulness and experimentation in my writing, without necessarily having a particular goal – or manuscript deadline – in mind.