An inspiration for the wannabe writer

When I was advised to watch third year De Montfort Creative Writing students give us a preview of their work, I expected to see for myself the level of talent and imagination I should be aiming for over the next couple of years.

And I was not disappointed. For a start, the range of subjects covered was impressive enough. From completely frank depictions of how girls and boys’ lives work, to the diary of a mayfly to a book of foreign words with no English translation, the ideas were endless. And clearly, so was the creativity.

I mentioned previously what I’d been expecting. In actual fact, I expected nothing more than that. No, I didn’t mean it would be nothing more than students showing what I should be aiming for. Because the diversity of subject matter and style showed me one thing: that there isn’t one standard to be aiming for. And that’s the main thing I have taken away with me from this event.

Grace Liu

Who? Carol Watts?

Carol Watts, Northampton bread poet, graced us with her presence at DMU to give us an insight into her multi-media poetry.

Carol Watts is inspirational to young writers not just by merit of the content of her work, but also a true champion of "new media" formats. Transforming writing into art and videos is no easy task, but Carol's gamble pays off and is sure to fascinate writers of all ages and disciplines.

One specific part that captivated me and caught my eye was the musicality of the pieces. It really did bring the event to life. Not only did she include the audience, but she even sang a few lines for us. The tone, the rhythm and the melody was magnificent.

I know now Carol Watts to be phenomenal poet who really did give us all something to think about: that no matter who you are, what you do, or where you are, inspiration is all around us. 

Leah Stafford 

Mi, Fa, Mi

East-Midlands girl, from Northampton to be exact, Carol Watts travelled up from London to grace DMU with her multi-media poetry.  

Carol Watts is a prime example of how many forms of writing can be translated over different forms. One example given was painting, which Carol admits to dabble in. From a 35 second video of a Swiss car park to a painting a red car, came a sequence of 8 poems. Each poem as captivating as the last. Some even verging into the dark.

One striking thing about Carol’s poetry is her attention to the musically of her pieces. The audience even getting treated to a line or two of singing, Mi, Fa, Mi. The room was silent as all ears were on Carol, some closing their eyes to feel rhythm, lulling them into a state of relaxation but taking in every intense word.  

I believe that everyone in the room would agree that Carol really brought her poetry to life through her performance. She proved to all aspiring writers that whether you are sat on a train or browsing the web, inspiration really can come from just about anywhere.

Rebecca Kiff.