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Jodie Hollander – Poet in Residence – 15th April to 10th May 2025
This Spring we welcomed Arizona-based poet Jodie Hollander to The Morrab Library as our Poet in Residence. Kindly sponsored by The Myner Trust, this month-long Residency (15th April – 10th May 2025) was an opportunity to share Jodie’s powerful poetry and thoughtful workshops with our Library community.
Jodie first visited us in 2023 as part of her national book tour, presenting a reading to members and hosting a poetry workshop. In 2024, she was the judge of the Sonnet category for the Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry. You can read more about Jodie’s work here.
Above: Jodie Hollander
Above: a selection of Jodie’s photographs from her stay
Jodie stayed in Newlyn for the duration of her trip, walking to the Library along the Prom and up through the Morrab Gardens, to experience and seek inspiration from the library each day. She worked her way around the rooms – Poetry, Elizabeth Treffry, Literature – to sense out which desk she preferred and settled in for many writing days, soaking in the stillness and atmosphere of the Library’s top floor.
Above and right: Jodie’s favourite desk, in the Literature Room.
Jodie delivered three sold out poetry workshops during her visit. In the first session, her class discussed Nature Poetry and then wrote their own pieces inspired by the Library’s setting in Morrab Gardens. In a subsequent workshop, with the May sunshine streaming in through the Reading Room windows, her group considered and shared the poetry of grief and healing. Jodie also visited Penwith College to lead a writing workshop to some of their English Literature students.
Above: Fully booked workshops at The Morrab Library. Right: Library views.
During her ‘Ekphrastic Poetry’ workshop the class were let loose to roam around the library in search of a piece of artwork, photograph or a curio found within our collection to write about. Some of the group have kindly given permission for us to share excerpts and first drafts of the poems they wrote during this class, alongside the piece of work that inspired it.
Click here to read Bridget Crowley’s unfinished first draft of a poem called ‘How to Look at a Picture’.
Click here to read Sue Hawkins’ poem, ‘Women on the beach’, inspired by a painting on the wall of the Photo Archive.
Click here to read Mike Higgins’ poem, ‘Why?’ inspired by Dennis Myner’s painting of St Ives, which was on display for the duration of the workshop’.
Jodie’s classes were open to all, members and non-members alike, those who already love writing poetry and those for whom this was a first foray. It was lovely for the library to be alive with poetry and we heard such lovely feedback from the people who attended the sessions.
In fact, Jodie’s positive energy permeated throughout the building during her residency. It really felt like she had taken up permanent residence in the Literature Room so it was confusing when the weeks whistled by and we were reserving her desk for the last time. Jodie was a familiar sight – writing, chatting with library members about her work and theirs, sharing coffee breaks and conversation with other members in the kitchen. We were so grateful for her boundless enthusiasm!
We bookended the residency with poetry readings; the first was an opportunity to introduce Library members to Jodie’s collections – My Dark Horses and Nocturne – and discuss her work in a relaxed setting. Both of these collections are available to borrow from the Library and you can watch the recording of her talk HERE.
The residency concluded with a Poetry Open Mic Afternoon Tea which opened with Jodie reading some of her recent series of Climate Poems. We recorded Jodie reading two of these poems (on a very sunny day) – ‘Rain’ and ‘A Picture of Vail’ (right).
Attendees of her workshops, alongside local poets, took to the informal stage of the Reading Room to perform their work, many choosing to share poems they had created during Jodie’s classes.
Here are Jodie’s thoughts about her time at The Morrab:
“My month spent here as poet-in-residence at The Morrab Library has been nothing short of divine. I’m sitting here in a reading room on my last day before my journey home, still in disbelief that I’ve had such an extraordinary opportunity to teach and write out of this beautiful library, with its kind and knowledgeable staff and volunteers, and friendly members who made me feel right at home as I settled in. I couldn’t have asked for a better month, from the well-attended workshops and readings, to the days of glorious sunshine, and the walks home looking at the sea. This was a month filled with inspiration and happiness.
One of my highlights was teaching poetry workshops to such an eager and talented group. In all three of my workshops, I was in awe of the knowledge, passion and willingness to learn of all the participants who attended. But I was even more impressed with the caliber of poems that came from these workshops. It was a pleasure and honor to watch these poets and their poems blossom, and an even greater pleasure to hear many of them read their poems aloud with poise and courage at the Open Mic reading on May 10th.
When I wasn’t teaching workshops or giving readings, I was spending as much time as I possibly could in the reading rooms. I think this must be the most beautiful library on earth! With the shelves of antique books, the views of the subtropical gardens, and the sea sparkling in the distance, I felt as if I’d landed in a small corner of heaven. While I had initially set out to work on my collection in-progress, which is a series of poems about climate change, as soon as I hit British soil, I was inspired to write a series of poems on Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath. This project I had only just begun during my last trip to England, after I spent ten days at the Elmet Trust, living in Hughes’ childhood home. I never imagined I’d have a sheaf of poems on the subject. Here, my writing came freely and easily, and the incredible poetry selection in the Poetry Room was a huge help to me. By the end of the month, I couldn’t believe how much writing I had done. But it wasn’t only the time to write, it was also the magical quality of The Morrab Library, Penzance, the sea, and all of you helping me to feel comfortable, welcome and inspired.
I cannot say thank you enough to The Myner Trust for kindly funding this once in a lifetime opportunity, and to Lisa, Harriet, James, and all the amazing staff, members and volunteers who make The Morrab Library such a delightful, uplifting and glorious place to read, study and write. Thank you all for making this such an incredible month filled with inspiration and joy. I will miss this place, and I will think of it often.”
Many thanks to The Myner Trust for funding this Poetry Residency and to Jodie Hollander for all of her work here. We look forward to reading the work Jodie created while in situ and will share it with you in due course.
Vale Sheila Bradley
It is with enormous sadness that we let you know of the passing of Sheila Bradley.
Sheila was a loyal volunteer for the library for over 30 years, working on so many different projects it is impossible to mention them all. As a member of the Book Selection Committee, Sheila spent many hours sifting through reviews, possessing in depth subject knowledge right across the board… literature, poetry, sciences, politics, history, the arts, films, music and more. She also created the displays of books in the case in reception, preparing informative labels on each, and was also a welcome face at the front desk to our members and visitors.
Sheila had an unmatched thirst for knowledge, and her love and support for the Morrab Library was immense. She was remarkable, wise, funny, and devoted to family and friends. We all loved her very much and the library owes her a huge debt.
Six books for new prose writers | a blog from our Writer in Residence, Peter McAllister
Our Writer in Residence, Peter McAllister, shares his recommendations of the best books about creative writing…
“When starting my writing journey, I found it very difficult to know what advice to heed and from whom. Everyone seemed to have an opinion, a fixed idea of what’s expected of a writer. ‘You need to be at your desk every day,’ some said. Others offered the time-honoured, ‘just write what you know,’ and I was even told once to, ‘look for the lifeblood of the story… its stream will guide you.’ Though always given in good faith, advice often felt contradictory and the sheer volume of it was overwhelming.
A great writer and someone who has since become a close friend of mine offered the best advice: do whatever works for you. I knew she was right, straight away. There is no ‘one size fits all’. Whatever method keeps you producing work you’re proud of is right for you. It may be a completely different approach to what works for the next person, but writing is, for the most part, a solitary pursuit with no universal flow-chart to guaranteed success.
We can all benefit from some good quality pointers in the right direction, of course, so with the above caveat in mind, I offer for your consideration six craft books, written by leading authors, academics and critics. Chosen specifically for their vastly varied styles and suggested strategies, I hope one, two or perhaps even all six will prove useful for emerging writers. They each give different viewpoints on the craft of writing and, while some might serve simply to help you eliminate ways of working, others may offer something you take forward through the rest of your writing life. You may find yourself a favourite to reach for frequently or when in need of something particular it offers…”
Ailsa Cox – Writing Short Stories
“As Professor Emerita of short fiction at Edge Hill University and founder of the Edge Hill Prize, Ailsa Cox has made educating others and rewarding them for their successes her goal in life. And she’s very good at it.
A huge fan of short stories myself, this book has been invaluable to me for many years and is one I often flip through when looking for a writing prompt or an exercise to help develop a section of a piece I’m working on. This book isn’t just for short fiction writers; Cox encourages emerging writers to break habits, try new things, and generally explore their creativity.
Key aspects of creative writing are explained clearly and concisely, including character development, structure, dialogue, viewpoint, narrative voice and much more. Exercises throughout each chapter ensure you’re writing as you work through the book and form a bank of tools you can draw on for many years afterwards. This is a text to work through from cover to cover, should you wish, but one I feel works best to dip in and out of, as needed.”
(Not currently available from The Morrab Library.)
Jessica Brody – Save the Cat Writes a Novel
“For novelists who work best within a clearly defined framework, Jessica Brody’s best-seller is a must. Follow the steps in this book from cover to cover and you’ll plop out at the far end of it with a manuscript built on decades of research, having employed her one-size-fits-all drafting method.
The famed ‘Save the Cat’ methodology was originally a screenwriting strategy and here, Brody has successfully adapted it to novel-writing, so if you’re a filmic writer (ie. if you see your story as moving images in your head), you’ll likely connect with this book. Guiding writers through the fifteen plot points Brody says she has identified in almost every successful novel in history, she promises to help you compose successful novels that sell. There are many ‘cheat-sheets’ to be found online that claim to summarise her method (one written by Brody herself) but working through this book will bring benefits beyond just the production of your manuscript; you’ll learn how novels are constructed and begin almost subconsciously working that knowledge into all your writing from that point on.”
(Available to borrow from The Morrab Library. It can be found in the Literature Room, upstairs, at the Dewey Number 808.3)
James Wood – How Fiction Works
“Prepare to bore friends and family by spontaneously reading out loud from this book; you won’t be able to resist, it explores such fascinating insights into the world of fiction. James Wood covers ground here ranging from present day back to Homer’s writings of the eighth century BC, picking apart the very foundations of fiction, explaining how it works and how contemporary writers can harness it.
Wood was The Guardian’s Chief Literary Critic, a staff writer at The New Yorker and Professor of Literary Criticism at Harvard, so is expertly qualified to guide readers through this history of fiction. Of course, while interesting for all, this isn’t a book for non-fiction writers to rush out and buy.
Far from an instruction manual, this is more of a historical exploration that will have you reaching for the old favourites you thought you knew inside-out and re-reading them with a new understanding and appreciation. You’ll then be able to employ this knowledge in your writing, unlocking greater depths to your fiction.”
(Available to borrow from The Morrab Library. It can be found in the Literature Room, upstairs, at the Dewey Number 808.3)
(Available to borrow from The Morrab Library. It can be found in the Literature Room, upstairs, at the Dewey Number 808.06)
Anne Lamott – Bird by Bird
“A beautiful exploration of the love of authorship, Lamott uses her signature style of non-fiction to take readers on a journey of becoming a writer in this best-selling book. Very much a blend of novel and instruction manual, Lamott delves deep into her father’s brain cancer diagnosis, the birth of her son, marriage, death, domestic abuse and how this and more has all affected her writing.
For those struggling to find their way in the literary world, it may comfort you to learn that even greats such a Lamott have struggled intensely. Bird by Bird is relatable, heartbreaking, reassuring and exhilarating in equal measures. If you’re looking to wrap yourself up in an emotional read that will linger long after you put it down and simultaneously help you understand your own process, then this is a must-buy.”
John Yorke – Into the Woods
“A seasoned pro in the world of broadcast writing, Yorke is Managing Director of Company Pictures – the producers of Skins, Shameless, Wolf Hall etc. In terms of British Drama, they don’t come more experienced; Yorke (who also heads up Channel Four Drama and is Controller of BBC Drama Production) founded the BBC Writer’s Academy – a year-long programme that has produced a generation of successful television writers.
Into the Woods examines the concept of ‘story’ from all angles, revealing that there are identical elements in everything from fairy tales to blockbuster Hollywood movies. Using visual media as a starting point for most of his theorisation, he helps film and television writers see how easily they can draw on time-tested methods to improve their own writing, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. This isn’t just a book for screenwriters, far from it; Yorke offers insights that will benefit all who want to tell a story, whatever their form.”
(Available to borrow from The Morrab Library. It can be found in the Literature Room, upstairs, at the Dewey Number 808.3)
Jane Alison – Meander, Spiral, Explode
“For something a little bit… different, make sure to give Jane Alison’s award-winning craft book some much-deserved consideration. Breaking away from standard formulaic propositions, Meander, Spiral, Explode encourages writers to look for patterns in nature and use them to ‘feel’ their way through their stories, employing pure creative energy, rather than road-mapped guidance.
A fun read and insightful offering, Alison challenges the importance of the dramatic arc, rising tension, climaxes and denouements. She implores writers to leave these ‘outdated modes’ behind and instead ‘bring back experimentation’. For anyone who considers themselves a non-linear prose writer, this will be a huge help and a great pleasure to read.”