Editors’ preface

Mike's background in library and information work, particularly his experience in working with young people, gives him a distinct perspective on bringing literature to readers. In this chapter he uses his work with a variety of groups in society to illustrate how one can make poetry fun, exciting and a part of everyday life.

While maintaining the theme of works of imagination, Mike takes a very different approach to the other authors in this section. He is concerned with enthusing people from children to pensioners to read, listen to, write and perform poetry. His use of diary entries is a novel way of illustrating the way in which, as a poet, he develops a relationship with his audience. This can be adapted and adopted by library and information professionals and incorporated in any reader development scheme.

Introduction

I believe the most appropriate way to tell someone how I bring literature to readers is to tear a month out of my diary and go through it, to show the many different ways in which I, as a writer, poet, a publisher and educationalist, promote reading and writing. I have chosen a fairly representative month: June 2007.

A little about the poet

A poet?

I hate it when people ask me what I do for a living because it takes at least 20 minutes to explain fully. What I tell people when they do ask usually depends upon how much time I have and whether they are asking me out of politeness or whether they genuinely want to know.

If I tell them, with my strong Mancunian accent, that I write poetry, they usually say things like: ‘What, you make pottery?’

Then I reply with, ‘No, I write and perform poetry’, putting extra emphasis on the word ‘p-o-e-t-r-y’.