I am currently very interested in the therapeutic aspects of creative writing, which is a good thing as I’ve been selected by Derbyshire County Council for an Arts Council and DCC funded project to deliver writing sessions in the community. Called writing ambitions: Derbyshire Residencies, the scheme includes five training sessions and mentoring. I am really looking forward to exploring therapeutic writing (though all writing is, of course, therapeutic) and helping my chosen community group to find their voice.

Here’s a poem that came out of a writing session at Ripley Writers’ Group, though I had already done some prep work for it. It was using things that remind you of people as a stimulus, so I chose my grandma’s button box. I do not think that this is finished, but it shows what can happen with a good creative exercise.

Queen of Cakes

Who knew when you weren’t baking

You were knitting together your family?

Captive every Saturday morning for the market then the Co-op,

Sunday for cakes, scones and your life story.

Melting moments.

Cousins under the dining table

Trying to find patterns, matches

From buttons harvested from clothes over years.

Queen of cardigans

Your dress code was sweater.

Your currency buttons

You knew what to press.