Jonathan Davidson is a poet, writer and literature activist. He lives in the English Midlands but works internationally. His poetry has been widely published and he has also written memoir and criticism. His radio dramas and adaptations have been broadcast by BBC Radios 3 and 4. Much of his work is focussed on how writing – especially poetry – is experienced by readers and listeners.
Jonathan’s latest poetry collection is A Commonplace – Apples, Bricks & Other People’s Poems (Smith|Doorstop, August 2020). A conversation about how poetry exists as the underlying geology of our lives, Jonathan’s poems are complemented by work of other poets, littered with unruly footnotes. More…
A Commonplace
Bricks, Apples and Other People’s Poems
Published as Print and E-book on 1st August 2020
Events (readings, workshops, etc.)
Poets’ Cafe – Reading Poetry Stanza, 8pm for 8.30pm, Friday 10th February 2023, Reading, Berkshire, England
I’m a guest reader, hosted by Claire Dyer, at this regular event run by the Poetry Stanza Group in Reading, Berkshire. There is also an open mic. More details are here.
Hearth- Aelwyd 2023, Speaking & Hearing Poetry & Writer Discussion, Saturday 11th February 2023, Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales
I’m a guest writer at Hearth, a one day literature festival run at Gladstone’s Library in North Wales. I’ll be running a session about speaking and hearing poetry and then I’ll be part of a discussion with the other writers involved in the day. More details are here.
Writing More Poems & Letting Them Live a Little – a Five Week Short Course on Zoom, run by Welshpool Poetry Festival, led by Jonathan Davidson
19:00 – 21:00 GMT, Monday 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th March & Monday 3rd April 2023
£125 (bursary places available for those of limited financial means)
Being introduced to new, interesting poems is a great way to keep our own writing fresh. This course will be based around the sharing of some very fine poems accompanied by useful writing exercises to get the pen or pencil skipping across the page.
We’ll also listen to poems – to see how sound and meaning interweave – and they’ll be some conversation about ways of giving life to poems by sharing, publishing, performing.
Aimed at anyone currently writing poetry (or wishing they were), it will be run through a series of two hour Zoom meetings, with some tasks to be undertaken between sessions.
The course will be run in a friendly and relaxed manner, with plenty of opportunity to both learn and contribute. There will almost certainly be one of my almost legendary ‘end of course raffles’ in which, inexplicably, absolutely everyone gets a brilliant prize which will probably be a poetry book.
To reserve a place and for payment details or to request a bursary place please e-mail Pat Edwards at chelseavillas@btinternet.com.
Places available: 11
Requirements: the course will be run on Zoom so participants will need internet access. Advice on using Zoom will be provided
Booking deadline: Thursday 23rd February 2023
Other news…
Jonathan’s book, On Poetry, was selected by the poet Anthony Anaxagorou (author of How to Write It), as one of his Top 10 books about creative writing for The Guardian on 14th October 2020, alongside books by Zadie Smith, Sandeep Parmar and Ben Lerner.
A Commonplace has been included in The Morning Star’s ‘Best of 2020: Poetry‘ list, having been nominated by the poet Rosie Miles.
Jonathan now has a bookshop page on www.bookshop.org enabling some of the books mentioned in On Poetry and A Commonplace to be bought (with independent bookshops and Jonathan both receiving a 10% commission on the value of any books ordered.)
Click here to join Jonathan’s e-mail list
Event Recordings
Book Launch, Sunday 2nd August, 2020
A recording of the Sunday 2nd August 2020 on-line launch of A Commonplace with Jonathan Davidson, Jo Bell, Sue Brown, Gregory Leadbetter and Peter Sansom. More…
Ó Bhéal Poetry Reading Series Cork, Ireland
Nine Arches Press Lunchtime In Conversation
The Swindon Spring Festival of the Arts and Literature 2020
Jonathan Davidson 