From the outside, working in the arts can sometimes seem mysterious, impenetrable, or even impossible. It’s not a career path that gets brought up much at school: as Sarah Howe remarks, “‘poet’ never showed up on the computerised careers service as an option” – and ‘arts administrator’ is nearly as rare. In the hopes of […]

Here at YPN, we’ve often published features exploring the life and works of poets who have had a big impact on English literature – from William Blake to Elizabeth Bishop, Edith Sitwell to Robert Browning. In this latest feature, Stephanie Sy-Quia explores the life and works of Sarojini Naidu, an Indian poet and activist, in […]

Sylvia Plath is one of the most beloved poets of all time, especially by young writers. We asked Foyle Young Poet Maiya Dambawinna why she thought young poets flock to Plath. Content warning: contains references to suicide Last year, The Poetry Society surveyed young poets about their reading and writing habits: when asked their favourite […]

For many, 2020 has been a strange Ramadan, and this weekend will mark an unusual Eid. We asked YPNer Fathima Zahra to recommend books by Muslim poets for these strange times. ‘I fast during Ramadan and by its midpoint I feel charged, sharper. I feel witchy (is this blasphemous?) and clear. I don’t know that […]

In our fourth and final Foyle Young Poets recommend feature, Cia Mangat and Annie Davison share what they’re reading and how they are coping. Why not take up Cia’s challenge to start your own book club and carry on the conversation? Catch up with yesterday’s feature here. Cia Mangat: Space Struck Wolves “This week I […]

What to do in self-isolation? Read! We’re asking Foyle Young Poets to offer poetry recommendations for these strange times. Today, Lydia Wei and Em Power suggest some poems to read and some ways of coping with the changing circumstances. Check back later this week as we share more reading tips from Foyle Young Poets, and […]

Today, Foyle Young Poets Talulah Quinto and Trinity Robinson offer their top poetry recommendations for right now, and share how they’ve been coping with the change of pace. Check back later this week as we share more reading tips from Foyle Young Poets, and find yesterday’s feature here! Talulah Quinto: Disappearing Into Another World ‘Ode […]

Do you wish you were reading more poetry but don’t know where to start? We’ve asked last year’s top 15 Foyle Young Poets to recommend poems for these strange times. Hear from these award-winning poets about what they’ve been reading and how they’re coping with the lockdown. Check back later this week as we share […]

These are going to be some strange holidays: many of you will still be at home, and if you were planning to prepare yourself for exams later in the summer – well, they’ve mostly disappeared too. Here are a few light touch ideas and challenges to keep you inspired, distracted and occupied instead. Let us […]