CLICK HERE FOR ADVICE FOR FIRST TIME READERS

DO YOU PUBLISH ANY BOOKS OR MAGAZINES?
Certainly not a regular magazine, but occasionally we put together an anthology of poets who have read at the DGPS Open Floor. Available from the office for £7.00 (inc postage), 96 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4HY, cheques payable to DGPS. This wonderful anthology features famous names and up-and-coming talent. The Dead Good Poets Society: the Book, is also available in bookshops for £7.95 (Headland, 2005)
We recommend that you come to our events and receive our newsletter in order that you are invited to contribute to the next one!


WHAT IS IN THE NEWSLETTER?
This is a monthly mail (postal or by e-mail) comprising of anything that takes the co-ordinator’s fancy: writing courses, live events, theatre productions, job opportunities, and of course reminders of our Open Floor and Guest night events.
You are welcome to send in suggestions – preferably events on Merseyside.
To receive the newsletter contact us and ask to be added to the mail list.

DO ANY OF YOUR POETS RUN WORKSHOPS OR GIVE READINGS?
Yes. Those who run the Poet’s Professional Development workshops have biographies and further information in our workshop pack, which you can obtain by sending your postal address to the co-ordinator. We can adapt workshops to suit the needs of your group, and in some cases (social exclusion, etc.) with enough advance notice the fee can be waived as we may be able to apply for funding from elsewhere.
Other members of the committee will certainly give readings, and general members can be approached at Open Floors if you like their stuff – but we make no guarantee of quality or reliability for poets engaged under your own steam in this way.

WHAT OTHER EVENTS ARE THERE FOR POETS IN LIVERPOOL?
1st Monday Still Life, The Egg Cafe (stairs), Newington.


1st Thursday Lingham's (venue islevel), Heswall. Music and poetry.
Peggy Poole 625 8957

2nd Wednesday The Originals Poetry Group at the Originals Cafe, 7a The Quadrant, Hoylake, Wirral.

Irregular Weds. Originality, The Citadel, St Helen's (is fully accessible).

2nd Monday Ruby Active, The Egg Cafe (has stairs), Newington,
Tom George 728 8837



3rd Thursday Wirral Ode Show Poets, The Stork Hotel, Birkenhead.
Jason Richardson 638 3648

4th Thursday Greasby Poets, The Library (level, non- smoking), 'writers' surgery'.
Peggy Poole 625 8957 

Fiction events. Irregular poetry/ music/ visuals nafefiction@hotmail.com

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR FIRST TIME READERS?
Yes, come to one of our Performance for Newcomers workshops!
If you’re outside Merseyside and reading this, then observe these five points:

Stick to time. Poems take longer to read out loud than they do to read silently in your head. Read your selected poems aloud at home with a watch or oven timer ticking over you.Include any chit-chat you intend to do in your five minutes i.e. your introductions and links. Many first-time readers forget to add this time in. It is possible to spend longer on your chit-chat than on your poetry! So beware.

This is especially important if you read at a slam because if you run over time the compere will interrupt you and haul you off the stage. DGPS nights are a little easier going than that, but we ask that you glance at the compere around your second or third poem to check you’ve enough time left. You can even ask, ‘time for one more?’ If the answer is no, smile graciously and leave the stage – do not beg for more time, it is demeaning!

Be kind to the audience. If you choose to read in public then remember this is not just about you, it’s about the audience. First time readers sometimes make the mistake of reading very emotional material – which is fine - but can be hard work for the readerand hard work for the audience; why add to your nerves?
To avoid leaving the audience worried that you might kill yourself after leaving the stage(!) choose, say, three poems and place them in order of: easy to understand; then a harder or longer poem; and end with one of medium length and possibly cheerful. This gives the audience a way in to your material, and a stress-free exit. With shorter poems you might fit in 4 or 5, but observe the same principle in shaping your set.

Don’t apologise. Even if you have very little confidence in yourself try hard not to apologise or tell people that they probably won’t like what you’re going to read. People have all kinds of varied tastes at Open Floors, and someone is bound to like your stuff. But it is harder to like if someone starts off by telling you it’s bad! If you want a sympathy vote go for a more upbeat ‘This is my first time here.’
Provided you stick to time, you will be listened to and you will be applauded.Don’t go back to the beginning of a poem

If you stumble over some words, take it back to the beginning of that line and read again. Remember there’s no need to apologise, just do it!

It is not advisable to go back to the beginning of the poem after making a mistake (unless the poem’s first line is two lines up). You will run over time and the audience will become restless and bored.

Enjoy yourself Yes, it’s scary, yes it’s hard, and no you’re probably not going to get rich and famous this way. So why are you doing it? Because you enjoy it. Some of us even say we love it! Take advantage of workshops and courses, don’t expect miracles (a publishing deal within six months), but do expect pleasure. Increase your pleasure by remembering the social aspects of the poetry scene – bring your friends along, make new friends, spread the word….