Riddle
from Oracle Bones 

With the dawn I arise, but die in the night
My body feeds on the flowing of light
My shadow is cast shining with joy
A pool of amber, pearl and amethyst.

Workshops

James has considerable experience as a creative writing tutor, both with groups and individuals, and is noted for his friendly and insightful guidance.

He has led residential poetry workshops at the Arvon Foundation, the UK's premier creative writing organization, and has been a Visiting Writer at the Universities of Lancaster and the West of England on their MA courses in creative writing. He has also led workshops in various parts of Ireland, including at the Strokestown  and Baffle poetry festivals, and at Bantry, Clonakilty, Skibbereen and Dunmanway libraries.

In addition, he has held poetry residencies at Exeter Cathedral in the UK, as part of the 2001 national Year of the Artist programme, and at the Munster Literature Centre in Cork city. At the MLC he was asked to mentor four local poets, three of whom have gone on to publish their first volumes of poetry. He is currently a facilitator at the weekly MLC workshop in Cork.

Tutoring

James is available for critiquing individual poems and manuscripts, and conducting one-to-one tutorials, either via email or, if practicable, in person. He adopts a positive, encouraging approach, trying to find a poet’s strengths as a basis for further development.

Adjudication

Judging experience ranges from the Strokestown International Poetry Prize to a local competition run by  Exeter Cathedral.