Dr Anthony Wilson

About me:

My research takes the view that poetry writing, like other forms of linguistic discourse and art forms, can be taught. I promote a pedagogy of gradual development. Therefore, as a published poet, qualified teacher, and researcher in poetry pedagogy, I research in this field from a hybrid perspective. I am engaged in many poetry related activities, including publishing, blogging, giving readings, visiting schools, leading inservice training with teachers, reviewing, and tutoring adults. I research within my field as both participant and observer and am interested in connecting with other poet-researchers in the field.

Research

I am co-convener of the ESRC Seminar Series Poetry Matters. My recent work includes Choice and Control:Improving Writing Through Embedded Attention to Grammar, Teachers as Writers, a joint investigation with Open University and the Arvon Foundation, and Bath Festivals’ The Write Team, both on the impact of creative writers working in schools.

My research on teachers’ conceptualisations of poetry has been published in English Teaching: Practice and Critique, Language and Education, Thinking Skills and Creativity, and Research Papers in Education.

Making Poetry Matter, co-edited with Sue Dymoke and Andrew Lambirth and based on the Poetry Matters Seminar Series, is available from Bloomsbury.

Making Poetry Happen was Highly Commended in the UKLA Academic Book of the Year Award, 2016.

Personal Interests

My books of poetry are How Far From Here is Home? (Stride, 1996), Nowhere Better Than This (Worple Press, 2002) and Full Stretch: Poems 1996-2006 (Worple Press, 2006) and Riddance (Worple Press, 2012).

Love for Now, a memoir of my experience of cancer, is available from Impress Books.

Bloodaxe Books published the anthology of my blog, Lifesaving Poems, in 2015.

I have held writing residencies at The Poetry Society, The Times Educational Supplement, The Poetry Trust, Apples and Snakes and Tate Britain. My books include The Poetry Book for Primary Schools (1998) and Creativity in Primary Education (2015).

You can watch videos of me speaking and giving readings here.

The following links take you to pages where you can read and listen to interviews I have given on my experience of cancer, poetry and blogging, Lifesaving Poems, and writing.

https://anthonywilsonpoetry.com

Interests:

My research takes the view that poetry writing, like other forms of linguistic discourse and other art forms, can be taught. It promotes a pedagogy of gradual development. As a published poet, qualified teacher, and researcher in poetry pedagogy, I occupy a unique position. I am therefore engaged in many poetry related activites, including giving readings, visiting schools, leading inservice training with teachers, reviewing, and tutoring adults (see esteem indicators). I therefore research within my field as both participant and observer, bringing to it a wide range of perspectives.

Personal Interests:

My memoir of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Love for Now (Impress Books, 2012) was recently praised by James Landale, BBC Deputy Political Editor, on World at One for its depiction of the 'extraordinary physical and emotional rollercoaster before, during and after cancer'.

Details at http://anthonywilsonpoetry.com/2013/06/07/the-rollercoaster-ride-of-cancer-an-interview-with-james-landale/.

Qualifications:

Doctor of Philosophy (Education) (2004), University of Exeter
Master of Arts, Language and Literature in Education (Distinction) (1997) Goldsmiths, University of London
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Primary) (1988), University of Greenwich
BA (Hons) (English) (1985), Queen Mary University of London