Editorial

Last December, there was a fire at Crunch HQ. Thankfully nobody was hurt, but the damage to our equipment was devastating. Maybe our use of the Thomas Gray quote “poetry is thoughts that breathe, and words that burn” on our homepage had riled the fates. It’s taken us the best part of six months, but we are now back on our feet and raring to go.

As you may know (perhaps all too well), very few poets make a living from simply writing poetry. Those who aren’t also prolific novelists or essayists might be editors, lecturers, librarians – or even television personalities. Whatever work a poet can get to bump up the pay packet, whilst keeping a grip on that precious writing time. But how does the teaching and editing of poetry affect the writing of poetry?

Shortly before the fire, we sat down with a man who could answer this question. Alan Kellermann is a poet first and foremost, but he is also a poetry editor and lecturer. Conversation topics on the podcast we recorded were varied, though always centred around poetry and thoroughly interesting. We touched upon the writing, editing, teaching and performance of poetry, and also the curiously appealing idea of returning to the pamphlet form following the publication of a first collection.

We think Alan's insights on the podcast – in addition to the three poems he has recorded for us – have made this a fascinating issue of The Crunch, and so we're glad to be able to bring it to you as intended.

The Crunch
June 2016

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Featured Poet

ALAN KELLERMANN was born in Wisconsin, USA, and lives in Swansea. In 2011, he completed a PhD in poetry at Swansea University, where he now lectures in creative writing.

His work has appeared in various journals, among them Poetry Ireland, Planet and New Welsh Review. His first collection, You, Me and the Birds, was published in 2012. He is poetry editor for Parthian.

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