Judging the Red Shed …

This year, I’ve been asked to judge The Red Shed Open Poetry Competition (deadline for entires 25th April). It’s made me think about what I might be looking for when the poems are handed over to me. Of course, the judging is anonymous, but it would be great to think that this post might prompt a few of you to enter. John Irving Clarke at Currock Press does a phenomenal job of promoting live literature in Wakefield and entering the competition is a great way of supporting the work he does.
Click here for the rules and entry form.

Visiting the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, January 2015, in search of inspiration – hence the rather pensive expression!

So, what am I looking for?
I’m a keen reader of poetry, especially contemporary poetry. Often, I read a line that stops me in my tracks and I write it in my notebook (okay…