By Tammi Dodger. “I’ll share something too, but you’re going to lose respect for me.” This is my reassurance to a friend, who grins back at me from beneath her glossy, black cycling helmet. She is in the process of telling me something that while embarrassing, is also too...
Creative writing
Experience: From outsider to insider in a football-shaped universe
By Tammi Dodger. If you live in the way that you take it personally when the universe ruins your day, the upside is that it sometimes feels like the cosmos is giving you its blessing. That’s how it felt the first time the Lionnesses won the Euros in 2021....
Winchester Poetry Festival opens its globally recognised Winchester Poetry Prize for the tenth year
Since 2016 poets from far and wide have submitted their best, unpublished poems into Winchester Poetry Prize competition to be in with a chance of winning the prestigious top prizes and publication in a printed anthology. The first prize is £1000, second prize is £500 and third prize is...
Experience: black velvet dress at the school disco
By Spring Wise. When I was ten, there was a school disco. My auntie took me shopping and bought me the most beautiful dress I could imagine. It was black velvet and made me feel like an Old Hollywood movie star. I chose it, no one chose it for...
Creative writing – poetry: “That’s Silly”
In Common has a platform for people to share creative writing – short stories, observations, poem etc. Today, we’re sharing a poem from a local writer. Please get in touch if you would like your work to be featured: editor@in-common.co.uk. By Gavandeep Chahal. ‘That’s Silly’ what’s that on your...
New Forest poet Damian Kelly-Basher appointed Hampshire Poet Laureate
After a countywide search, the hunt for the Hampshire Poet is over. Damian Kelly-Basher from Brockenhurst was selected from a very strong field of writers from all over Hampshire who applied for the sought-after post. The appointment of the Hampshire Poet takes place every two years and is jointly...
Book Review: Vague Wisdom by Will Vigar
By Anita Foxall Will Vigar’s new poetry collection, Vague Wisdom, should be top of your shopping list if you are looking for a good poetry book. It is rich in images and memories, some borrowed from art and cinema, some very personal. Poetry has always been present in his...
New writing group comes to October Books in Southampton
A new writing group, The Portswood Writers Circle, has recently launched at independent bookshop October Books. The group will next be meeting on Monday 22nd May. The aim of the group is to create a welcoming and encouraging environment in which local writers of all genres, styles, and experience...
Meet the author: Tamar Hodes
by Carolyn Thomas. This occasional In Common series introduces authors with a connection to Southampton or Hampshire – they may have been brought up here, or live here now, or use the area as a setting for their work. Kicking things off is Tamar Hodes, currently living in Bassett,...
Short story: Love Among the Branches
by Tamar Hodes. Love among the Branches, by Southampton author Tamar Hodes, was originally commissioned for Radio 4 back in 1999. Look out for an author profile on In Common, coming soon. Richard stood at the open door, planks of timber stacked at his side like skis. “I’ve come...