Heidi Beck chats to Sarah about one of her poems, and on working with discomfort, containment and risk.

For this conversation, Sarah invites guest poet and Poetry Business stablemate Helen Seymour in for a chat about Helen’s new collection The Underlook. They explore how humour and surrealism can help if we feel driven underground.

Here, Vic Pickup chats with Charlotte about how she rediscovered poetry, and found the (angry) friends she needed.

In this Understory Conversation, Lorna Dowell chats with Anne Bailey. They look together at a poem Lorna chose from Anne’s new pamphlet.

Alan Buckley and Charlotte decided to frame their sample Understory Conversation as a ‘poem exchange’: they each chose a poem of the other’s to respond to. Alan chose Charlotte’s poem ‘Corners’.

Alan Buckley and Charlotte decided to frame their sample Understory Conversation as a ‘poem exchange’: they each chose a poem of the other’s to respond to. First up, Alan’s poem ‘Peaches’.

Here, Kate Hendry shares a poem, and chats with Charlotte about the vital balance – in life and in poetry – between hiding and being seen.

Here’s another sample conversation between two Understory members. This time, Karen Smith chats with Charlotte about how mindfulness and writing entwine for her, and why she loves wild swimming.

Here we post conversations between Understory members. This time, poet and prose writer Lorna Dowell talks to Charlotte about one particular book that had a lasting impact on her, and why she believes The Understory Conversation will appeal to other highly sensitive creatives.

Here we share samples of conversation between Understory members. We thought we’d start with ourselves – Charlotte and Sarah – chatting about poetry, talking and the Understory in the run-up to the launch of Sarah’s new poetry collection. Sign up to our Mailing List if you’d like email notifications of future postings.