Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mark McGuinness.
Mark is an award-winning poet, author, podcaster and host of The 21st Century Creative, as well as a coach for creative professionals. He is also someone I’ve had the pleasure of calling a colleague and friend for nearly a decade. When Mark told me about his latest project, a new podcast titled A Mouthful of Air, I knew I had to bring him on DIY MFA Radio to talk about it.
The podcast centers around poetry, and episodes alternate in focus between contemporary works and the classics. For episodes featuring contemporary poets, Mark invites them to read a single poem and talk about the writing process behind it. In other episodes, he reads classic poems and talks about what we can learn from them as writers.
This is an awesome podcast, and one that writers of all genres can learn from and enjoy. A Mouthful of Air has been awarded funding for the first 2 years of the show by Arts Council England, and I can’t wait to see where it goes!
In this episode Mark McGuinness and I discuss:
- What effects a good poem can have on the reader that transcend academic understanding.
- What method poetry is and the writing processes of contemporary poets.
- How reading poetry out loud—even just to yourself—enhances the experience.
Plus, his #1 tip for writers.
About Mark McGuinness
Mark McGuinness is an award-winning poet based in Bristol, UK. He has just launched a new podcast, A Mouthful of Air, where he invites contemporary poets to read a single poem and talk about the writing process behind it. He also reads classic poems and talks about what we can learn from them as writers. A Mouthful of Air has been awarded funding for the first 2 years of the show by Arts Council England.
Outside of poetry, Mark has been a coach for creative professionals since 1996 and he has published 4 books of career guidance for creatives. He also hosts the popular podcast for creatives, The 21st Century Creative.
You can find Mark at his podcast, A Mouthful of Air, or follow the podcast on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You can also follow Mark on Twitter.
Link to Episode 387
(Right-click to download.)
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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!
