Hollie McNish
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holliemcnish.bsky.social
Hollie McNish
@holliemcnish.bsky.social
Follow for poetry, random thoughts and new discoveries because poetry and the world is endlessly fascinating and I know nothing.
On tour now: www.holliepoetry.com/livedates
Pinned
I know folk say social media isn't 'real' but I'm real and I'll be sharing real poems on here that I wrote and real gigs I'm reading them at. Thanks for joining! x
Reposted by Hollie McNish
We were delighted to have @michaelpedersen.bsky.social and @holliemcnish.bsky.social pop in to see us! #SuperSheltie is demonstrating with his wee hooves the amount of delight #ThisMuch
July 19, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Reposted by Hollie McNish
Announcing 6 special guests for each night of #NineLessons inc @helenczerski.bsky.social, @garwboy.bsky.social, Julia Shaw, Jakko Jakszyk, @holliemcnish.bsky.social, @funsizesuze.bsky.social + plenty more (with more to come of course!) Hosted by @robinince.bsky.social cosmicshambles.com/ninelessons
August 18, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Late night poem: En route back from a London gig. A woman needs the loo on the train. There’s no loo. She tried to piss on the platform. She’s drunk. Staff tell her she’ll be fined £500 if she does. She waits and pisses on the train seat. Just sits and pisses. Smiling. Laughing.
July 10, 2025 at 10:34 PM
So excited to be in London for this today! £5 with a wee glass of wine and two of my favourite writers and comedian @waterstones Islington ❤️
July 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Hollie McNish
Out Oct ‘25 VIRGIN by @holliemcnish.bsky.social💥

In this eagerly awaited poetry collection, Hollie McNish explores the impact of a single word on her life with her trademark mix of humour, fury and compassion

Pre-order now to get a #SIGNED & dedicated copy✍️
👉 www.foxlanebooks.co.uk/product-page...
June 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reproductive rights are under attack! Take 2 mins to write to your MP TODAY to demand that abortion is decriminalised.

action.goodlawproject.org/decriminalis...
Ask your MP to put reproductive rights into law
The right to make decisions about our families and bodies is not protected by law. The 1967 Abortion Act allows people to seek abortion under certain circumstances but abortion otherwise remains a cri...
action.goodlawproject.org
June 15, 2025 at 7:36 PM
last year i got asked to do a gig
for a private members group
in a castle and i asked
what the fee and expenses were
and they said the lady of the house
would be more than happy
to give me a private guided tour
of the castle.
June 2, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Just searched 'are sore breasts normal before period'? It said yes due to peak progesterone levels but will subside when those levels normalise' and I was wondering who decided which week was the 'normal' personality week of the cycle? It's like saying Spring is normal and the other seasons aren't?
May 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
❤️ 5 in 6 boys think andrew tate is a prick ❤️
I absolutely love this poem by @holliemcnish.bsky.social – 5 in 6 boys think Andrew Tate is a prick
May 23, 2025 at 8:29 AM
ROME!

I've just realised that a reading I'm doing next week, Thursday May 29th John Cabot University is open to the public.

If you know anyone who fancies a little poetry from me, I'd love you to share this event.

Sign up here: calendar.johncabot.edu/event/spoken... and bring ID on the day.

xx
May 22, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by Hollie McNish
This time next week I’ll be talking to the literary giant Stephen Fry at @hayfestival.bsky.social. Tonight I’m talking to the equally lustrous @valmcdermid.bsky.social at @portybooks.bsky.social (which can be streamed online). Swooning to a croon. 💜💙❤️‍🔥

Come join: www.michaelpedersen.co.uk/events
May 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
It takes me two cups of tea to write about 50 poems. I’m much more water-efficient than AI poetry x
May 20, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Dear @teamlabouruk.bsky.social . I am leaving the party because of your stance on Gaza. If you can renew the membership without the membership number, why can’t I leave without it? Please make this an option. And please stop selling arms to Israel
May 20, 2025 at 5:46 AM
driving around a supermarket car park for five minutes to find a space to save five seconds of walking
May 16, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This morning my daughter went on her phone, laughed a lot at a message from her friend and sent me a cute meme about a kitten. Just sharing this for some balance.
May 15, 2025 at 6:59 AM
For anyone going into the GCSE Unseen poetry exam, here’s some advice from a poet. Good luck! ❤️ youtu.be/Mt2Y6nSysZQ?...
GCSE Unseen Poetry advice from a poet
YouTube video by Hollie McNish
youtu.be
May 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Reposted by Hollie McNish
The reason why I cry listening to these old songs isn't because I want to return to the past.

It's through music that I get to bear witness to all my past selves. I can see the girl and woman I used to be. She doesn't know I'm there.

I know my future self is here, right now, watching these tears.
May 10, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Reposted by Hollie McNish
I’ve many attempts to find the words to express my <3 for #libraries. A declaration of love but also a plea for their very existence and I’ll continue trying but for now, @holliemcnish.bsky.social caught all my feels:
May 7, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Just updated my shop on @bookshop.org with my most loved novels. If you fancy some recommendations, check it out: uk.bookshop.org/lists/my-mos...? All purchases support indie bookshops and authors
My Most Loved Novels
I've only recently got back into reading fiction and these have been my favourite novels so far. I've loved every one of them for all sorts of reasons. I've just started reading fantasy and science fi...
uk.bookshop.org
May 4, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by Hollie McNish
Great discussion of a fabulous poem @holliemcnish.bsky.social ‘Arguing in the Headmaster’s office.’
Made me think about how we can be sexist when we have conversations around how we dress.
We need to change this and ensure our ‘judgement’ is equitable…
Thankyou as ever @bedsidereading.bsky.social
April 30, 2025 at 6:38 AM