Paul Connolly
@thepaulconnolly.bsky.social
Writer
Poetry: 100+ poems in Agenda, Stand, Poetry Salzburg, Chiron Review, IS&T etc
Poems on BBC
Charles Causley & (two) Bridport Prize shortlists
Magna Carta Comp (3rd)
Best of the Net Nominated (Lothlorien)
Prose: Orwell Prize & Bridport Novel longlists
Poetry: 100+ poems in Agenda, Stand, Poetry Salzburg, Chiron Review, IS&T etc
Poems on BBC
Charles Causley & (two) Bridport Prize shortlists
Magna Carta Comp (3rd)
Best of the Net Nominated (Lothlorien)
Prose: Orwell Prize & Bridport Novel longlists
And thank you for sharing your brilliant jigsaw!
November 11, 2025 at 1:06 PM
And thank you for sharing your brilliant jigsaw!
Very well done. You can now take possession of your new domains, with no need to worry about the giants, they’ve been paid, just cross that bridge and enter Valhalla…
…and worry about the ring of power later…
…and worry about the ring of power later…
Richard Wagner - DAS RHEINGOLD - Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla (Solti, 1958)
YouTube video by Meyerbeer Smith
m.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Very well done. You can now take possession of your new domains, with no need to worry about the giants, they’ve been paid, just cross that bridge and enter Valhalla…
…and worry about the ring of power later…
…and worry about the ring of power later…
Congratulations Peter!
November 11, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Congratulations Peter!
A thread 🧵 about drafting, effort, prematurity, frequent failure, partial success 👆 #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity
November 11, 2025 at 11:31 AM
A thread 🧵 about drafting, effort, prematurity, frequent failure, partial success 👆 #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity
This isn’t really about paring back, the fashion for reducing words to mere anaemia, though I remove redundancy or needless baggage if I see it. It’s more often about additions, though not necessarily enlargement, through nuance, image, language, perspective, melody. Work. The writing of the writing
November 11, 2025 at 10:51 AM
This isn’t really about paring back, the fashion for reducing words to mere anaemia, though I remove redundancy or needless baggage if I see it. It’s more often about additions, though not necessarily enlargement, through nuance, image, language, perspective, melody. Work. The writing of the writing
You’re right. I’ve certainly leaned into the word here as I can’t find a better. Standards doesn’t quite cut it to describe the mix of reading, experience, craft, formal awareness, judgement, effort & relentless ‘no no no’ that constitute the taskmaster/critic/bastard who sits with me when I write
November 11, 2025 at 10:09 AM
You’re right. I’ve certainly leaned into the word here as I can’t find a better. Standards doesn’t quite cut it to describe the mix of reading, experience, craft, formal awareness, judgement, effort & relentless ‘no no no’ that constitute the taskmaster/critic/bastard who sits with me when I write
Closer to Puritanism here 😂😂😂
November 11, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Closer to Puritanism here 😂😂😂
Do I reach the power & complexity demanded by my conscience? Rarely if ever. But by having a standard, a constant dissatisfaction, & by acting as my own harshest critic, I ensure, for good or ill, that I don’t confuse my own amusement with quality & thus send something scarcely formed into the world
November 11, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Do I reach the power & complexity demanded by my conscience? Rarely if ever. But by having a standard, a constant dissatisfaction, & by acting as my own harshest critic, I ensure, for good or ill, that I don’t confuse my own amusement with quality & thus send something scarcely formed into the world
First drafts may seem immediate & even please. But they’re rarely the best I can do. They rarely convey the power or complexity demanded by my conscience as a writer. Conscience tells me if a draft is unformed & needs work. Then I try to move past personal gratification towards personal achievement
November 11, 2025 at 9:56 AM
First drafts may seem immediate & even please. But they’re rarely the best I can do. They rarely convey the power or complexity demanded by my conscience as a writer. Conscience tells me if a draft is unformed & needs work. Then I try to move past personal gratification towards personal achievement
Brilliant actor. Astonishing in Ran
November 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Brilliant actor. Astonishing in Ran
When is the next chord change due?
November 11, 2025 at 9:14 AM
When is the next chord change due?
Intrigued to know why you ask Brían
November 10, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Intrigued to know why you ask Brían
Henry VI is not especially bright. Edward IV by the end is credulous.
November 10, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Henry VI is not especially bright. Edward IV by the end is credulous.
It didn’t. Yet it lingers. Renewed awareness of the impossibility of grasping anything in itself appeared as a nothing so total it almost self-contradicted in its gestalt. Outside us must be mere illusion. But true insight persists. No. We see nothing because we’re nothing. Glad tidings. Consolation
November 10, 2025 at 10:59 PM
It didn’t. Yet it lingers. Renewed awareness of the impossibility of grasping anything in itself appeared as a nothing so total it almost self-contradicted in its gestalt. Outside us must be mere illusion. But true insight persists. No. We see nothing because we’re nothing. Glad tidings. Consolation
Fascinating expanses of time here Jan to match the Cage piece 👏👏👏
November 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Fascinating expanses of time here Jan to match the Cage piece 👏👏👏
Just to Dublin. Either that or I’ll claim political asylum when they elect Farage
November 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Just to Dublin. Either that or I’ll claim political asylum when they elect Farage
God, please let them deport me. Please
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
God, please let them deport me. Please
No worries Jan. I haven’t had a chance to read it properly yet and will do soon
November 10, 2025 at 5:14 PM
No worries Jan. I haven’t had a chance to read it properly yet and will do soon
You’re very welcome. Thank you for the great pack!
November 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
You’re very welcome. Thank you for the great pack!
My pleasure Edge! Thanks for the great pack
November 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
My pleasure Edge! Thanks for the great pack