In our winter writing episode this week we are exploring the poetry of solitude and the solace of poetry. I hope you will listen somewhere quiet this week, notebook in hand, and love every moment of it.

Episode 4 ‘On This Winter’s Night’ includes:

* Some beautiful wintery poems

* A writing invitation inspired by the moon

* Some wonderful wintery words and their meanings

* The tradition of Christmas cards

* How to make a zine

* A delicious gingerbread recipe

* Some Christmas joy from English railway stations and the London Underground

* This week’s Get Ahead Tips

With inspiration from Robert Frost, Lady A, David Whyte, Yosa Buson, Yuki Sawa, Edith Marcombe Shiffert, Paul Anthony Jones, Dianne Casey, the Academy of American Poets, Robert Hillyer, Matt Evans Fog Chaser, Kerri ní Dochartaigh, Mary Searle Chatterjee, the University of Birmingham Time for Letters project, John Julius Norwich, Charles Dickens, 42nd Street, Kate Trenchard, Helen Garcia, Barter Books, Morden Station, the London Underground, the staff of Axminster and Salisbury Stations and Alix Klingenberg.

You can listen on Substack, Spotify or iTunes.

I hope this episode offers moment of tranquility in a busy December,

Beth Xx

Lovely things for you

* Alternative Advent Calendar on Instagram @bethkempton (free)

* Winter Writing Sanctuary live writing class running December 29-Jan 4 online (free)

* This week’s giveaway on Instagram @bethkempton (free)

* SoulCircle (my private writing community on Substack)

Books

* A Winter Dictionary by Paul Anthony Jones

* Haiku Master Buson translated by Yuki Sawa and Edith Markham Schiffert

* Cacophony of Bone by Kerri ní Dochartaigh

* The Ultimate Christmas Cracker by John Julius Norwich

* Quietly Wild by Alix Klingenberg

* Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (hardback | audiobook just £3.99 in December | Kindle ebook just 99p until December 23)

Other links

(no affiliate links)

* Good Hours by Robert Frost on poets.org

* White Pine Press

* Academy of American Poets

* Winter Nocturne by Robert Hillyer on poets.org

* A Simple Carol by Matt Evans @fogchaser

* Christmas Cards and the Construction of Social Relations in Britain Today by Mary Searle-Chatterjee in Unwrapping Christmas edited by Daniel Miller p.176

* A Time for Letters project run by the University of Birmingham

* How to make a zine via 42nd Street

* Barter Books in Alnwick

* Daily uplifting quotes on London Underground’s Morden Station on Instagram @MordenStation

Ingredients for Kate’s gingerbread

* 100 g butter

* 3 tbs of golden syrup

* 100 g dark muscovado sugar

* half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

* one tablespoon of ginger

* one teaspoon of cinnamon

* half a teaspoon of cloves

* half a teaspoon of nutmeg

* 225 g plain flour

Image: Holly Bobbins

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com