Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Benedicta Norell @benedictan.bsky.social · 2d

❤️

Karen Pierce Gonzalez @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social · 2d

Oh, sister-poet (we even share the same publisher @blackcatpress.bsky.social) thank you for this feedback. #NotJustPretty is really something, right? Can't wait to host you as #OpenMicPoet in January! #WomenSupportWomen #StayCreative @thebrokenspine.co.uk thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/09/14/n...

#NotJustPretty: Meet the Artists Leading the Charge - The Broken Spine

On October 4, 2025, we’ll be launching #NotJustPretty — a new series that celebrates artists who identify as women. For us, this project is about refusing to

thebrokenspine.co.uk

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Benedicta Norell @benedictan.bsky.social · 2d

👏 👏 👏

Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Katie Jenkins @katiejenkinspoet.bsky.social · 4d

Huge shout out to @alanparrywriter.co.uk and @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social for bringing together such an incredible group of women. I was honoured and humbled to be among them 🙏✨🙌

The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 4d

Well, #NotJustPretty was an absolute blast. I'm a little teary after hearing @katiejenkinspoet.bsky.social read my fave poem from her forthcoming collection. Compound that with the event itself, the vision from @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social wonderfully hosted! Everything we could have wanted!

a silhouette of a woman with the words girl power let 's go written on it

ALT: a silhouette of a woman with the words girl power let 's go written on it

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Alan Parry He/Him @alanparrywriter.co.uk · 3d

I can't take any credit for this. I am just glad @thebrokenspine.co.uk is able to platform @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social and her vision. It was an amazing event, so much talent! Extremely moving and affecting. I was always proud of my record publishing women, but this is something else! #NotJustPretty

Katie Jenkins @katiejenkinspoet.bsky.social · 4d

Huge shout out to @alanparrywriter.co.uk and @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social for bringing together such an incredible group of women. I was honoured and humbled to be among them 🙏✨🙌

The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 4d

Well, #NotJustPretty was an absolute blast. I'm a little teary after hearing @katiejenkinspoet.bsky.social read my fave poem from her forthcoming collection. Compound that with the event itself, the vision from @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social wonderfully hosted! Everything we could have wanted!

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 4d

Well, #NotJustPretty was an absolute blast. I'm a little teary after hearing @katiejenkinspoet.bsky.social read my fave poem from her forthcoming collection. Compound that with the event itself, the vision from @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social wonderfully hosted! Everything we could have wanted!

a silhouette of a woman with the words girl power let 's go written on it

ALT: a silhouette of a woman with the words girl power let 's go written on it

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Jenny Wong @jenwithwords.bsky.social · 3d

Congratulations to @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social for hosting and facilitating an amazing kick-off event yesterday for #NotJustPretty!

Missed it? Don’t worry! There are two coming soon to a Zoom near you! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Karen Pierce Gonzalez @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social · 4d

You just CAN'T keep good women down!!! The #NotJustPretty gathering I put together yesterday was electric ⚡ and there are more! Grateful to @thebrokenspine.co.uk for the platform & support of my vision. 🙏💃🙏 thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/09/14/n...
thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/09/06/n...

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 8d

#NotJustPretty — we don’t platform women to show them. We publish them to hear them.

Poetry. Art. Defiance.

Read it: thebrokenspine.co.uk...

@karenpgonzalez.bsky.social
@jenwithwords.bsky.social
@petitecreature1.bsky.social

#NotJustPretty: Meet the Artists Leading the Charge - The Broken Spine

On October 4, 2025, we’ll be launching #NotJustPretty — a new series that celebrates artists who identify as women. For us, this project is about refusing to

thebrokenspine.co.uk

4 9

Benedicta Norell @benedictan.bsky.social · 3d

I can’t think of enough superlatives to describe the first #NotJustPretty

Keep an eye out for parts 2 & 3!

Congratulations @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social and @brokenspinejournal.bsky.social

#poetry #blueskypoets

Karen Pierce Gonzalez @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social · 4d

You just CAN'T keep good women down!!! The #NotJustPretty gathering I put together yesterday was electric ⚡ and there are more! Grateful to @thebrokenspine.co.uk for the platform & support of my vision. 🙏💃🙏 thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/09/14/n...
thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/09/06/n...

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Benedicta Norell @benedictan.bsky.social · 6d

Belated UK Happy #NationalPoetryDay

#poetry #bluskypoets

Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · 6d

Big thanks and love to @atriumpoetry.bsky.social for publishing my one and only sonnet (so far!), about the piratical ransack of hormones 🏴‍☠️

Atrium @atriumpoetry.bsky.social · 6d

Sonnet for Perimenopause – Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social

atriumpoetry.com/2025/10/03/s...

Sonnet for Perimenopause – Victoria Spires

Sonnet for Perimenopause . . Victoria Spires is published in Berlin Lit & The London Magazine. She has been commended/shortlisted in: Ledbury, TPW Prize, Aesthetica Arts, Artemesia Arts, Plough…

atriumpoetry.com

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · 17d

Can't wait for my copy of this gorgeous anthology produced by Scarlet Tiger Press. I have a poem, alongside @marcellenewbold.bsky.social & @northseanavigator.bsky.social 😍

Marcelle Newbold @marcellenewbold.bsky.social · 17d

Very pleased to be included in Scarlet Tiger Press’ newest book ‘Stonework’ alongside @victoriaspires.bsky.social and other lovely poets…

Tickets now available for the online launch www.tickettailor.com/events/scarl...

Stonework online launch, Friday 3 October 7-8pm

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Benedicta Norell @benedictan.bsky.social · 16d

Two poetry acceptances in the last few days have really cheered me up #blueskypoets #creativelife

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Benedicta Norell @benedictan.bsky.social · 17d

Get your tickets now for the first event on October 4th!

#NotJustPretty #poetry #blueskypoets

The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 17d

#NotJustPretty — we don’t platform women to show them. We publish them to hear them.

Poetry. Art. Defiance.

Read it: thebrokenspine.co.uk...

@karenpgonzalez.bsky.social
@jenwithwords.bsky.social
@petitecreature1.bsky.social

#NotJustPretty: Meet the Artists Leading the Charge - The Broken Spine

On October 4, 2025, we’ll be launching #NotJustPretty — a new series that celebrates artists who identify as women. For us, this project is about refusing to

thebrokenspine.co.uk

1

Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · 19d

Drop what you're doing and go audition for iamb right now. You won't regret it.

𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒃 ~ 𝒑𝒐𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 @iambapoet.com · 19d

**AUDITIONS NOW OPEN TILL SEP 27**

Want three of your poems with text and recordings of you reading them to feature in popular online poetry quarterly @iambapoet.com?

You now have just 7 days to audition for your place in a wave in either 2026 or 2027.

Good luck! 🍀

iambapoet.com/audition

Audition for poetry journal iamb in Sept 2025

Audition to be part of quarterly poetry journal iamb between the 20th and 27th of September 2025.

www.iambapoet.com

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Benedicta Norell @benedictan.bsky.social · 22d

A round vase with pale pink roses and gypsophila on a flowery table cloth

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Karen Pierce Gonzalez @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social · 23d

People are still talking and writing about #BeautifulLittleFools! Clearly this #GreatGatsby #CentennialAnthology of #Poetry has hit a nerve with others. @thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk @paulwritespoems.bsky.social www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · 25d

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Paul Connolly @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social · 28d

Still a couple of weeks to go before the launch of the new #PoetryTheme prompt #AMPHIBIAN Please read the details on how and when to submit in the thread below 👇👇👇 and please repost and share with the #poetrycommunity #poetsonbluesky

Paul Connolly @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social · Sep 2

The first #PoetryTheme prompt is #AMPHIBIAN
Nature's amphibians move across habitats. Metaphorical ones might shift in class or identity
Take your time. Post a poem by the end of 30 September. Tag @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social Use #PoetryTheme & #AMPHIBIAN hashtags & please say if you want DM comment

A picture of an American bullfrog resting on the water introduces the #PoetryTheme #AMPHIBIAN
Post your poem by end of 30.09.2025
Use the hashtags above
Tag @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social
Put DM in your post if you want detailed personal feedback

Acknowledgements. Image licensed under Creative Commons 2.0 is from lwolfartist - https://www.flickr.com/photos/151817352@N04/52326037489/

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Karen Pierce Gonzalez @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social · 28d

Listen up! We #women are here to make 'good' news about who we are with #Poetry #Art and #PoetryFilm. Join our international multi-media #NotJustPretty open mic series, Oct. 4, Nov. 8, Jan. 24. #PoetsOfBlueSky bsky.app/profile/theb...

A globe of female faces: young, old, middle-aged, Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Caucasian, and more.

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Karen Pierce Gonzalez @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social · Jul 6

Enjoy these 3 short trailers. #DownRiverWithLiPo #MoonkissedEarthwroughtVisiondrunk #Twasbrillig #poetry #hybrid #poeticlibretto #Pamphlet/Chapbook @blackcatpress.bsky.social #BottlecapPress #PoeticLibrettos karenpiercegonzalez.blogspot.com/2020/09/welc...

Chapbooks

Contact: [email protected] Chapbooks THREE NEW RELEASES! Down River with Li Po Inspired by Tang Dynasty poet/philosopher The Black Cat ...

karenpiercegonzalez.blogspot.com

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · 29d

You're going to want to audition for this 👇🏼

𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒃 ~ 𝒑𝒐𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 @iambapoet.com · Sep 6

**AUDITIONS OPEN IN 14 DAYS**

From Sep 20th-27th, auditions for @iambapoet.com open for the first time since 2022 – and for just ONE week!

Be ready when the submission form goes live. Head to the journal's Audition page for full details.

Good luck with your audition! 🍀

iambapoet.com/audition

Audition for poetry journal iamb in Sept 2025

Audition to be part of quarterly poetry journal iamb between the 20th and 27th of September 2025.

iambapoet.com

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Benedicta Norell @benedictan.bsky.social · 28d

Congratulations @victoriaspires.bsky.social

Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · Sep 1

Nothing comes for a while, and then you have a few bits of news at once and worry about annoying people 😅

If you will permit, another thing here, which was a lovely, happy surprise ☺️

Thank you to the Alpine Fellowship & judges Maya and Patrick.

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Benedicta Norell @benedictan.bsky.social · Aug 18

Thank you @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social

Paul Connolly @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social · Aug 18

An overdue #lifttothesky to @benedictan.bsky.social for poetry and supportiveness to others in the #poetrycommunity

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Benedicta Norell @benedictan.bsky.social · Aug 18

Thank you so much!

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Reposted by Benedicta Norell

Wendy Allen @wendycaitlin.bsky.social · Jul 22

I love readings because I like wearing pretty dresses. Ready for Cardiff tomorrow.

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