Q&A with Belper Poet, Carol Brewer
Carol Brewer is a talented poet from Belper, Derbyshire. She kindly agreed to a Q&A session to give us a peak into her creative world!
Carol Brewer
Published poet, founder of community event ‘poet-trees’ and active member of Our Belper Mills
1) Tell us about your creative writing process…
Inspiration and ideas come from literally anywhere – and without warning! I keep a notebook and pen by my bedside to make sure nothing escapes! A golden nugget of a phrase or an idea or a line that I’ve been searching for often crops up at night, only to be lost forever! I make voice notes on my phone when I’m out and about too.
When I was seriously ill about 10 years ago, chemotherapy and high dose steroids kept me awake at all hours. I loved the dawn chorus and writing during what I called the quiet hours. I felt no one else was around in the entire planet, just me and the birds.
Generally, unless I have a specific deadline or project I’m working on, I don’t have a regular writing time or pattern where I write for set periods. I can be gone for days or a mere half an hour. I do it as I get the urge (and the time). Some pieces come together really quickly. I’ve written some serious work in just a couple of hours. Others might take several days with tweaking, rewrites or working to get the right rhythm or line to fit.
I am lucky in that I can usually write anywhere. As a travelling passenger, on my knee whilst a grandchild sleeps or more formally at my desk at home. I cannot write with any music, tv or radio on though and I find it more difficult to write straight onto the computer screen. Whilst circumstances can sometimes mean I have to adapt to whatever is to hand, my ideal situation is silence, a comfortable chair, a nice hard-backed A4 ruled book and a fiercely sharpened pencil. I know it takes longer this way, but it works for me and I feel the words flow from my hand. Plus I get to tweak as I type what I’ve written and transfer paper to screen.
In our home office shared with my husband, this is my busy desk! Awaiting inspiration, but surrounded by family photos, with my beloved dad keeping his eye on me.
2) What advice would you give to people who want to write poetry?
I’m often asked how to start or what to write about and I can only honestly say – just give it a go! No one has to read it or see it – do it for yourself. I used to facilitate a writing for wellbeing group locally and would always stress ‘there’s no wrong in the write’! If it comes from the heart – that’s what it is. I think people get hung up or overwhelmed by technique or perceived rules of poetry. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an expressive art form – there are no rules!
I started writing a long time ago, for family and friends, capturing special occasions, events or memories – happy and sad. I’d write a list of key words or phrases that needed to be included in order to make the piece relevant and would keep referring back, ticking them off as I got them in!
If I am really struggling with a poem that rhymes, I might use a thesaurus to give helpful options, ideas or suggestions, or it might take me in a different direction. I don’t mind getting help that way! I’m also not averse to completely scrapping or changing tempo style or content. I might leave well alone for a bit and then come back refreshed or more decisive. Getting frustrated does not help the creative juices flow!
3) Which of your poems are you most proud of?
Choosing a favourite poem I’ve created is like choosing my favourite child….. the choice will differ according to my mood!
I do have plenty of old favourites that I like and will frequently refer to, when asked to choose something. However, at the time of answering, my emotions are all over the place, having lost my beloved Dad in September 2023. So right now, I think I’d choose ‘Uniform’. This was written as part of a poetry group exercise where we were challenged to select one word from a short list and then create a piece work around that, within 15 minutes. I’ve never altered what I’d written and it appeared in my anthology published for charity during the first covid lockdown entitled ‘Verses the Virus’.
UNIFORM by Carol Brewer
My Dad was in the army, I remember lots of it…
His sam brown belt and medals, smart black and red mess kit
The khaki in hot climates, but green camouflage worn most
Short sleeves or knitted jumpers, depending on the post
Remember knife edged trouser pressing, epaulettes and ties
Dinner suit and singing with the band, guaranteed to make me cry
The smell of kiwi polish as his fingers made boots shine
The expert turn of pace stick, as he walked the marching line
His beret tilted perfect, or gleaming peak on cap
His pride worn on every badge and button, every belt and strap
A career within the Army is what my father chose
His uniform - a way of life, meant so much more, than clothes
Carol’s father, Major Bill Gordon.
4) What is your all time favourite poem?
I love such a diverse range of poetry – from Shakespeare to Spike Milligan and again, a favourite choice would vary at different times. One I particularly like though, is Trees, by Joyce Kilmer
Trees by JOYCE KILMER
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
I do like trees. I find them calming, inspiring and restful. A great analogy for life that demonstrates how life goes on despite challenging conditions. Things may fall apart and decay, but eventually gives way to new life, hope and growth for the future, even if it may look slightly different for ever. I find the words particularly poignant at this moment of grief and the reference to robins nesting makes me think of lost souls deeply loved.
I like trees so much, I even devised a community poetry event in Belper! Entitled ‘Poet-Trees’, I put a call out for poems and artwork to be submitted and we displayed them on the trees in the town. It became an annual event and attracted tv and radio coverage! The creative work was absolutely amazing, with our youngest poet being just seven years old! I’m very proud to say that this popular event still continues now, forming an integral part of our Belper Arts Trail celebrations each year.
5) What’s your next creative project?
At the moment, I’m taking things a little slower due to our family situation and being an active grandparent and full time carer for my lovely mum. My priorities are being constantly juggled and I’m finding creativity a little bit harder to maintain during dark times. However, having facilitated a writing for wellbeing course myself, I am a firm believer that writing will help me and I will do what I can, when I can for now! I will try to do something as we approach world poetry day in October and for our national day of Remembrance in November.
6) You're involved in 'Our Belper Mills' - What's the purpose of this project and how can people learn more?
Belper is a town located in the heart of the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, as a result of its contribution to the industrial revolution. Amongst other wonderful examples, the area saw the creation of the world’s first fire proof mills, the harnessing of water power, inspired mechanical innovation, and revolutionised the social and economic development of the modern town, it’s workers and the community. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the world with incredible and unique heritage. Dominating the skyline of our town for centuries, are Belper’s East and North Mills. Previously, they were once part of a much larger complex and thriving pioneers of industry, with each building gradually changing use over the years until relatively recently. They are now sadly neglected and falling into disrepair. Their current owners have applied for planning permission to create a mixed use development, however the complex nature of the site, together with listed status and the scale of the investment required, means that we are currently in limbo with no final decision and no action to preserve and protect these iconic landmark buildings. Our Belper Mills is a community group that was set up to represent the public voice in regard to saving the mills. OBM is a non political group of enthusiastic, passionate volunteers committed to ensuring that these historic buildings continue to have a future – whatever that may look like.
We have a direct mill family connection with Pawtucket, USA and a band of loyal supporters from around the world. We’d encourage anyone with an interest in history, architecture, socio-economic development and the vital preservation of heritage (once it’s gone – it’s gone forever), to visit our website and sign up as a supporter! We run regular events, get involved in local festivities and produce a newsletter twice a year (my job too!) More details can be found at www.ourbelpermills.co.uk
7) What's your favourite area of Belper?
Favourite areas of Belper would have to include our lovely River Gardens, in the shadow of the mills, our stunning new library (a restored and re- purposed former chocolate factory) and the Black Swan – an historic pub, situated within our cobbled market place, still a vibrant meeting place for the town, with a fabulous farmers market every month.
8) If someone were going to visit Belper for the first time, where should they go?
Definitely the three listed as my favourite parts of Belper above! Plus the Unitarian chapel on Field Row (I got married there!). Built by the Strutt family for the mill workers of the town it’s small, but beautiful with a lot of history.
Also Long Row – a cobbled row of original houses, again, built by the Strutt family for mill workers. These are listed buildings and owners have to comply with all deeds and covenants stipulated, including keeping all woodwork in the original Strutt green colour!
Verses the Virus by Carol Brewer
A varied selection of uniquely individual poems compiled during the 2020 lockdown.
Each poem beautifully complemented by inspired artwork. Something for all ages and every mood. Includes some wonderful verses for children too.
A donation from the proceeds of sale from every book purchased will go to support NHS and mental health charities.
