Matt Abbott 🍉
@mattabbottpoet.com
✍️🏻 Poet, award-winning lyricist & educator
📚 3 full-length poetry books
📍 Leeds, UK 🦚 #lufc ♂️ He/him
🧠 ADHD 🎤 @livewirepoetry.org
🌐 mattabbottpoet.com
📚 3 full-length poetry books
📍 Leeds, UK 🦚 #lufc ♂️ He/him
🧠 ADHD 🎤 @livewirepoetry.org
🌐 mattabbottpoet.com
Pinned
Matt Abbott 🍉
@mattabbottpoet.com
· Jun 26
I was over the moon to find that my début novel was shortlisted for this year's Sid Chaplin Award.
I've been working on the project on or off since 2019, and it's difficult to maintain confidence in something after a while - particularly in a new form.
I've been working on the project on or off since 2019, and it's difficult to maintain confidence in something after a while - particularly in a new form.
Reposted by Matt Abbott 🍉
Check out our latest Substack post for listen back links for our Jan & Feb episodes, plus content related to our round-ups and recommendations!
roaring20sradio.substack.com/p/episodes-5...
roaring20sradio.substack.com/p/episodes-5...
February 6, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Check out our latest Substack post for listen back links for our Jan & Feb episodes, plus content related to our round-ups and recommendations!
roaring20sradio.substack.com/p/episodes-5...
roaring20sradio.substack.com/p/episodes-5...
🆕️ My latest post on Substack is a mix of career development, cultural exchange, and general thoughts at the close of 2025.
It's free for everybody to read, so please share it if you like it!
mattabbottpoet.substack.com/p/discoverie...
It's free for everybody to read, so please share it if you like it!
mattabbottpoet.substack.com/p/discoverie...
Discoveries and development from 2025
Career developments, cultural exchange, and general thoughts at the close of the year
mattabbottpoet.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:08 PM
🆕️ My latest post on Substack is a mix of career development, cultural exchange, and general thoughts at the close of 2025.
It's free for everybody to read, so please share it if you like it!
mattabbottpoet.substack.com/p/discoverie...
It's free for everybody to read, so please share it if you like it!
mattabbottpoet.substack.com/p/discoverie...
Last night saw the celebration event for the second instalment of the Mayor’s Script Diversity Programme through Screen Yorkshire. I was buzzing to be a part of the cohort, which included 10 writers who are all established outside of screenwriting.
The Mayor’s Script Diversity Programme for Screen Yorkshire
Matt Abbott was one of the cohort for The Mayor’s Script Diversity Programme via Screen Yorkshire.
mattabbottpoet.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Last night saw the celebration event for the second instalment of the Mayor’s Script Diversity Programme through Screen Yorkshire. I was buzzing to be a part of the cohort, which included 10 writers who are all established outside of screenwriting.
Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on 6 Dec
Matt Abbott is performing as part of Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on Saturday 6 December 2025.
Matt Abbott is performing as part of Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on Saturday 6 December 2025.
Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on 6 Dec
Matt Abbott is performing as part of Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on Saturday 6 December 2025.
mattabbottpoet.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on 6 Dec
Matt Abbott is performing as part of Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on Saturday 6 December 2025.
Matt Abbott is performing as part of Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on Saturday 6 December 2025.
This week's essay is a candid insight into how you might approach the crossroads of a poem's first draft stage. Because, more often than not, first drafts aren't under-polished — they're under𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥.
💷 £5 per month for weekly long-form posts.
💷 £5 per month for weekly long-form posts.
At the crossroads of a poem’s first draft stage
Earlier this week, I dug myself a hole that every poet will have found themselves in at least a handful of times.
mattabbottpoet.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:14 AM
This week's essay is a candid insight into how you might approach the crossroads of a poem's first draft stage. Because, more often than not, first drafts aren't under-polished — they're under𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥.
💷 £5 per month for weekly long-form posts.
💷 £5 per month for weekly long-form posts.
This week's essay continues my series on the process of publishing a poetry collection, right through from conception to post-publication.
💭 How do you graduate from the daydream phase to giving your collection a tangible presence in your life?
🛑 What should you avoid at this stage?
💭 How do you graduate from the daydream phase to giving your collection a tangible presence in your life?
🛑 What should you avoid at this stage?
Poetry collection essay #3: Making it a tangible reality
How to graduate from the daydream phase to giving something a tangible presence in your life that demands attention
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:14 AM
This week's essay continues my series on the process of publishing a poetry collection, right through from conception to post-publication.
💭 How do you graduate from the daydream phase to giving your collection a tangible presence in your life?
🛑 What should you avoid at this stage?
💭 How do you graduate from the daydream phase to giving your collection a tangible presence in your life?
🛑 What should you avoid at this stage?
This is a potent and fascinating post from @leedsista.com. I knew it would be, given DC's abundant talent for writing about such complex themes and characters as Clarke Carlisle. But still, it's due a virtual round of applause 👏🏻
CW: mentions of suicide
www.leedsista.com/clarke-carli...
CW: mentions of suicide
www.leedsista.com/clarke-carli...
Clarke Carlisle ⭑ From A-Z since '92
Clarke Carlisle came to Leeds, a club looking for esteem and a fresh start, as someone looking for esteem and a fresh start. The best qualified coach, and the brainiest footballer, and all the wrong m...
www.leedsista.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
This is a potent and fascinating post from @leedsista.com. I knew it would be, given DC's abundant talent for writing about such complex themes and characters as Clarke Carlisle. But still, it's due a virtual round of applause 👏🏻
CW: mentions of suicide
www.leedsista.com/clarke-carli...
CW: mentions of suicide
www.leedsista.com/clarke-carli...
Reposted by Matt Abbott 🍉
𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏 𝙀𝙋𝙄𝙎𝙊𝘿𝙀 🔜
We're back on Soho Radio this Monday from 2-4pm, when we'll be joined live in the studio by Iona Lee!
Tune in at sohoradio.com or via DAB. Two hours of art, culture, books, poetry, and activism.
Co-presented by @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com
We're back on Soho Radio this Monday from 2-4pm, when we'll be joined live in the studio by Iona Lee!
Tune in at sohoradio.com or via DAB. Two hours of art, culture, books, poetry, and activism.
Co-presented by @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏 𝙀𝙋𝙄𝙎𝙊𝘿𝙀 🔜
We're back on Soho Radio this Monday from 2-4pm, when we'll be joined live in the studio by Iona Lee!
Tune in at sohoradio.com or via DAB. Two hours of art, culture, books, poetry, and activism.
Co-presented by @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com
We're back on Soho Radio this Monday from 2-4pm, when we'll be joined live in the studio by Iona Lee!
Tune in at sohoradio.com or via DAB. Two hours of art, culture, books, poetry, and activism.
Co-presented by @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com
Lads I've been scouring D:Ream's discography and I can't find a single track called 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦.
November 3, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Lads I've been scouring D:Ream's discography and I can't find a single track called 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦.
I didn't think it was possible to despise Margaret Hodge any more than I already did, but there you go.
Is Arts Council England About To Be Put Out To Pasture
Rumblings around Whitehall suggest that Arts Council England (ACE) may be about to lose one of its most fundamental powers....
artlyst.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:35 AM
I didn't think it was possible to despise Margaret Hodge any more than I already did, but there you go.
I've been listening to it all week, and so have you. As poets, what are the main takeaways from @thelilyallen.bsky.social's new album?
Poetry takeaways from Lily Allen’s new album
Because if you’re not listening to it on repeat this week, why not?
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:04 AM
I've been listening to it all week, and so have you. As poets, what are the main takeaways from @thelilyallen.bsky.social's new album?
This week's essay ✍️🏻
How to keep writing amongst the noise
Life often feels too noisy to be able to write. Here's how to combat that
open.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:12 AM
This week's essay ✍️🏻
Can't wait to be on co-hosting duties for this one! Tickets are on sale now for £8/6 ✌🏻
🔜 𝗘𝘆𝘂𝗽, 𝗟𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀! We're back...
For the 4th year running, we've joined forces with Bad Betty to present an evening of stellar live poetry at Hyde Park Book Club.
@fxmpoetry.bsky.social, @mlferg.bsky.social, @antoshwojcik.bsky.social & @agatamaslowska.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/livewire-x...
For the 4th year running, we've joined forces with Bad Betty to present an evening of stellar live poetry at Hyde Park Book Club.
@fxmpoetry.bsky.social, @mlferg.bsky.social, @antoshwojcik.bsky.social & @agatamaslowska.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/livewire-x...
October 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Can't wait to be on co-hosting duties for this one! Tickets are on sale now for £8/6 ✌🏻
This week's essay looks at various ways we need to adapt as freelance poets.
An essay on adapting as a freelance poet
As freelancers, we must adapt creatively, practically, and personally
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:50 AM
This week's essay looks at various ways we need to adapt as freelance poets.
Reposted by Matt Abbott 🍉
𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙉 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆 🎧 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨, 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙎𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠!
Episode 55 is now available to listen back in full on the Soho Radio Mixcloud site! You can find the link in our brand-new Substack newsletter, which also includes links from our round-ups...
open.substack.com/pub/roaring2...
Episode 55 is now available to listen back in full on the Soho Radio Mixcloud site! You can find the link in our brand-new Substack newsletter, which also includes links from our round-ups...
open.substack.com/pub/roaring2...
October 16, 2025 at 1:25 PM
𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙉 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆 🎧 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨, 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙎𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠!
Episode 55 is now available to listen back in full on the Soho Radio Mixcloud site! You can find the link in our brand-new Substack newsletter, which also includes links from our round-ups...
open.substack.com/pub/roaring2...
Episode 55 is now available to listen back in full on the Soho Radio Mixcloud site! You can find the link in our brand-new Substack newsletter, which also includes links from our round-ups...
open.substack.com/pub/roaring2...
Reposted by Matt Abbott 🍉
📚❤️ This Thursday 16th October: 6pm - 7pm. Poetry Pharmacy, Oxford Street. Readings and book signings, FREE entry. See you down there! Thank you lovelies @canongate.co.uk Xx
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/with-love-...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/with-love-...
With Love, Grief and Fury Paperback Launch
Join award-winning novelist, poet and broadcaster Salena Godden to celebrate her latest collection, now in paperback.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 10:55 AM
📚❤️ This Thursday 16th October: 6pm - 7pm. Poetry Pharmacy, Oxford Street. Readings and book signings, FREE entry. See you down there! Thank you lovelies @canongate.co.uk Xx
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/with-love-...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/with-love-...
The 2nd in my monthly essay series on publishing a poetry collection, plus a shift in approach for The Day Job.
Poetry collection essay #2, plus a shift in approach
A 2nd deep-dive into the process of publishing a poetry collection, alongside a new approach for The Day Job
open.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The 2nd in my monthly essay series on publishing a poetry collection, plus a shift in approach for The Day Job.
Seamus Heaney had a poem published for the first time on Saturday. I've devised a three-part exercise in response ✍️🏻
Writing exercise responding to a Seamus Heaney poem
A three-part exercise to generate some fresh drafts, or to develop pre-existing ideas
open.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Seamus Heaney had a poem published for the first time on Saturday. I've devised a three-part exercise in response ✍️🏻
Everybody knows how different 11 year olds are from 16 year olds, but this post looks at the incremental changes through the year groups.
Communicating across secondary school year groups
A few tips on the differences between engaging groups of school pupils from ages 11 through to 16
mattabbottpoet.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Everybody knows how different 11 year olds are from 16 year olds, but this post looks at the incremental changes through the year groups.
This approach entered my poetry writing process out of necessity in 2017 and has remained ever since.
'Deep sea diving' as a poetry approach
The best ones often tend to be right near the bed of the ocean
mattabbottpoet.substack.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This approach entered my poetry writing process out of necessity in 2017 and has remained ever since.
Some writing prompts responding to an Inua Ellams poem ✍️🏻
Writing prompts responding to an Inua Ellams poem
A few exercises looking at Inua's incredible prize-winning poem 'Fuck/Boys'
open.substack.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Some writing prompts responding to an Inua Ellams poem ✍️🏻
I'm no @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com and nor will I try to be, but here are some tips I've picked up over the last decade or so.
10 tips for managing cash flow as a freelancer
I'm drawing from my experience as a freelance poet, but this should apply to most similar careers
mattabbottpoet.substack.com
September 20, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I'm no @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com and nor will I try to be, but here are some tips I've picked up over the last decade or so.
Are you visiting a school for #NationalPoetryDay and in need of a few ideas on this year's theme? Here are some exercises I've designed for upper KS2/lower KS3.
A few classroom exercises on the theme of 'Play'
Exploring this year's National Poetry Day (UK) theme ahead of your potential school visits
mattabbottpoet.substack.com
September 17, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Are you visiting a school for #NationalPoetryDay and in need of a few ideas on this year's theme? Here are some exercises I've designed for upper KS2/lower KS3.
Reposted by Matt Abbott 🍉
📻 𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗜𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 📡
Tune into Soho Radio from 2-4pm as we're joined live in the studio by superstar guest Sukie Smith!
Ep54 will include our usual round-ups and features, plus a perfect playlist to kick-start your week.
Hosts: @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com
Tune into Soho Radio from 2-4pm as we're joined live in the studio by superstar guest Sukie Smith!
Ep54 will include our usual round-ups and features, plus a perfect playlist to kick-start your week.
Hosts: @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com
September 15, 2025 at 11:35 AM
📻 𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗜𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 📡
Tune into Soho Radio from 2-4pm as we're joined live in the studio by superstar guest Sukie Smith!
Ep54 will include our usual round-ups and features, plus a perfect playlist to kick-start your week.
Hosts: @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com
Tune into Soho Radio from 2-4pm as we're joined live in the studio by superstar guest Sukie Smith!
Ep54 will include our usual round-ups and features, plus a perfect playlist to kick-start your week.
Hosts: @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com
Hello. My latest Substack post is one I've been looking forward to writing for a while...
A new poem, a book deal, and a new monthly feature
I'm about to enter a significant new phase for my poetry career, which is great news for The Day Job!
mattabbottpoet.substack.com
September 13, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Hello. My latest Substack post is one I've been looking forward to writing for a while...