Five poets. Five distinctive voices. One exciting shortlist. 🍂 We’re delighted to announce the Dithering Chaps October 2026 shortlist: ✨ Stephanie Jacob ✨ Sam Kemp ✨ Karen Rosemary ✨ Tony Strong ✨ Jackie Taylor Huge congratulations to all five. Thank you to everyone who shared their work with us.

Five poets. Five distinctive voices. One exciting shortlist. 🍂 We’re delighted to announce the Dithering Chaps October 2026 shortlist: ✨ Stephanie Jacob ✨ Sam Kemp ✨ Karen Rosemary ✨ Tony Strong ✨ Jackie Taylor Huge congratulations to all five. Thank you to everyone who shared their work with us.

Our October longlist is up - give a like to poets who you recognise or love! #poetry

Our October longlist is up - give a like to poets who you recognise or love! #poetry

The use of AI is a hot topic in the writing space. Our recent blog gives examples of the pace of change: www.ditheringchaps.com/blog/towards.... We conclude, 'If you use AI to write your poetry for you (a prime example of cognitive offloading), the loss will be yours...'. Let us know what you think.

Towards a policy for the use of AI… — Dithering Chaps

The use of AI is a hot topic in the writing space. Here, we set out our current thinking and invite you to share your thoughts and responses. (You can email us at ditheringchaps@gmail.com ). The f...

ditheringchaps.com

The use of AI is a hot topic in the writing space. Our recent blog gives examples of the pace of change: www.ditheringchaps.com/blog/towards.... We conclude, 'If you use AI to write your poetry for you (a prime example of cognitive offloading), the loss will be yours...'. Let us know what you think.

Towards a policy for the use of AI… — Dithering Chaps

The use of AI is a hot topic in the writing space. Here, we set out our current thinking and invite you to share your thoughts and responses. (You can email us at ditheringchaps@gmail.com ). The f...

ditheringchaps.com

Please be invited to the launch of my first poetry chapbook on August 28, featuring readings by me and other @ditheringchaps.bsky.social poets. All welcome: AF event, and accessible venue.

There now follows a party election broadcast by the Count Binface Party, And if I do say so myself, it's a banger. #VoteBinface #Clacton

We've been marvelling and worrying in equal measure about how AI is affecting poetry submissions. The change over just two years in what AI can do is startling - we ponder this, giving examples, in our latest blog. www.ditheringchaps.com/blog/towards... We'd love to hear what you think...

If you would like to pay me to go experience weird niche events and write about them that is my dream job so please do!

Emily Herring@emilyherring.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I'm in Halberstadt where I have been sent by the lovely folk over at Orbital Studies to witness and write about the 17th chord change of John Cage's "As Slow as possible" which has been playing on an organ here since 2001 and is projected to keep playing until the 2600s.

We've been marvelling and worrying in equal measure about how AI is affecting poetry submissions. The change over just two years in what AI can do is startling - we ponder this, giving examples, in our latest blog. www.ditheringchaps.com/blog/towards... We'd love to hear what you think...

I'm in Halberstadt where I have been sent by the lovely folk over at Orbital Studies to witness and write about the 17th chord change of John Cage's "As Slow as possible" which has been playing on an organ here since 2001 and is projected to keep playing until the 2600s.

Emily Herring@emilyherring.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I'm in Germany for mysterious reasons

Celebrating at @ditheringchaps.bsky.social today! Our publication, 'The Ice Sonnets' by Christopher James, has been longlisted for The Maya Poetry Book Awards 2026. A book so good, adventurer Dwayne Fields carried a copy all the way to the South Pole! www.ditheringchaps.com/shop/p/the-i...

Buy The Ice Sonnets by Christopher James | Poetry Chapbook — Dithering Chaps

Buy The Ice Sonnets by Christopher James, a lyrical poetry chapbook inspired by Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition and exploring cold, memory and endurance.

ditheringchaps.com

Read my biography of Henri Bergson and: - wow your family and friends with your insights into pure durée - learn about the time Marcel Proust was best man at a wedding -access the immediate data of your consciousness - find out why a philosopher caused the first ever traffic jam on Broadway

For fellow poets out there, may I recommend Beth's substack - full of reflections on the art of writing and her sources of inspiration bethbrooke.substack.com?r=1tirk3&utm... @bethbpoet.bsky.social #poetry

Beth’s Substack | Substack

My personal Substack. Click to read Beth’s Substack, by Beth Brooke, a Substack publication. Launched a year ago.

bethbrooke.substack.com

I wonder if the publication in question feels there is enough of a hook now.............

Emily Herring@emilyherring.bsky.social · 11mo ago

This piece was greenlit and then killed by a British newspaper, so I’ve decided to publish myself instead. Trans People Deserve Better. "Gender critical" feminism doesn't help women but it does help the far right open.substack.com/pub/wellread...

Here's the first of our shortlisted poets, Tom McLaughlin, reading from his poem, Molly house. We'll be posting films of each of our five shortlisters over the coming days and, after due trademark dithering, our final choice will be announced on 13th May. So watch this space! www.ditheringchaps.com

We are delighted to announce that we've chosen Tom McLaughlin's stunning debut collection, In Rooms of Falling Rain, to publish later this year. We can't wait to work with this exciting and talented poet! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here's the last of our shortlisted poets, Marie Macri, reading from her poem, Proof he was here. We'd love to know what you think! We will be announcing our final choice on Wednesday. www.ditheringchaps.com

@ditheringchaps.bsky.social have made a great film of me reading from my shortlisted pamphlet Songs of Other Names. Please give a re-share if you'd like to read the whole thing in print 🙏🏼❤️ It's decision time next week!

Dithering Chaps - submissions open@ditheringchaps.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Here's the next of our shortlisted poets, @victoriaspires.bsky.social , reading from her poem, The Skulker. We'll be posting films of each of our five shortlisters and, after due trademark dithering, we'll announce our final choice on 13th May. Stay tuned! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here's the next of our shortlisted poets, @victoriaspires.bsky.social , reading from her poem, The Skulker. We'll be posting films of each of our five shortlisters and, after due trademark dithering, we'll announce our final choice on 13th May. Stay tuned! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here's another of our shortlisted poets, Hilary McDaniel, reading from her poem, A Hoosier Sonnet Definition. We have two more films of shortlisted poets to post. Our final choice will be announced on 13th May, so watch this space! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here's another of our shortlisted poets, Hilary McDaniel, reading from her poem, A Hoosier Sonnet Definition. We have two more films of shortlisted poets to post. Our final choice will be announced on 13th May, so watch this space! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here's the first of our shortlisted poets, Tom McLaughlin, reading from his poem, Molly house. We'll be posting films of each of our five shortlisters over the coming days and, after due trademark dithering, our final choice will be announced on 13th May. So watch this space! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here is our top five - one of these poets will be published by us, later this year ... To be honest, we'd love to publish them all - we have a tough job on our hands! www.ditheringchaps.com

What wonderful news. I am keeping my fingers crossed for my ambitious, curious, somewhat feral set of poems 🤞🏼 Thank you @ditheringchaps.bsky.social & congratulations to the other shortlisted poets ❤️

Dithering Chaps - submissions open@ditheringchaps.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Here is our top five - one of these poets will be published by us, later this year ... To be honest, we'd love to publish them all - we have a tough job on our hands! www.ditheringchaps.com

Here is our top five - one of these poets will be published by us, later this year ... To be honest, we'd love to publish them all - we have a tough job on our hands! www.ditheringchaps.com

We're so proud to announce our April 2026 longlist. We would be proud to publish any one of these poets. Now we really dither - trying to cut 20 down to just 5 ... our shortlist will be announced this time next week. Here's wishing us (and our longlisted poets) luck! #poetry

Submissions duly logged and read. Now time to make our longlist decisions... #DitheringChaps #poetry

Submissions duly logged and read. Now time to make our longlist decisions... #DitheringChaps #poetry